I'm going to say something unpopular... so what? Businesses close all the time when they aren't profitable; why should a hospital be any different?
Now, do I want people to lose their jobs, through no fault of their own? no... however, unless the local government is going to subsidize the hospital, how can anyone expect it to stay open?
There is a similar argument in EMS with ambulance deserts, where there are parts of the US with no EMS coverage, or absurdly long responses... and while I 100% empathize with those people, this is one of the downsides to living in Rural America... If you live in any urban city, you likely have at least one hospital; while some have closed over the past 20 years, you can likely find one within a 20 minute drive. Suburban towns don't have them, nor do rural unincorporated areas... This is the trade-off to living in rural areas: cheaper taxes, and fewer services.
Notable New Jersey hospital closures since 2000 include:
- PBI Regional Medical Center / General Hospital Center (Passaic): Closed in 2007.
- Barnert Hospital (Paterson): Closed in 2007.
- Bayonne Hospital (Bayonne): Closed in 2007.
- Pascack Valley Hospital (Westwood): Closed in 2007.
- Kessler Memorial Hospital (Hammonton): Closed in 2007.
- St. Mary's Hospital (Passaic): Closed in 2009.
- Hoboken University Medical Center (Hoboken): Closed briefly in 2011 (reopened as a non-profit).
- Christ Hospital / Heights University Hospital (Jersey City): Closed in 2012, temporarily revived as Heights University Hospital, then closed again following bankruptcy.
- East Orange General Hospital (East Orange): Closed in 2015.
- Saint Michael's Medical Center (Newark): Faced closure proceedings in 2015 but was ultimately acquired and remains open today.
- Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center (Plainfield): Closed in 2008, and is now used as an ambulatory care facility.
- Saint James Hospital (Newark): Closed in 2008.
- Point Pleasant Hospital (Point Pleasant): Closed in 2000.
- Irvington General Hospital (Irvington): Closed in 2006.
- Union Hospital (Union): Phased out inpatient services in 2007 and transitioned into a satellite emergency department
If you look at Michigan:
Cheboygan Memorial Hospital: Closed its emergency room and ceased operations in April 2012 following bankruptcy. The facility previously served as the largest employer in Cheboygan County
And dozens of hospitals have closed or ceased inpatient operations in Illinois since 2000. They were heavily driven by financial distress, changing patient demographics, and consolidation.
A timeline of notable hospital closures and major service cessations across the state includes:
- Ascension St. Elizabeth (Chicago): The West Side acute mental illness hospital closed in early 2025 prior to Prime Healthcare acquiring other Ascension Illinois assets. [1, 2]
- Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital (Chicago): Shuttered in 2025 after a massive air conditioning failure forced patient transfers. [1, 2]
- Metro South Medical Center (Blue Island): The south suburban hospital ceased operations in 2019 due to declining patient volume and multimillion-dollar losses. [1, 2]
- Westlake Hospital (Melrose Park): Closed in 2019 amid a controversial bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Michael Reese Hospital (Chicago): Closed in 2009 and later demolished as part of broader redevelopment plans. [1, 2]
- Doctors Hospital of Hyde Park (Chicago): Ceased operations in 2000 following the bankruptcy of its owning company. [1, 2]
- Columbus Hospital (Chicago): Closed in 2001 and was later redeveloped into luxury housing. [1]
- Edgewater Hospital (Chicago): Closed in 2001 and permanently shuttered
Before someone implies that I feel rural communities shouldn't have healthcare, that's not what I'm saying... but healthcare is a business (we can argue how much of a role the government should have in healthcare another time, as well as how housing prices have skyrocketed), and businesses need to make money to survive.
This isn't the first hospital to close, and it likely won't be the last... and while I feel bad for anyone who loses their jobs, unless the local government or community wants to fund the hospital, it will be tough for hospitals to be in the red for years and keep their doors open.
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