TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Capital Health closed its satellite emergency department in East Trenton Thursday morning due to structural concerns with a nearby building. The health system announced the sudden shutdown of its ER and outpatient clinic the afternoon prior, blindsiding the community and hospital employees.
The Capital Health facility on Hamilton Avenue in East Trenton stopped accepting new patients to the ER at 7 a.m. Signs were posted on the doors and pillars at the entrance. Security staffers were informing people, some of them with appointments at the clinic, of the closure.
Some health care workers arrived to help with the closure process and make sure any remaining patients were cared for before they would be moved.
“It is a sad day,” said ER nurse Mary Jane Rivera. “I worked with a lot of people that have been here since the beginning. One of my coworkers was crying over the phone. He was born here.”
An investigation by the city’s Department of Technical Inspection found the compromised building had suffered extensive water damage to the floor and roof systems and is an imminent hazard. Officials said that building is attached to the one that houses the emergency clinic’s entire HVAC system. The city also said the owners of that building installed temporary shoring five years ago without permits or notice.
Capital Health said it was consulted by engineers, architects and demolition experts who determined that an immediate closure was necessary to protect patients, staff and visitors.
“Significant structural issues with another adjoining building pose a threat to the integrity and safety of the building these medical services are located in,” the health system said in a statement Wednesday.
“It was a 3 o’clock decision yesterday none of us were expecting,” Rivera said. “I hope that Capital is able to come to some kind of conclusion and find some relief for this well-deserved community.”
For many years, the property was St. Francis Medical Center until Capital Health took over in 2022. Capital has been leasing the space from Trinity Health.
“With the former St. Francis location no longer safe for us to occupy, we will be working to identify the best path forward to ensure Trentonians, and those in close proximity to this location, have continued access to the care they need,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “We will work closely with the city, other partners, and the community as we move forward.”
The closest ER is located at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, 2 miles away from the now-shuttered East Trenton location. The Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell in Pennington is about 8 miles away.
Those who need outpatient care are being directed to Capital Health’s East Trenton Clinic/Internal Medicine Residency Clinic at 433 Bellevue Ave. and the walk-in clinic on 832 Brunswick Ave. Patients who need assistance can call 609-815-7296.
Capital Health did not release details about its plan for affected employees. Rivera said she and other workers would go to the Regional Medical Center later on Thursday, and from there they would be “dispersed where needed.”