Mercer Loses Emergency Department As Capital Health Closes Facility Over Building Safety

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - Capital Health has shut down its Satellite Emergency Department in Trenton due to “structural issues.”

The hospital was leasing the space from Trinity Health at the former St. Francis campus. All operations officially shut down on Thursday.

This includes a shutdown of the outpatient clinic located on Bert Avenue in Trenton (cross street of Hamilton Avenue).

“Capital Health was advised by structural engineers, architects, and demolition experts that significant structural issues with another adjoining building pose a threat to the integrity and safety of the building these medical services are located in. To protect the safety of employees, patients, visitors, and students, the health care system has no choice but to cease operations at this location without delay,” the hospital said in a statement.

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, the Satellite Emergency Department stopped accepting patients. The outpatient clinic closed at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with patients being diverted to other facilities for medical care.

Capital Health operates two other emergency departments and inpatient hospitals in Mercer County — one on Brunswick Avenue at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton (around two miles away), and another one at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell on Scotch Road in Pennington (just over eight miles away).

Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies have been asked to take ambulance transports to other area emergency departments.

Patients with emergency medical conditions should call 911 so EMS can transport them to an appropriate emergency department. Patients who choose to transport themselves for medical care should not come to the Hamilton Avenue campus and should instead go to another area emergency department.

Patients who use the outpatient clinic for primary or specialty care will be cared for at Capital Health’s 433 Bellevue Avenue (Capital Health East Trenton Clinic/Internal Medicine Residency Clinic) and 832 Brunswick Avenue (walk-in clinic) locations.

Patients who use the clinics can call 609.815.7296 for help with any questions.

“We are deeply frustrated and disappointed by the circumstances that have led to the emergency closure of our Satellite Emergency Department and other services at East Trenton. Since assuming services from St. Francis two years ago, and leasing this space from Trinity Health, our staff has worked tirelessly to preserve services in the city and at this location,” Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health said in a statement. “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. We will work closely with the city, other partners, and the community as we move forward.

Meanwhile Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli expressed disappointment and called the closure a “devastating” loss for the community.

"The closure of Capital Health’s medical offices in East Trenton, particularly its Emergency Department, is nothing short of devastating for the local community, the City of Trenton, and the Greater Trenton area as a whole. The effects will be felt regionwide as vital medical care is diverted to other facilities,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

They said they were looking forward to getting more answers on the situation from Capital Health, Trinity Health and NJ Department of Health.

"The logistical challenges of ensuring transportation and access to care are significant. In the coming days, we expect clear and timely communication from Capital Health, Trinity Health, and the New Jersey Department of Health regarding how residents can continue receiving the care they deserve," the lawmakers said.

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