East Orange General Hospital (NJ) files for bankruptcy amid sale

Buckling under nearly $26 million in debt, East Orange General Hospital has filed for bankruptcy protection – just as it is on the verge of being acquired by a national for-profit hospital chain. This is the second hospital in Essex County to declare bankruptcy in three months. Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark is scheduled to be in bankruptcy court Thursday to accept a $62.2 million bid from Prime Healthcare Services, another for-profit chain based in California. East Orange General Hospital officials filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, according to an announcement from Interim CEO Martin Beiber Wednesday.