12 New Jersey Hospitals Earn National Recognition for Quality

Twelve New Jersey hospitals earned spots on Healthgrades’ 2026 America’s Best Hospitals list, placing the Garden State among the top performers nationwide for medical care quality.

The recognition covers facilities from Bergen County to the Jersey Shore, with major health systems like RWJBarnabas Health, Atlantic Health System, and Hackensack Meridian Health claiming multiple spots on the prestigious annual ranking.

Healthgrades, which analyzes patient outcomes and safety data from nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide, selected just 429 facilities for its top tier — roughly 10 percent of all hospitals reviewed. The methodology examines mortality and complication rates across 30 common conditions and procedures.

“New Jersey’s strong showing reflects decades of investment in medical infrastructure and physician recruitment,” said Dr. Brad Bowman, Healthgrades’ chief medical officer. “These hospitals demonstrate consistently superior outcomes for patients.”

The honored facilities include Morristown Medical Center, which has appeared on the list multiple times, along with Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Other recognized hospitals span the state’s geography: Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville, Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, and CentraState Medical Center in Freehold.

The rankings arrive as New Jersey hospitals face mounting financial pressures from rising labor costs and reduced reimbursement rates. Many facilities have struggled with staffing shortages that worsened during the pandemic, making quality recognition particularly significant.

“This validates what we’ve long believed — that New Jersey punches above its weight in healthcare delivery,” said Betsy Ryan, president of the New Jersey Hospital Association. “Our hospitals serve some of the most densely populated communities in America while maintaining these quality standards.”

The Healthgrades methodology weighs heavily on patient safety indicators and clinical outcomes rather than amenities or patient satisfaction scores. Hospitals must demonstrate statistically significant better-than-expected results to earn recognition.

For Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, the honor continues a streak of national recognition. The facility has invested heavily in cardiac care, neuroscience, and cancer treatment over the past decade.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s inclusion highlights the Shore region’s medical capabilities, particularly important given the area’s seasonal population swings and aging year-round residents.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, the flagship of RWJBarnabas Health, has built its reputation on complex cardiac procedures and organ transplants. The facility performs some of the state’s most challenging cases.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s recognition underscores New Brunswick’s role as a medical hub, particularly given its teaching hospital status and research partnerships with Rutgers.

The geographic spread of honored hospitals — from Camden County to Bergen County — suggests quality care isn’t concentrated in wealthy enclaves but distributed across New Jersey’s diverse communities.

Several facilities serve populations with significant economic challenges. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center provides care for one of the state’s most economically disadvantaged areas while maintaining clinical excellence.

The recognition comes as state health officials monitor hospital financial stability. Several New Jersey hospitals have closed or merged in recent years due to economic pressures, making quality achievements at remaining facilities more crucial.

Healthcare quality has become increasingly important for New Jersey residents facing some of the nation’s highest healthcare costs. The state’s proximity to New York City medical centers creates competitive pressure for local facilities.

“Patients shouldn’t have to cross the Hudson River or travel to Philadelphia for excellent care,” said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a healthcare policy expert at Rutgers. “These rankings show they don’t have to.”

The Healthgrades analysis examined data from 2021 through 2023, covering periods that included pandemic responses and recovery. Hospitals that maintained quality standards during that turbulent time demonstrated particular resilience.

For smaller facilities like Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, the recognition validates community hospital capabilities. The 260-bed facility competes with larger academic medical centers while serving Morris and Passaic County residents.

CentraState Medical Center’s inclusion represents Monmouth County’s healthcare infrastructure, serving both year-round residents and summer populations along the Shore.

The rankings don’t directly correlate with hospital size or teaching status. Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, and Saint Clare’s in Denville represent mid-sized facilities proving quality doesn’t require massive scale.

New Jersey’s healthcare landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade, with major health systems consolidating smaller hospitals and investing in quality improvement initiatives. The Healthgrades recognition suggests those investments are paying dividends in patient outcomes.

State health officials have pushed hospitals to improve transparency and quality metrics as healthcare costs continue rising faster than inflation. Public recognition programs like Healthgrades provide accountability mechanisms for facilities receiving public funding through Medicare and Medicaid.

The honored hospitals collectively employ thousands of New Jersey residents and serve as economic anchors for their communities. Medical centers often rank among the largest employers in their counties.

Patient advocacy groups praised the recognition while noting that quality care must remain accessible regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

“Recognition is meaningless if residents can’t access these excellent facilities,” said Janet Morrison, director of New Jersey Citizen Action. “Quality and accessibility must go hand in hand.”

The 2026 Healthgrades rankings will be updated annually, creating ongoing incentives for hospitals to maintain and improve clinical performance. For New Jersey’s twelve honored facilities, the challenge becomes sustaining excellence while managing economic pressures that show no signs of easing.