15 NJ hospitals rated high-performing in maternity care

U.S. News & World Report rated 15 New Jersey hospitals as high-performing in maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies in rankings issued Dec. 7.

Hospitals were evaluated based on five factors: scheduled early deliveries; C-section rates in low-risk women; newborn complications; rate of exclusive breast milk feeding; and option for vaginal births after cesarean.

“Hospitals that performed well had fewer newborn complications, fewer early deliveries and fewer C-sections compared to other hospitals across the nation,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “Out of 2,700 hospitals nationwide that offer maternity services, we identified 237 that earned recognition among the Best Hospitals for Maternity.”

In explaining its methodology, that magazine said 7 high performing hospitals have on average 21.1% NTSV C-section rates, 1.3% early elective delivery rates, 2.38% overall unexpected newborn complication rates, and 58.6% exclusive breast milk feeding rates. Of high performing hospitals, 92.4% offer routine vaginal birth after cesarean.

To be recognized, a hospital had to submit data from 2019 and its performance had to meet U.S. News’ maternity care standard. Data submission was voluntary; there was no fee to participate.

High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy)

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
Inspira Medical Center-Elmer
Englewood Hospital
Morristown Medical Center
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Newton Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center
Ocean Medical Center
Chilton Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center
Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township
Overlook Medical Center
Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell
Virtua Voorhees Hospital
Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center

Participated But Not High Performing

Trinitas Regional Medical Center
JFK Medical Center
Hunterdon Medical Center
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center
Southern Ocean Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center
Virtua Memorial Hospital
Saint Barnabas Medical Center
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
St. Peter’s University Hospital
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center
Valley Hospital
Holy Name Medical Center

In July, U.S. News issued its overall Best Hospitals rankings, a list topped in New Jersey by Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center.