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U.S. News & World Report is out with its ranking of the 2023-2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, with 34 facilities from New Jersey making the list.

The annual collection recognizes hospitals that provide high-quality maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies. New for this year, the rankings also include a subset highlighting 73 “Maternity Care Access Hospitals,” which provide care to expectant parents who otherwise wouldn’t have access to care as well as in communities that would be “maternity care deserts” without them.

Two New Jersey facilities fit that criteria:

• Newton Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) in Newton
• Southern Ocean Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health in Manahawkin

For the overall Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, U.S. News evaluated 680 hospitals nationwide – an all-time high for participation, according to the publication – that provide labor and delivery services and submitted information to the publication. Fewer than half (297) received a High Performing designation, including 19 facilities in the Garden State — the same quantity as determined by last year’s rankings.

According to U.S. News, and listed by ranking, New Jersey’s High Performing hospitals for maternity care are:

• Hackensack University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Hackensack
• Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) – Morristown
• Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) – Summit
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJBarnabas Health) – New Brunswick
• Cooper University Health Care-Camden – Camden
• Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township – Stratford
• Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell – Pennington
• Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health) – Livingston
• Englewood Hospital – Englewood
• Monmouth Medical Center-Long Branch Campus (RWJBarnabas Health) – Long Branch
• Ocean University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Brick Township
• Palisades Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – North Bergen
• Raritan Bay Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Perth Amboy
• Riverview Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Red Bank
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (RWJBarnabas Health) – Somerville
• Southern Ocean Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Manahawkin
• Virtua Mount Holly Hospital (Virtua Health) – Mount Holly
• Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Virtua Health) – Camden
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital (Virtua Health) – Voorhees

“Hospitals that receive a High Performing designation as part of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care meet a high standard in caring for parents with uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals have C-section rates that are 26% lower, and newborn complication rates that are 37% lower than unrecognized hospitals. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics for free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.”

Hospitals that submitted data and were not recognized as High Performing (352 from across the U.S.) are listed with no Overall Rating on their usnews.com scorecards.

In New Jersey, those facilities include:

• Valley Hospital (Valley Health System) – Ridgewood
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Neptune
• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center – Atlantic City
• CentraState Medical Center (Atlantic Health System partner) – Freehold
• Chilton Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) – Pompton Plains
• Clara Maass Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health) – Belleville
• Community Medical Center-Toms River (RWJBarnabas Health) – Toms River
• Hunterdon Medical Center – Flemington
• Jersey City Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health) – Jersey City
• JFK University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health – Edison
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health) – Newark
• Newton Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) – Newton
• St. Clare’s Denville Hospital (Prime Healthcare) – Denville
• St. Peter’s University Hospital – New Brunswick
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health)– Elizabeth

According to U.S. News, many hospitals that offer maternity services did not participate in the survey and did not disclose their maternal care data. It is indicated on their profile pages at the publication’s website that these facilities did not take part. Hospitals that do not offer obstetric services do not have maternity scorecards.

The inaugural Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ranking was released by U.S. News in 2021. The annual objective evaluation aims to help expectant parents and their health care team to make informed decisions. The “best” are determined through a composite score for maternity care based on eight measures: NTSV1 cesarean (C-section) delivery rates, early elective delivery (EED) rates, overall unexpected newborn complications (UNC) rates, routine vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) rates, exclusive breast milk feeding (EBMF) rates, episiotomy rates, birthing-friendly practice, and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities.

Four of those measures are new for this year’s list (VBAC rate, episiotomy rate, birthing-friendly practice, and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities). In other changes to the current list’s methodology, U.S. News said it also included a number of new survey questions grouped by topic. You can view the survey here.

What they’re saying

“I am proud that so many Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals have once again been named among the best maternity hospitals in the nation. This is a testament to our world-class team members who are working tirelessly to provide exceptional maternity care. As New Jersey’s largest health system, we are dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, equitable care to the patients we serve, as well as improving maternal health outcomes across New Jersey.”
— Robert Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health

“The distinctions from U.S. News & World Report underscore our dedication to excellence in maternity care across the system. We are committed to delivering inclusive and high-quality care for expectant mothers and families, and this national recognition validates our continuous efforts to advance that mission.”
— Suzanne Spernal, senior vice president of women’s services, RWJBarnabas Health

“This recognition by U.S. News affirms Virtua’s exceptional quality of care for parents and their newborns. At Virtua, we not only deliver the most babies, we’re also one of the best places to give birth.”
— Dr. Nicole Lamborne, vice president of clinical operations for women’s services, Virtua Health

“We are thrilled to earn this national recognition which reflects Atlantic Health System’s commitment to high-quality maternity care services and patient satisfaction. This is a testament to our team’s dedication to consistently provide exceptional care to moms and babies in a supportive environment.”
— Dr. Doug Arbittier, vice president, Service Lines, Atlantic Health System

“We are proud to be recognized as one of the best hospitals for maternity care. Every day, we strive to meet or exceed families’ expectations and to provide the best possible birthing experience.”
— Valerie French, senior director of nursing for maternal/child health, Englewood Health

ICYMI

• March of Dimes gives NJ a C+ for preterm birth rate
• AtlantiCare hosts NJ’s first lady to detail delivery of ‘Safe Beginnings’
• RWJBarnabas launches support program for expectant parents
• Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center