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The basics:

• Healthgrades released its 2026 Specialty Excellence, Outpatient and State Rankings awards
• More than 30 New Jersey hospitals recognized for superior clinical outcomes
• Morristown Medical Center ranked among nation’s most decorated facilities

Healthgrades, an online resource providing information about physicians and hospitals, is recognizing health care providers across the nation for excellence in specialty care with its annual awards. 

Released Oct. 28, the three hospital quality achievements break down into: 

• 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards
• 2026 Outpatient Awards (Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Replacement and Prostate Care)
• 2026 Specialty State Rankings

“Our specialty awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals across numerous medical specialties, helping consumers find high quality care tailored to their specific needs,” Dr. Alana Biggers, medical advisor at Healthgrades said in a statement.  

“Navigating the complex health care system can feel daunting, but taking a proactive stance to understand where to access superior care can enhance your healthcare journey and overall experience,” Biggers added. 

Healthgrades included more than 30 New Jersey health care providers across the three award categories. According to the New Jersey Hospital Association, there are 112 hospitals across the state.

2026 Specialty Excellence Awards

These rankings recognize hospitals with outstanding clinical performance in 16 specialty care areas.  

Healthgrades evaluated outcomes at approximately 4,500 hospitals across 31 common procedures and conditions for these awards. The recipients rank among the top 10% of hospitals specializing in these areas. 

Additionally, this group includes America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care for 11 specialty areas and America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care for three specialty areas. 

New Jersey’s 2026 Specialty Excellence Award recipients, in alphabetical order:
(Click on any health care provider’s name for a comprehensive list of recognitions.) 

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City, AtlantiCare 
• Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains, Atlantic Health 
• Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Community Medical Center, Toms River, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, Cape May Court House, Cooper University Health Care 
• Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Englewood Hospital, Englewood, Englewood Health 
• Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Hackettstown Medical Center, Hackettstown, Atlantic Health 
• Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, Holy Name 
• Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, Hunterdon Health 
• Inspira Medical Center Vineland, Vineland, Inspira Health 
• JFK University Medical Center, Edison, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, Atlantic Health 
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Newton Medical Center, Newton, Atlantic Health 
• Ocean University Medical Center, Brick, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit, Atlantic Health 
• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro, Penn Medicine 
• Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville, RWJBarnabas Health 
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville, Saint Clare’s Health 
• Saint Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, Prime Healthcare 
• Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System 
• Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin, Hackensack Meridian Health 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus, Valley Health System 
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Voorhees, Virtua Health 

2026 Outpatient Awards 

These rankings recognize outstanding achievements in outpatient care across orthopedic surgery, joint replacement and prostate care. 

New Jersey’s 2026 Outpatient Award recipients, in alphabetical order: 

Orthopedic Surgery – Outpatient

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City 
• Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, Cape May Court House 
• Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus 
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Voorhees 

Joint Replacement – Outpatient

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City 
• Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack 
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus 
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Voorhees

Prostate Care – Outpatient

• Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville 
• Inspira Medical Center Vineland, Vineland 
• Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank 
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville 
• Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick

2026 Specialty State Rankings 

For these findings, researchers measured hospital performance across 18 key specialty areas to identify the three to five highest-ranking hospitals in 31 eligible states. New Jersey hospitals ranked in 10 of those areas of practice. 

New Jersey’s 2026 Specialty State Rankings Award recipients, listed according to Healthgrades’ categories: 

Cardiac Care

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City 
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston 
• Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack 

Cranial Neurosurgery

• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus 

Critical Care

• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro 
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains 

Gastrointestinal Care

• Ocean University Medical Center, Brick 
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 

Gastrointestinal Surgery

• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro 
• Ocean University Medical Center, Brick 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains 

Neurosciences

• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus 

Orthopedic Surgery

• Community Medical Center, Toms River 
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Englewood Hospital, Englewood 

Pulmonary Care

• Ocean University Medical Center, Brick 
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel 
• Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 

Stroke Care

• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune 
• Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Valley Hospital, Paramus 

Surgical Care

• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Englewood Hospital, Englewood

What they’re saying

Several health care providers shared their announcements with NJBIZ: 

AtlantiCare

AtlantiCare noted its 17 clinical achievements, placing the health system among America’s 100 best for cardiac interventional procedures and cardiac care, and in New Jersey’s top five for overall cardiac services. The Atlantic County-based provider also celebrated its inclusion on Healthgrades America’s 50 best hospitals for outpatient joint replacement and orthopedic surgery. 

“We’re proud to be recognized again by Healthgrades for the quality of care our teams deliver every day,” AtlantiCare President and CEO Michael Charlton said in an Oct. 28 statement. “These awards are the result of their resiliency and relentless dedication to our patients and community. Excellence at this level comes from people who show up every day and never lose sight of why they do this work.” 

Atlantic Health

“Atlantic Health is honored once again to be nationally recognized and highly ranked in New Jersey with providing high-quality, innovative and personalized care to our patients,” said Scott Leighty, executive vice president, chief health system officer, Atlantic Health. “These achievements not only acknowledge the dedication of our incredible medical staff and clinical team members, but further underscore Atlantic Health’s longstanding commitment to the health and wellbeing of our patients and the communities we serve.” 

The health care provider also noted that Morristown Medical Center is the second most recognized hospital in the country with 55 distinctions. 

Englewood Health

The provider noted its placement as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery and as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery, among other accolades. 

“Patients place great trust in us when they come here for surgery, and these recognitions affirm that their trust is well placed,” said Dr. James McGinty, chief of surgery and surgical services at Englewood Health. “We’re proud to deliver care that combines surgical expertise with compassion and personalized attention.” 

Valley Health

The network celebrated its distinctions in orthopedics, stroke, neuroscience and critical care. 

“At The Valley Hospital, our mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate specialty care,” said Dr. Robert Brenner, president and CEO of Valley Health. “We are proud to be recognized by Healthgrades, which highlights the dedication of our teams in orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, stroke care, critical care and neurosciences.”