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The basics:

• 14 NJ hospitals earn spots on Newsweek‘s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care list
• 3 Garden State providers among America’s Best Children’s Hospitals
• Rankings evaluate hospitals across specialty areas including cancer, cardiac, pediatric care
• Newsweek, Statista base rankings on expert surveys, quality metrics, patient outcomes

Newsweek unveiled two healthcare rankings June 3. The lists name America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care and the Best Children’s Hospitals for 2026. 

A total of 17 New Jersey were named to the lists. 

Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 

Compiled with data analysis firm Statista, the ranking recognizes the nation’s leading hospitals across seven specialties. The honorees include the top 384 unique hospitals and 1,375 medical departments for specialized care in the U.S. 

The medical fields evaluated are: 

• Cancer Care 
• Cardiac Care 
• Endocrine Care 
• Gastrointestinal Care (new for 2026) 
• Neurological Care 
• Orthopedic Care 
• Pulmonary Care 

Each field included the top 200 hospitals in the nation for that specialty, with gastrointestinal care including the top 175. 

To determine the findings, Newsweek and Statista weighed a nationwide survey of medical professionals and hospital managers; patient experience data; and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures implementation. This year, researchers also incorporated safety and quality data from The Leapfrog Group. 

“Specialized care is becoming an increasingly important differentiator in the American healthcare landscape, as hospitals expand beyond traditional service lines to meet growing demand for targeted expertise,” Newsweek Healthcare Editor Alexis Kayser said in the announcement accompanying the list. 

In the Garden State, 14 healthcare providers made the list this year – four more than 2025. 

New Jersey’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care for 2026
according to Newsweek (listed in alphabetical order by network) 

• Atlantic Health CentraState Medical Center, Freehold 
• Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains  
• Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• Englewood Health – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood 
• Hackensack Meridian Health – Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune 
• Hackensack Meridian Health – Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank  
• Hackensack Meridian Health – Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack 
• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro 
• RWJBarnabas Health – Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston 
• RWJBarnabas Health – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick 
• RWJBarnabas Health – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville 
• Valley Health System – The Valley Hospital, Paramus 
• Virtua Health – Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Voorhees 

Englewood Hospital shared its reaction to the rankings with NJBIZ, noting it was recognized in three categories: Cardiac Care, Endocrine Care and Pulmonary Care. 

“These recognitions speak to the extraordinary level of care our teams deliver every day,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “To be recognized nationally across cardiac, endocrine, and pulmonary care reflects the strength of our clinical programs, the collaboration across specialties, and our continued investment in bringing advanced, high-quality care to the communities we serve.” 

Best Children’s Hospitals 

Newsweek also released its annual list of the top providers for the youngest patients. Three facilities in New Jersey were recognized this year. 

The ranking includes the top 50 pediatric hospitals in eight fields: 

• Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery 
• Endocrinology 
• Gastroenterology & Gastrointestinal Surgery 
• Neonatology 
• Neurology & Neurosurgery 
• Oncology 
• Orthopedics 
• Pulmonology 

In total, the list includes 95 hospitals and 400 departments. 

“Children’s hospitals are a lifeline for families navigating some of the most complex and emotional moments in health care,” Newsweek Healthcare Editor Lexi Kayser said in a statement. “This ranking highlights the institutions that are advancing pediatric medicine and delivering specialized care and support systems that kids and their caregivers can depend on.” 

To determine the findings, Newsweek again teamed with Statista. Researchers analyzed a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 pediatric medical professionals and hospital managers; hospital quality metrics; patient satisfaction data; and PROMs implementation. 

Three providers from the Garden State made this year’s list, the same number as last year, with two repeat honorees and one newcomer. 

New Jersey’s Best Children’s Hospitals for 2026
according to Newsweek (listed in alphabetical order by network) 

• Hackensack Meridian Health – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack 
• RWJBarnabas Health – Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick 
• RWJBarnabas Health – Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark