U.S. News & World Report released the 2026-2027 Best Hospitals Tuesday. Now New Jersey hospital leaders are sharing some about how they got there.

In New Jersey, 11 hospitals earned honors as Best Regional Hospitals. For the fourth year in a row, Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center topped the state list at No. 1.

Meanwhile, healthcare systems and providers across New Jersey also earned recognition, including across the 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures & conditions evaluated for the feature.

Following HMH, Atlantic Health facilities occupied the second- and third-place ranks. Cooper University Health Care-Camden, and then Englewood Health, close out the top five. Find more details from the U.S. News 2026-2027 Best Hospitals report in NJBIZ’s earlier coverage here. Keep reading below for insights and celebrations from New Jersey hospital leaders.

What they’re saying

Appear alphabetically by system/hospital name; this list may grow as entities continue to react.

“National recognition in multiple specialties speaks to the incredible work occurring every day throughout the Atlantic Health enterprise. These achievements reflect our commitment to innovative care that delivers extraordinary outcomes. Congratulations to our entire team for always putting our patients first while elevating the bar for high-quality care across New Jersey.”

— Saad Ehtisham, president and CEO, Atlantic Health

“The increase in ranking in New Jersey this year is a powerful recognition of the extraordinary work done by Cooper’s exceptional physicians, nurses, and team members.”

“This year’s ranking reflects the momentum we are building as an academic health system and the exceptional care our teams deliver every day.”

“Recognition across so many specialties is a testament to the skill, dedication, and teamwork of Cooper’s physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and team members.”

— George Norcross III, chairman, Cooper University Health Care
— Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEO, Cooper University Health Care
— Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO, Cooper University Health Care

“It is an honor to be recognized among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment of our physicians, nurses, clinicians, and support teams who deliver exceptional care every day. At Deborah, we combine world-class cardiovascular and pulmonary expertise with a deeply personal approach to caring for our patients. We are proud of the recognition of our outstanding clinical outcomes but even more proud of the people who make them possible.”

— Jim Andrews, president and CEO, Deborah Heart and Lung Center

“Every day, our physicians, nurses, and team members bring extraordinary skill, compassion, and commitment to the patients who trust us with their care. To be recognized among New Jersey’s leading hospitals is a proud moment for our entire organization—and motivation to keep raising the bar for the communities we serve.”

— Warren Geller, president and CEO, Englewood Health, which announced plans to join RWJBarnabas Health earlier this year

“These rankings reflect our extraordinary team members across HMH who are delivering exceptional care every day. From being home to New Jersey’s top-ranked cancer program and No. 1 hospital, to earning national recognition across multiple specialties, these achievements demonstrate our unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and putting patients first. We are honored to be recognized among the nation’s best, but even more proud of the lives our teams improve every day.”

— Robert Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health

“Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional, high-quality care to our patients and to continuous quality improvement. As New Jersey’s academic health system in partnership with Rutgers University, our mission is to deliver safe, effective, evidence-based care informed by the latest clinical research. These recognitions reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary care teams and reinforce our commitment to building healthier communities across New Jersey.”

— Dr. Andy Anderson, executive vice president and chief medical and quality officer, RWJBarnabas Health