The basics:

• 29 New Jersey hospitals earn ‘A’ grades in Spring 2026 Leapfrog safety report
• 82% of NJ hospitals receive ‘A’ or ‘B’ safety ratings
• State ranks 6th nationwide, down from 3rd in fall 2025
• 6 fewer hospitals earned top grades compared with prior report

While the number of hospitals in New Jersey with highest marks fell by six in the latest Leapfrog Group report, the Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades still highlight the state’s reputation for delivering top-tier care.

The Garden State delivered 29 “A” graded hospitals in the new assessment, issued May 6. Of the 67 New Jersey acute care hospitals graded by Leapfrog, 82% earned either an A or B mark — just one less than in Fall 2025.

Nationwide, New Jersey took sixth place, based on the percentage of A hospitals. The drop below the 50% mark in highest-rated facilities moved the state from its third place rank in the fall. However, the state still holds distinction for having the highest participation rate in the program nationwide: 100%. While it did participate, one hospital did not receive a grade (Bergen New Bridge Medical Center), because of insufficient data.

Forty-four New Jersey hospitals’ grades held steady from the last release in November 2025, seven improved and 16 declined.

The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute serves as regional leader for Leapfrog. The group helps inform purchases, media and the public through ongoing education and research to help people better understand the safety of their local hospitals. President and CEO Linda Schwimmer said the engagement of New Jersey hospitals demonstrates a commitment to transparency.

“Many of these hospitals use the Leapfrog Survey as an internal quality improvement tool to track their performance throughout the year and strive to reduce or eliminate preventable medical errors, which are far too common,” she added.

Founded in 2000, independent national nonprofit watchdog the Leapfrog Group releases its hospital safety grades twice a year (Spring and Fall). That program launched in 2012. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. In March, the group announced the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients, including 14 New Jersey healthcare providers.

15 from New Jersey earned “Straight A” distinction — carrying the highest mark for five rounds or more:

• Community Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health)
• Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
• Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center
• Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center
• Holy Name Medical Center
• Hunterdon Medical Center
• Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill
• Monmouth Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health)
• Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (RWJBarnabas Health)
• Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center
• Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center
• Saint Michael’s Medical Center
• St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center
• St. Luke’s Warren Campus
• St. Mary’s General Hospital

Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center jumped from a C to an A, one of seven hospitals to improve their grades over 2025’s earlier assessment:

• Atlanticare Regional Medical Center – City Campus
• Hackensack Meridian Health JFK University Medical Center
• Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center
• Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center
• Inspira Medical Center Vineland
• Jersey City Medical Center
• Saint Clare’s Hospital of Denville

Meanwhile, grades fell at 16 hospitals:

• Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell
• Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
• Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center
• Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center
• Hoboken University Hospital
• Inspira Medical Center Elmer
• Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital
• Jefferson Washington Township Hospital
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway
• Saint Clare’s Hospital of Dover
• Saint Peter’s University Hospital
• The Valley Hospital
• Virtua Marlton Hospital
• Virtua Mount Holly Hospital
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital

Trends

In fall 2022, Leapfrog reported an increase in several hospital-acquired infections, hitting a peak not seen since 2016 that persisted into the Spring 2023 assessment.

Since then, average HAI scores have declined dramatically nationwide across four measures. The Quality Institute noted New Jersey hospitals have seen a similar decline since 2016:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) decreased by 67%
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) decreased by 52%
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decreased by 37%
• Clostridium difficile (C.diff) decreased by 37%