For its latest roundup of the best performing hospitals in the nation, U.S. News & World Report is zeroing in on services provided to mothers and families during one of their most important milestones.
Released Dec. 6, the 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list features 19 facilities from the Garden State that earned the High Performing designation — the highest accolade a facility can receive from the publication for maternity care.
U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals overall, with fewer than 300 receiving the title bestowed upon New Jersey’s double-digit list of top performers.
“When expectant parents are considering their options for welcoming a baby into the world, the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in delivering babies for uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Min Hee Seo, senior health data scientist at U.S. News.
The ratings are derived from data that hospitals are asked to provide across a range of objective quality measures, including four new touchpoints for this year: episiotomy rates, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, and whether the facility met new federal criteria for “birthing friendly” practices. In another development, the 2022-2023 evaluation also rewarded hospitals that tracked and reported outcomes for patients of different races and ethnicities.
In New Jersey, First Lady Tammy Murphy has committed herself to improving maternal care and outcomes. According to her NurtureNJ strategic plan, the state ranks 47th nationwide for maternal health outcomes, with Black women seven times more likely than their white counterparts to die from a pregnancy-related complication. Seo says that identifying racial disparities is vital to achieving health equity.
“The new measures provide expectant parents with many important data points, such as whether hospitals implemented patient safety practices, to assist them in making a decision about where to receive maternity care,” she said in a statement.
Following U.S. News’ Best Hospitals rankings and procedure and condition ratings, Best Hospitals for Maternity draws quality of care from three categories: outcomes, process and structure.
Listed alphabetically, these are the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care in New Jersey:
- Chilton Medical Center
- Clara Maass Medical Center
- Community Medical Center-Toms River
- Englewood Hospital
- Hackensack University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Monmouth Medical Center-Long Branch Campus
- Morristown Medical Center
- Newton Medical Center
- Ocean University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Overlook Medical Center
- Palisades Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Raritan Bay and Old Bridge Medical Centers at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Riverview Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
- Southern Ocean Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Virtua Mount Holly Hospital
- Virtua Voorhees Hospital
What they’re saying
Atlantic Health System
We are honored to achieve this national recognition at all four of our maternity centers for the second year in a row. This is truly a remarkable recognition of our team’s commitment to providing high-quality care and support to moms and babies in a safe and family-friendly environment.
— Dr. Doug Arbittier, vice president, Service Lines, Atlantic Health System
Englewood Health
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
RWJBarnabas Health
The distinctions from U.S. News & World Report are reflective of our commitment to excellence in maternity care. We are continually striving to provide comprehensive, equitable care for expectant mothers and families across the system and this national recognition is a testament to our ongoing efforts to further that mission.
— Suzanne Spernal, vice president of women’s services, RWJBarnabas Health
Virtua
Virtua Health is very proud to receive the High Performing recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Hospitals for Maternity list. Our maternal-child health professionals are dedicated to providing outstanding care through advanced technology while utilizing a collaborative care approach that leads to the best outcomes for our new mothers and their babies. Our strict protocols combined with the expertise of our staff ensures patient safety and exceptional patient experiences.
— Dr. Nicole Lamborne, vice president of clinical operations for women’s health services, Virtua
More maternal care:
- Leapfrog Group, Money name 10 NJ hospitals as best for maternity care
- 19 from NJ nab Healthgrades honors for Ob-Gyn care
- Murphy continues push on maternal, infant health initiatives
- Road MAP: NJ Quality Institute issues call to improve maternal care
