16 NJ Hospitals Recognized For Safety, Experience In New List

NEW JERSEY — Sixteen hospitals in New Jersey were among hundreds across the country recently recognized for safety and patient experience by Healthgrades, a comprehensive database of ratings and comparisons for physicians, hospitals and health care providers.

The hospital quality awards announced earlier this month are the 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award, presented to 445 hospitals in 44 states, and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, presented to 419 hospitals in 47 states. Only 83 hospitals, or 2 percent of hospitals nationwide, received both awards, according to a news release.

The safety awards were presented to the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide. These facilities reported zero instances of foreign objects being left behind after a procedure and also have strong safety records on hospital falls that result in hip fractures, collapsed lungs due to a procedure or surgery, pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, and catheter-related bloodstream infections.

The patient experience awards recognized the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide, based on criteria such as doctor communication, nurse communication and clear communication about care upon discharge.

The hospitals in New Jersey that were among those recognized on these lists include:

Patient Safety Excellence (asterisks denote how many years in a row that hospitals made the list)

• Ocean Univ. Medical Center, Brick***
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital***
• Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital***
• Hackensack Univ. Medical Center***
• Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center***
• Saint Peter’s Univ. Hospital, New Brunswick*
• Saint Michael’s Medical Center, Newark***
• Newton Medical Center, Newton***
• St. Mary’s General Hospital, Passaic***
• Saint Luke’s Warren Hospital, Phillipsburg***
• Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains***
• Valley Hospital, Ridgewood*
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit**

Overall, 445 U.S. hospitals received this award in 2023.

Outstanding Patience Experience (asterisks denote how many years in a row that hospitals made the list)

• Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Browns Mills**
• Inspira Medical Center Elmer***
• Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro**

Overall, 419 hospitals in the U.S. received this award this year.

The data used by Healthgrades’ data scientists and clinical experts to compile the scorecards is reviewed annually by the company’s internal Quality Advisory Board and the outside Special Clinical Experts board. Learn more about the methodology.

Patch’s national desk contributed to this report.