U.S. News hospital rankings 2019: Morristown Medical Center tops NJ list, HUMC is No. 2

Morristown Medical Center has claimed the top spot in the 30th annual ranking of hospitals in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report.

Part of the Atlantic Health System, Morristown also was the only hospital in the Garden State to be ranked among the best 50 hospitals in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery (No. 26) and orthopedics (No. 34).

“This sustained recognition demonstrates the commitment from our team to build healthier communities, ensure extraordinary care is constantly delivered, focus on excellent patient outcomes and experience, seamless care coordination, and innovating to provide the best care for our patients,” center President Trish O’Keefe said.

Hackensack University Medical Center finished second in the 2019-20 rankings, followed by St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood was ranked No. 6 in New Jersey. Overlook Medical Center in Summit, another hospital in the Atlantic Health system, also made the New Jersey list, tied with four others at No. 11.

For its annual “Best Hospital” report, the magazine staff evaluated more than 4,500 U.S. medical centers in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 165 hospitals were rated in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.

The ratings are largely based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators, magazine editors say.

Hackensack also was ranked among the top 50 in two children’s specialties: pediatric cancer (No. 44) and pediatric neurology and neurosurgery (No. 49).