Hackensack Meridian Health Hospitals Earn National Recognition by Vizient for Clinical Quality

Hackensack Meridian Health, home to New Jersey’s #1 adult and children’s hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report 2026-27, is proud to announce that Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, and Old Bridge Medical Center have earned national recognition by Vizient for clinical quality. In addition to its national ranking, Riverview Medical Center is designated a Top Performer and received the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award for excellence in high-quality clinical and patient care. The results underscore the network’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

Across the network, four HMH hospitals ranked in the top 25% of their respective peer cohorts, with another four hospitals ranking in the top half. Among the hospitals recognized:

• Hackensack University Medical Center ranked #19 nationally in the Comprehensive Academic Medical Center cohort.
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center ranked #52 nationally in the Large Specialized Medical Center cohort.
• Riverview Medical Center ranked #15 nationally in the Complex Care Medical Center cohort and received the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award for excellence in high-quality clinical and patient care.
• Old Bridge Medical Center ranked #62 nationally in the Community Hospitals cohort.

“Our clinical leadership teams are working tirelessly to improve outcomes, enhance the patient experience and help patients return home as quickly as possible,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Being nationally ranked means our hospitals are measured against the best in the country and earned their place among the nation’s leading facilities. Patients across New Jersey should not have to travel outside their communities to find care that stands up to national benchmarks, and we are proud to provide world-class care close to home.”

Vizient measures hospital performance using data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base (CDB), the largest clinical comparative database of its kind, which serves more than 1,600 hospitals across more than 250 health systems in 49 states. The CDB tracks quality measures including mortality, length of stay, readmission rates, complications, and resource utilization enabling hospitals to benchmark performance, identify improvement opportunities and streamline data collection.

“Quality is measured one patient at a time, and these results show what is possible when clinicians, nurses and staff work together toward shared goals,” said Dr. Jose Azar, executive vice president, chief quality and network service line officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Improving patient safety, clinical outcomes and the patient experience requires a relentless commitment to excellence. I am grateful to every team member who has contributed to these achievements, as we endeavor to deliver the highest quality care for our patients and families.”

The Vizient rankings add to HMH’s longstanding record of national recognition for quality, safety and clinical excellence. Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked the #1 hospital in New Jersey, while Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health is ranked #1 in New Jersey. This recognition makes HMH home to New Jersey’s only #1-ranked adult and children’s hospitals, further demonstrating the network’s commitment to delivering world-class care for patients of all ages.

For more information about the rankings and the Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award, click here.