Hackensack Meridian Health is the Most Recognized and Highly Rated Hospital System in New Jersey for Maternity Care
December 09, 2025
Seven Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals received national recognition with a “High Performing” designation from U.S. News
Hackensack Meridian Health, the health network designed to deliver better outcomes through innovation and integrated care, is proud to announce that seven of its hospitals have been named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list. This national, “high performing” designation is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care study. Distinguished among others, Hackensack Meridian Health is the most recognized hospital system in NJ for maternity care.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to offer world-class maternity care in a compassionate and nurturing environment where every parent feels supported and confident in our care,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Delivering high-quality healthcare starts with an uncompromising focus on enhancing patient outcomes. This focus has been built into every system, every process, and every patient interaction. These designations from U.S. News and World Report are a testament to the exceptional expertise, dedication, and consistency our care teams deliver every day.”
The following hospitals received a “high performing” designation from U.S. News in maternity care, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice:
- Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center
“Our relentless focus on quality is what sets us apart in the greater New York metro region and beyond,” said Jose Azar, M.D., executive vice president, chief quality and clinical service line officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “When patients come to us for maternity care, they can trust that they are receiving the safest, most advanced support available, delivered by teams who provide custom care tailored to a mother and baby’s unique needs. We’re honored to be recognized year after year for our nationally-ranked care.”
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. This year, approximately 900 hospitals nationwide submitted maternity data for evaluation. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings are intended to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs.
“Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders. This recognition means they are consistently hitting crucial patient safety benchmarks compared to other hospitals,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “It's a clear signal to expectant parents about where the highest standards of care are being practiced – when parents see this designation, they can be assured they are choosing a hospital dedicated to exceptional, evidence-based maternity care.”
In addition to the designation from U.S. News & World Report, three Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals were named among America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2025 by Newsweek and Statista. Also, Hackensack University Medical Center was the first hospital in the nation to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal for Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report named Hackensack University Medical Center the #1 hospital in the New York/New Jersey Metro area and a Top 20 hospital nationally and for clinical excellence this year.
For more information on the U.S. News & World Report Best Maternity Hospitals 2026 list, visit here. For more information on Hackensack Meridian Maternity Care, visit https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/services/womens-health/maternity-care.