Atlantic Health’s Morristown Medical Center is the most recognized hospital in the country, according to new ratings from Healthgrades.
Atlantic Health officials feel the ratings carry weight because of how they’re built. Healthgrades doesn’t use surveys or reputation. It rates about 4,500 hospitals on outcomes alone, using risk-adjusted death and complication rates across more than 30 common conditions and procedures.
By that measure, Morristown stands alone. It’s the only hospital in the country to earn all of the following:
• Excellence Awards in four areas of heart care
• Spots on Healthgrades’ national best-hospitals lists for joint replacement, orthopedic surgery and stroke care
• Spots on the national lists for outpatient joint replacement and outpatient orthopedic surgery
It also ranks No. 1 in New Jersey in seven categories.
Overlook Medical Center in Summit ranked fifth. It is the only hospital in the country to make Healthgrades’ national lists in five areas: spine surgery, surgical care, stroke care, outpatient orthopedic surgery and emergency hospitalization. It ranks No. 1 in the state in five categories.
Saad Ehtisham, CEO of Atlantic Health, credited the system’s staff.
“These outstanding recognitions from Healthgrades are a wonderful celebration of Atlantic Health’s place as a national and regional leader in providing high-quality, innovative and personalized care to our patients,” he said. “I am proud to congratulate every physician, nurse and team member from across our system who not only make these accomplishments possible, but through their tireless commitment help make Atlantic Health an extraordinary place to provide and receive care.”
The honors from Healthgrades extend across the system:
Chilton Medical Center (Pompton Plains): It was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care for the fifth straight year and it was ranked in the top 10% nationally for cardiology for the third straight year.
Newton Medical Center: It was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care for the fourth straight year. It also earned an Excellence Award for stroke care for the third straight year and a new one for gastrointestinal surgery.
Hackettstown Medical Center: It was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care and ranked fourth in the state for gastrointestinal surgery.
CentraState Medical Center (Freehold): It addded two new honors, an Excellence Award for outpatient prostate care and a five-star rating for heart failure treatment. It also repeated five-star ratings for pulmonary embolism and sepsis.
Dr. Alana Biggers, a medical advisor at Healthgrades, said the ratings matter for patients choosing where to get care.
“Finding a hospital that excels in a given procedure or treatment can transform a patient’s health trajectory,” she said.
