For years, health care officials in New Jersey have insisted that patients do not need to leave the state to get the best care. This morning, the most respected national hospital rankings validated that statement.
Hackensack University Medical Center earned a spot on the prestigious national ‘Honor Roll’ of the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Given to just 20 hospitals nationwide, Hackensack was placed alongside well-known national brands such as the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, New York Presbyterian and Mass General.
It is the first time any hospital from New Jersey has made the list.
HUMC not only was recognized as the top hospital in New Jersey, it also shared the top spot in the New York City region — another first for a N.J. hospital.
Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Bob Garrett obviously was thrilled by the honor – one that so many deserve to celebrate, he said.
“It’s been a journey, but we’re so proud of the team for this accomplishment,” he told BINJE.
“This historic Top 20 national ranking belongs to our team members. It was forged in the early morning hours by our nurses, earned in the operating room by our surgeons, and built daily by every team member who puts our patients first. Their collective passion and relentless pursuit of excellence drive this success. To see their incredible work recognized on a national stage is immensely gratifying.”
The all-around effort by the HUMC team was evident in the national rankings U.S. News released for 11 specialty areas. HUMC was ranked in 10 of them, the most nationally ranked specialties of any health network in New Jersey, including:
- Cancer (No. 37 in nation)
- Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery (No. 37)
- Ear, Nose & Throat (No. 49)
- Diabetes & Endocrinology (No. 29)
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (No. 47)
- Geriatrics (No. 32)
- Neurology & Neurosurgery (No. 33)
- Orthopedics (No. 20)
- Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (No. 23)
- Urology (No. 12)
The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center was ranked as the best cancer center in the state.
Dr. Lisa Tank, the chief hospital executive at HUMC, said the rankings are a direct result of the hospitals exceptional clinical teams.
“From our renowned specialists developing groundbreaking treatments to our nurses implementing the latest evidence-based practices, our teams are the driving force behind our outstanding patient outcomes,” she said. “Their relentless pursuit of medical innovation, matched only by the profound compassion they show our patients and families, is the heart of this achievement.”
Dr. Jose Azar, the chief quality officer at HMH, said the rankings represent a more important number: Lives saved.
“I think the most important part is we’re making a big difference for patients and families,” he said.
“Compared to New Jersey and national data, (the metrics show) 354 people last year may have died if we were not performing and achieving at this level. I think that’s the most powerful aspect of this. I’m very proud of the team.”
Mark Sparta, the chief operating officer at HMH who previously served as chief hospital executive at HUMC, said the success of HUMC is mirrored by so many others in the system.
“This level of consistent excellence across our network doesn’t happen by chance; it’s the result of a deliberate, system-wide strategy focused on operational excellence,” he said. “We empower our hospitals with the resources, technology, and standardized processes they need to deliver world-class care. This achievement is the ultimate validation of our approach. It showcases what’s possible when you combine top-tier clinical talent with a foundation of operational strength.”
A number of Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals have been ranked highly in New Jersey and across the nation for several years in a row, including:
JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Center: Ranked No. 33 in the nation, it has been a Top 50 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation in each of the past seven years.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center: Ranked as a Top 5 Hospital in New Jersey in each of the 13 years that U.S. News & World Report has done the rankings, it is now ranked No. 19 overall in the New York/ New Jersey Metropolitan area.
Azar said the rankings throughout the system represent HMH’s deep commitment to evidence-based medicine, its investment in technologies that reduce errors, and our culture of continuous improvement where every team member is empowered to enhance patient outcomes.
He said it’s a reflection of the strong leadership of Garrett, Sparta and Tank, too.
“The culture that they have created is a culture of continuously getting better and a culture of high reliability,” he said.
Garrett said becoming a Top 20 hospital was one of the ten-year goals he set forth when Hackensack and Meridian merged – nine years ago.
What will HMH do with the extra year?
Those who know Garrett and the culture he has built know it can only mean one thing: Get even better.
Garrett said the various hospitals in the system already share best practices – noting a meeting of Jersey Shore University and HUMC officials just a few weeks ago. He said he’d like to see that network of sharing grow.
“I would like to take this opportunity to extend that offer to colleagues throughout New Jersey – whether they are part of HMH or not – because we all want to do what’s best for our patients and communities,” he said.
“Being an honor roll hospital comes a responsibility to share practices and share knowledge. We’ll be glad to take that opportunity with any colleagues throughout the state and throughout the region.”
