Seven hospitals within Hackensack Meridian Health have received national recognition for maternity care, earning a “High Performing” designation from U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list. This distinction is the highest honor given by U.S. News as part of its annual study evaluating maternity services.
Hackensack Meridian Health is the most recognized hospital system in New Jersey for maternity care according to these latest rankings. The health network has been acknowledged for its commitment to patient outcomes and quality of 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 of 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 seven hospitals recognized were among nearly 900 nationwide that submitted detailed data about their labor and delivery services for analysis by U.S. News & World Report. The publication began evaluating maternity hospitals in 2021, aiming to help expectant parents make informed choices about where to receive maternity services.
“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 at 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.”
Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News & World Report added: “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… 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 U.S. News recognition, three Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals were named among America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2025 by Newsweek and Statista. Hackensack University Medical Center also holds the distinction of being the first hospital in the country awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal for Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care.
Furthermore, U.S. News & World Report ranked Hackensack University Medical Center as #1 in the New York/New Jersey Metro area and included it among the top 20 hospitals nationwide for clinical excellence this year.
More details on these recognitions can be found through Hackensack Meridian Maternity Care.
