Seven RWJBarnabas Health hospitals have been recognized as High Performing in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. This year, Jersey City Medical Center joined six other RWJBarnabas Health facilities that previously received this distinction: Community Medical Center in Toms River, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth.
The annual maternity care study by U.S. News & World Report evaluates hospitals on key indicators such as C-section rates among lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and birthing-friendly practices like rooming-in and midwifery access. About 900 hospitals nationwide submitted data for evaluation this year.
“This recognition is a testament to the expertise, compassion, and dedication of our maternity teams across the state,” said Suzanne Spernal, senior vice president of women’s services at RWJBarnabas Health. “We are proud that so many of our hospitals have earned the highest designation possible and continue to deliver safe, evidence-based care to mothers, babies, and families in our communities.”
RWJBarnabas Health delivers more babies than any other health system in New Jersey. The organization has also been recognized for programs addressing perinatal substance use disorders and mental health challenges related to pregnancy and postpartum periods. Their maternity hospitals were among the first in New Jersey to implement structured care models such as TeamBirth NJ and Centering Pregnancy.
“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.”
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest academic health system with 14 hospitals and over 700 patient care locations serving more than five million people annually. The system employs more than 45,000 people statewide.
For more information about U.S. News Best Hospital For Maternity Care visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
