Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center and the Warren Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital were among the 105 Top Hospitals named by the Leapfrog Group on Tuesday.
The Leapfrog Group, which bills itself as an independent national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, is best known for the semiannual grades it gives each hospital in the county.
Leapfrog officials said its Top Hospital designation recognizes the highest quality hospitals as identified through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Less than 5% of all eligible facilities receive the award.
The 105 Top Hospitals are recognized in four categories:
- Top children’s hospitals (9 recipients);
- Top general hospitals (29 recipients);
- Top teaching hospitals (48 recipients);
- Top rural hospitals (19 recipients).
Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel was recognized in the general hospital category; Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and St. Luke’s in Phillipsburg were recognized in the teaching hospital category.
Leapfrog also announced Tuesday that Englewood Health was named the Pandemic Hero of the Year.
Leapfrog CEO Leah Binder said this year’s awards are particularly impressive, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“2020 put hospitals nationwide to the test in the most unforeseen and unprecedented ways, so we are particularly proud to recognize excellence in the hospital industry this year,” she said. “All hospitals deserve our gratitude and these facilities, in particular, shine.
“Receiving the Top Hospital award, Leapfrog’s most prestigious and competitive award, should be celebrated. But all facilities that participate with Leapfrog deserve recognition for upholding the highest possible standards for patient care. That’s the level of commitment and transparency all Americans deserve when they entrust their lives to a hospital.”
Florida (17), Pennsylvania (11) and Texas (8) had the most hospitals recognized. Click here to see the complete list of honorees.
The Leapfrog Group’s fall grades will be announced Monday.
