Our frequent high rankings and accreditations represent a commitment to patient safety and quality healthcare outcomes that not only meet our own high standards, but national benchmarks as well.
CMS 5-Star Quality Rating
Hunterdon Medical Center received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Hunterdon Medical Center was one of four hospitals to receive this rating and the only one in Central New Jersey to receive five stars. The overall star rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care.
Magnet Designated for Nursing Excellence
In July 2023, Hunterdon Health achieved its fourth Magnet™ designation, reinforcing a continued dedication to high-quality nursing excellence and adherence to national standards and delivery of nursing services by the American Nurses Credential Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. ANCC is the largest and most prestigious nursing credentialing organization in the United States. Magnet™ designation is the highest honor given to hospital nursing. Only a select group of hospitals in the country achieve this honor. In fact, only 8% of all healthcare organizations in the United States have achieved Magnet status, but less than one percent have their fourth designation.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
Hunterdon Medical Center has been honored with an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, ten consecutive times, by The Leapfrog Group, a Washington D.C.-based organization aiming to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. This national distinction recognizes Hunterdon Health’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. Most recently, Fall of 2024, Hunterdon Medical Center achieved Best Hospital Scores in the five overall areas including Infections, Problems After Surgery, Practices to Prevent Errors, Safety Problems, and Doctors, Nurses & Hospital Staff.
Jersey’s Best Top Hospitals 2024
Hunterdon Medical Center has been named Jersey's Best Top Hospital selected by rankings compiled by Castle Connolly Top Doctors in 13 categories. They include rankings for the Top 15 Overall, Top 10 for Breast Cancer, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Hip & Knee Replacement, Pain Management, Prostate Cancer, Stroke, and Patients Highly Satisfied, and Top 5 for High-Risk Pregnancy & Birth, Neurological Disorders, Doctors Always Communicated Well and Nurses Always Communicated Well.
Commission on Cancer
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) awarded Hunterdon Medical Center’s Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center the CoC’s Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA). Attaining the OAA demonstrates that our cancer program has met the requirements for all seven commendation-eligible CoC standards.
Primary Stroke Center Certification
Hunterdon Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification. Hunterdon Medical Center meets and exceeds better outcomes for patients experiencing a stroke and provides the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes.
National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
Hunterdon Health’s Breast Care Program has been granted Three-Year Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). As an NAPBC-accredited center, patients have access to high-quality care including information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services that provide psycho-social support and a survivorship care plan. Hunterdon Health offers excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care for patients with breast disease.
Hunterdon Health Receives Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™
Hunterdon Health was a 2025 and a 2024 Healthgrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ recipient for superior clinical outcomes in knee and hip replacement.
In 2022, Hunterdon Health was one of only 12 hospitals in New Jersey (448 hospitals nationwide) to receive the Patient Safety Excellence Award which was given to hospitals excelling in top-quality patient care.
The Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Awards™ recognizes hospitals that have the lowest occurrences of 14 patient safety indicators, including injuries, infections, and other serious conditions. The hospitals awarded are among the top 10 percent in the nation for patient safety.
Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders
Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) has recognized Hunterdon Medical Center’s commitment to elder care excellence. Hunterdon Medical Center is one of only 519 hospitals in North America to be designated a NICHE hospital. And, Hunterdon Medical Center is one of only 49 hospitals in NJ to have earned both Magnet™ and NICHE status.
Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Hunterdon Medical Center for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to a cardiac cath lab for care, including diagnostic catheterizations and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. Hunterdon Medical Center was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who come to the cardiac cath lab. Hospitals that have proven exceptional competency in treating patients who require cardiac catheterization have standardized their assessment process for patients before, during, and after undergoing catheterization to ensure quality and patient safety. They ensure that care in the procedure room for sedation, infection control, radiation safety, universal protocol, and time-out procedures is fully coordinated; and have mastered the appropriate transfer to a cath recovery unit to better monitor and track complications, enhance physician-to-patient communication, patient family communication, discharge instructions and follow-up information. According to the ACC, Hunterdon Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing Hunterdon and surrounding counties with excellent heart care.
Accredited by The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission (TJC) for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations sets the standards by which healthcare quality is measured in America and around the world. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies over 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of TJC healthcare professionals, at least once every three years. In 2024, Hunterdon Medical Center, Hunterdon Behavioral Health, and Home Health services were accredited.
Hunterdon Medical Center Awarded Third 2023 Antimicrobial Stewardship Award
We are proud to announce that the New Jersey Board of Health recognized both Hunterdon Medical Center (HMC) and the Hunterdon Medical Group Practices of Hunterdon Health for their Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices! HMC was recognized with the 2023 Gold Steward Award for the 3rd year in a row for their ongoing antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Hunterdon Health also received the 2023 Gold Steward Award for their stewardship initiatives in the Outpatient Setting. We were one of only three outpatient facilities in the state that were recognized by New Jersey Department of Health. There was a rigorous application process reviewing the capacity in which applicants were able to meet the CDC core elements for stewardship and were awarded based on the level of difficulty of interventions.
Great Place to Work®
Hunterdon Health is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. This significant recognition is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working for Hunterdon Health. This year, 79% of employees said it’s a great place to work. To learn more, click here.
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader
Hunterdon Health has received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). In its 16th edition, the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2024 evaluates more than 2,400 healthcare facilities nationwide. A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and 462 healthcare facilities achieved the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation. Hunterdon Health has an LGBTQIA Nurse Navigator to provide services for the community and has always been dedicated to supporting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.
Women’s Choice Award - Best Hospital for Comprehensive Breast Center
For the third year in a row, Hunterdon Medical Center was awarded the Women’s Choice Award for America’s Best Hospital in the categories of Comprehensive Breast Center. The ‘America’s Best’ hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being. This Award is the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital.
Hunterdon Medical Center Earns “A” for Social Responsibility on National Ranking
Hunterdon Medical Center has been recognized by the Lown Institute as one of the most socially responsible hospitals in America, receiving “A” grades in Equity, Value, and Outcomes on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Out of more than 3,500 hospitals evaluated by Lown, only 5% achieved honor roll status, with Hunterdon Medical Center ranking among this select group of high performers.
Hunterdon Medical Center ranked # 1 out of 60 hospitals in New Jersey and #63 nationally on the social responsibility index.
“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals that are not only leaders in clinical care but also strong community partners—and the hospitals at the top of our list are showing the way.”
The 2024-25 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. Lown’s fifth annual Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures, including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms, among others. These are independent rankings and hospitals do not apply or pay to be listed.
The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.
Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award
Hunterdon Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attack, ultimately saving lives. Hunterdon Medical Center’s MICU was also recognized with the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline System of Care Target: Heart Attack award, which focused on the system of care for patients. This award highlights the collaboration and contributions of both pre-hospital and hospital providers. This time-critical award level is limited to those agencies that provide patient transport to STEMI-receiving and STEMI-referring centers.
Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Level Achievement Award
Hunterdon Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Level quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Hunterdon Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and evidenced-based stroke treatments.
Hunterdon Health Is Honored For Digital Excellence As A 2024 Digital Health Most Wired Survey Recipient
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has announced the results of the Digital Health Most Wired Survey for the 2024 data collection period. Hunterdon Health is proud to announce our Level Seven achievement for the Acute and Ambulatory survey selection.
Among the almost 48,000 facilities represented, Hunterdon Health distinguished itself by ranking above peers in critical categories such as analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure, and patient engagement. The survey evaluates the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies across healthcare organizations, from early-stage adopters to industry leaders.
Hunterdon Happening List 2024
The Hunterdon Happening List winners and finalists from 2024 that are part of our healthcare family are:
Hunterdon Health winner of “Best Hospital.”
Hunterdon Health finalist for "Best Place to Work (100+ Employees)."
Dr. Mitchell Clarin winner of “Best in Pediatrics”, and Hunterdon Pediatric Associates and Dr. Jody L. Kroon were finalists for “Best in Pediatrics.”
Hunterdon Family & Sports Medicine at Hopewell Valley winner of “Best Sports Medicine” and Hunterdon Sports & Physical Therapy was a finalist for “Best Sports Medicine.”
Dr. Dubravka Starcevic MD winner of “Best Cardiologist” and Dr. Yaser Elnahar, MD, Hunterdon Cardiovascular Associates was a finalist for “Best Cardiologist.”
Hunterdon Center for Dermatology finalist for “Best in Dermatology.”
Hunterdon Family Medicine at Riverfield and Dr. Mitra Abessi, Hunterdon Medical Associates at Whitehouse Station were finalists for “Best Family Medicine.”
Michelle Wright, RDN, Center for Nutrition & Diabetes Management was a finalist for “Best Registered Dietician.”
Congratulations to our Team!