New Jersey Hospitals Ranked Second Lowest for Patient Care
Healthcare operators must navigate low patient experience scores as 28 facilities fell below the state average.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Data from the Oct 1, 2024 to Sept 30, 2025 period showed New Jersey hospitals averaged a 2.7 out of 5 in patient experience rankings. The state finished second lowest in the country, trailing only Delaware.
Why it matters
Low patient experience scores can impact hospital competitive standing and patient retention in a saturated market. These ratings, which synthesize survey data, serve as key indicators of operational performance in non-clinical areas.
New Jersey’s 64 hospitals hold a 2.7 average patient experience rating, with 28 facilities scoring below that mark. While no hospital reached a perfect five-star patient rating, seven facilities achieved five-star overall quality status from CMS.
The players
CMS
The federal agency that establishes national healthcare standards and sets quality reporting requirements for hospitals.
Valley Hospital
A healthcare provider that tied for the highest patient experience rating in New Jersey at 3.8 stars.
Deborah Heart and Lung Center
A medical facility that tied for the highest patient experience rating in New Jersey at 3.8 stars.
The details
CMS calculates these patient experience scores using four consecutive quarters of survey data. The overall hospital quality rankings incorporate additional variables including safety metrics, readmission rates, mortality, and clinical timeliness. Operators managing hospitals below the state average must contend with these multi-faceted performance benchmarks to maintain their market position.
Timeline
The data collection period ran from Oct 1, 2024 to Sept 30, 2025.
Market Landscape
These rankings track against the standardized CMS Hospital Quality Star Rating program, which governs how facilities report performance. The results reflect broader regional trends in patient experience as CMS continuously updates its methodology.
Hospital operators should monitor their facility’s specific CMS survey results to address potential gaps in patient care delivery. Management teams should evaluate the relationship between these patient experience metrics and their overall clinical quality star ratings.
The takeaway
Operational success in healthcare depends on aligning patient-facing communication with high-quality clinical outcomes. Executives should review their facility's performance against the 3.8-star state benchmark to identify specific service improvements.
Further reading
For broader trends on staffing and operational performance, see Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
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