Three RWJBarnabas Health Hospitals Named to Money’s Best Hospital for Orthopedic Surgery 2026 List

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton all recognized for excellence in orthopedic surgery

West Orange, NJ - May 26, 2026 - Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, all RWJBarnabas Health hospitals, were named in Money's first-ever Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery ranking.

The recognition places CBMC, MMC, and RWJUH Hamilton among a group of 75 hospitals nationwide selected for excellence in orthopedic surgery, patient outcomes, and clinical expertise.

"At RWJBarnabas Health, we are committed to advancing orthopedic care through clinical excellence, innovation, and a patient-centered approach," said Justin Kashner, Vice President, Orthopedic Services, RWJBarnabas Health. "This recognition is a reflection of the hard work our surgeons, nurses, and care teams pour into each individual patient to help them regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life."

Money evaluated each high-performing hospital based on a combination of federal quality data, physician expertise metrics, and proprietary analysis.

To be considered for the ranking, hospitals first had to earn a four- or five-star overall quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), based on key measures including mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timely, effective care. Patient experience ratings also serve as an eligibility requirement. CMS data accounted for 25 percent of each hospital's overall score.

A significant portion of the ranking (65 percent) is focused specifically on orthopedic specialization, including:

• Depth and experience of orthopedic physicians and specialists.
• Frequency and volume of orthopedic procedures.
• Performance on hip and knee readmission rates.
• Specialty certifications from The Joint Commission.
• Whether orthopedic care represents a core focus of the hospital.

These insights were informed by data from Denniston Data and Definitive Healthcare.

The remaining 10 percent of the score reflected broader indicators of hospital excellence, including Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Lantern Awards from the Emergency Nurses Association, and participation in clinical trials and academic research.

Each hospital also underwent an editorial review process to identify any potential concerns related to patient safety or quality of care. Only hospitals meeting these standards were included in the final list.

CBMC is also rated "high performing" for Hip Fracture by U.S. News & World Report and is 5-star rated by Healthgrades for outpatient total hip replacement. MMC is rated "high performing" for hip replacement surgery by U.S. News & World Report and is 5-star rated by Healthgrades for hip fracture treatment. CBMC, MMC and RWJUH Hamilton have all received the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for total hip and knee replacement surgery. RWJUH Hamilton also received the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for spine surgery.

RWJBarnabas Health has been recognized by Becker's Healthcare as one of the 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Orthopedic Programs three years in a row. It offers comprehensive orthopedic services for adults and children to help manage conditions caused by arthritis, degenerative joint disease, injuries, congenital issues and general wear and tear. Orthopedic services offered at its acute care, ambulatory care and rehabilitation facilities throughout New Jersey include emergency and trauma care, diagnostic testing, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation services.

RWJBarnabas Health's expert orthopedic surgeons are leaders in their field, developing innovative techniques and implants that are used around the world, teaching the next generation of orthopedic surgeons through residency programs, lecturing, and publishing research studies worldwide. They care for professional and collegiate athletes, including the New Jersey Devils, Gotham FC, the 2025 National Women's Soccer League champions, and Rutgers University athletes.

More information about RWJBarnabas Health's orthopedic services or to find a physician.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state's largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health's commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit RWJBH.org

About Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

Since 1865, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), formerly known as Saint Barnabas Medical Center, has worked to exceed our community's highest expectations for compassionate, comprehensive health care. As New Jersey's oldest nonsectarian hospital, the 597-bed institution is one of the largest health care providers in the state, treating more than 34,000 inpatients and 96,000 Emergency Department patients each year. Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center provide treatment and services for more than 250,000 outpatient visits annually.

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center has long been recognized as a leader in providing world-class care-delivering approximately 6,300 babies annually which is one of the largest programs in the state, leading the nation in Kidney Transplant, and providing more than 100 medical and surgical specialty and subspecialty services. RWJBarnabas Health and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. For more information, call or visit rwjbh.org/coopermanbarnabas. Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center is located at 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039.

About Monmouth Medical Center

Monmouth Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, along with The Unterberg Children's Hospital, is a regional teaching campus for Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. As the first hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties, Monmouth Medical Center offers the most experienced surgeons in robotics and other minimally invasive procedures as well as bariatric and joint and spine surgery. Delivering more babies annually than all other hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined, Monmouth Medical Center was recently one of 16 New Jersey hospitals recognized by Newsweek magazine as a top maternity hospital. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and the 11th in the country to earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction® from the American Nurses Credentialing as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. It is the only hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties to consistently receive an "A" Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization, and most recently was recognized for a fourth time as a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital - one of just 73 in the nation and four in New Jersey to earn this honor. It is one of the 96 hospitals in the United States to be honored by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) with their Lantern Award, which recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research, and in 2025, earned the Lantern Award for a second consecutive time. RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - bring a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside patients, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, serves Mercer County as well as a larger five-county region of New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton's Cancer Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to its cancer center, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. RWJUH Hamilton is Joint Commission Certified, Primary Stroke Center Certified from The Joint Commission, and a Center for Excellence from The Joint Commission for stroke, spine surgery and hip and knee replacement and is MAGNET® Recognized from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), as well as designated a NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) hospital.

RWJUH Hamilton's other specialties include heart and vascular care, including emergency and elective angioplasty, heart failure intervention program, groundbreaking therapies and new surgical techniques with an innovative team of neurosurgeons, subspecialty neurologists, and neuroscience researchers coupled with the specialty-trained support staff, treatment and care for minor injuries and life-threatening illnesses, outpatient diagnostic and treatment services and medical/surgical services, bariatric surgery, wound care, women's health, geriatrics/ senior health and wellness care, infusion services, outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, including cardiac rehab, orthopedic rehab, speech therapy, aquatic therapy, a balance and hearing center and sleep center.

For more information, visit us at rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call .

Media Contact:Carrie [email protected]