Robert Wood Johnson Hospital In New Brunswick Gets 'C' Leapfrog Grade

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grades report was released Tuesday by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit health care watchdog group.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick fell to a "C" grade, for the first time in recent years. The coronavirus pandemic reversed years of progress in patient safety, said Leapfrog.

Here is how the RWJ system and Saint Peters were graded in 2022 for patient safety:

• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway - A grade
• Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick - A grade Read their full report card: https://www.hospitalsafetygrad...
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton - B grade
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville - B grade
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick - C grade Read their full report card: https://www.hospitalsafetygrad...

"It's an honor to be recognized with Leapfrog's highest safety grade, for the fourth time in a row," said Leslie Hirsch, president and CEO of Saint Peter's Healthcare System. "So many individuals at Saint Peter's are responsible for the efforts that got us to this point today. Their unwavering commitment to deliver quality medical care without compromise and under the most challenging conditions is the reason Saint Peter's has become a destination for exemplary healthcare in central New Jersey."

Leapfrog said the surprisingly low grades for some hospitals reflect the number of patient deaths, recurring illnesses and infections that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had a negative effect on "healthcare delivery at every level and setting, from staffing shortages to increased infections to the very care patients receive," said The Leapfrog Group.

"The healthcare workforce has faced unprecedented levels of pressure during the pandemic, and as a result, patients' experience with their care appears to have suffered," Leapfrog Group CEO Leah Binder said in a news release.

“Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is committed to its mission as a high-reliability organization by seeking constant improvement and innovation regarding safety and quality, patient experience and clinical performance. We are confident that our strategic plan addresses these results," said Alan Lee, senior vice president and Chief Operation Officer at RWJUH. "We actively participate in national quality and safety rating evaluations as a part of our efforts to obtain all available data towards these goals. We are committed to providing the best possible care to the communities we serve."

Meanwhile, also this week both Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter's were named to Newsweek’s 2022 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals in the nation.

In New Jersey, 30 hospitals received an "A" grade, 16 got a "B," 19 earned a "C" and four received a "D." Here are the 2022 patient safety grades for all the hospitals in the state: New Jersey Hospital Safety Grades 2022: The Best And Worst

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