RWJ University Hospital Somerset Earns 'A' Grade For Safety

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset received an "A" grade in hospital safety, according to the spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grades released Thursday by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit healthcare watchdog.

"Achieving lasting improvements in safety and quality is a long-term endeavor that demands continuous dedication to drive meaningful change and lasting results," said Andy Anderson, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer at RWJBarnabas Health. "As we continue our unwavering pursuit of excellence in safety and quality, this industry recognition demonstrates the hard work and dedication of our clinicians and staff throughout the system."

The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grades are a biannual ranking that assigns a “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” to all general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

According to the safety grades, 18 hospitals received a "B" and 12 got a "C."

New Jersey ranks third among all states for the percentage of hospitals receiving “A” grades in the spring 2025 report card.

Here is a look at how RWJ University Hospital Somerset performed in the following five categories:

Infections

• MRSA Infection - Worse Than Average
• C. diff Infection - Better Than Average
• Infection in the blood - Better Than Average
• Infection in the urinary tract - Better Than Average
• Surgical site infection after colon surgery - Average
• Sepsis infection after surgery - Average

Problems with Surgery

• Dangerous object left in patient's body - Better Than Average
• Surgical wound splits open - Worse Than Average
• Death from serious treatable complications - Average
• Blood Leakage - Better Than Average
• Kidney injury after surgery - Average
• Serious breathing problem - Average
• Accidental cuts and tears - Average

Safety problems

• Harmful events - Better Than Average
• Dangerous bed sores - Average
• Patient falls and injuries - Better Than Average
• Falls causing broken hips - Better Than Average
• Collapsed lung - Worse Than Average
• Dangerous blood clot - Average
• Air or gas bubble in the blood - Better Than Average

Practices to Prevent Errors

• Doctors order medications through a computer - Better Than Average
• Safe medication administration - Better Than Average
• Handwashing - Better Than Average
• Communication about medicines - Average
• Communication about discharge - Average
• Staff work together to prevent errors - Better Than Average

Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff

• Effective leadership to prevent errors - Better Than Average
• Enough qualified nurses - Better Than Average
• Specially trained doctors care for ICU patients - Better Than Average
• Communication with doctors - Average
• Communication with nurses - Average
• Responsiveness of hospital staff - Average

You can see the full rankings here.

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