Newton Medical Center Gets ‘A’ Safety Grade

NEWTON, NJ — Newton Medical Center was among 30 New Jersey hospitals that received an “A” grade from the not-for-profit healthcare watchdog, Leapfrog.

The organization completed its fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade of 2,901 facilities, 30 in New Jersey receiving an “A,” 16 given a “B,” 22 receiving a “C,” and two given a “D.” There were no New Jersey hospitals that were “F” rated.

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The group’s ratings were based on different criteria, from safety issues, to its medical staff, to infections, to its “practices to prevent errors.”

“Our commitment to the safety of our patients and team members has never wavered throughout the pandemic,” said Bob Adams, President of Atlantic Health System’s Hackettstown and Newton Medical Centers.

“At Newton Medical Center, we take pride in maintaining our 'A' grade for multiple periods and have implemented best practices,” adding about a “C” grade that Hackettstown Medical Center received, that the organization has “made significant strides toward improving our score at Hackettstown Medical Center.”

For Newton Medical Center's full report, click here.

Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group said, “As the pandemic continues, we all have heightened awareness of the importance of hospitals in our communities and in our lives.”

“It is critical that all hospitals put patient safety first,” Binder said. “Now we have more information on more hospitals than ever before, so people can protect themselves and their families.”

Here are more nationwide statistics from the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, which include:

• Thirty-two percent of hospitals received an "A," 26 percent received a "B," 35 percent received a "C," 7 percent received a "D," and less than 1 percent received an "F."
• The five states with the highest percentages of "A" hospitals are Virginia, North Carolina, Idaho, Massachusetts, and Colorado.
• There were no "A" hospitals in Delaware, Washington, DC, and North Dakota.

Click here for more Leapfrog New Jersey hospital grades.

Reporting contributed by Alexis Tarrazi

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.