There are hundreds of New Jersey hospitals ranging in size from community hospitals to large urban and teaching hospitals. Many hospitals in New Jersey are highly ranked in the areas of patient safety, research and specialty care.

When you need to make a decision about medical care, it's helpful to be familiar with the local medical facilities. Some ways to be informed about NJ hospitals in your area include:

1. Get to know the New Jersey medical centers that provide emergency and cardiac care.

2. Know what hospital to be transported to for a non-life threatening injury.

3. Find out about specialty care, surgery and therapy provided by hospitals in your area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse a directory of hospitals in New Jersey

Begin your search for a hospital with a source that provides size and rank data for hospitals in your area.

I recommend: Get information from the Joint Commission, an independent, non-profit organization that accredits hospitals and other health care organizations. MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, provides a database of hospitals. Find lists of trauma centers from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Veterans' hospitals in New Jersey are listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Find out about New Jersey trauma hospitals

A trauma center provides emergency care for accidents and other traumas 24 hours per day. Trauma centers are ranked either level one or level two based on their facilities and equipment.

I recommend: Cooper University Hospital is a level one trauma center that also provides specialty care in a variety of health conditions. The Hackensack University Medical Center is a level two trauma center that is accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, a non-profit society focused on cardiac health.

Find hospitals in NJ that offer specialty care

Some hospitals are dedicated to a specific group or function, such as pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals. Rehabilitation hospitals help a patient recover physical, mental and sensory skills lost because of a disease or injury. A pediatric hospital provides care for babies and children.

I recommend: The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is a top-ranked rehabilitation center with programs for spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke, amputation and musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a New Jersey medical center that hosts the Children's Heart Program, the only academic pediatric cardiovascular program in the state.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you are admitted to a New Jersey health facility, make sure your medical team is aware of your medical history, especially what medicines you take. Find out if you should take your medicine while in the hospital. Keep a list of medicines you take. When given medicine, make sure it's part of your regimen. If it isn't, find out why it's being administered.