Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset received national recertification from The Joint Commission for total hip and total knee replacement surgery, earning its Gold Seal of Approval after an onsite review earlier this month. It marks the hospital’s
For a patient with long-term joint pain, the question often isn’t whether surgery is possible—it’s whether the care will be consistent, safe, and built to help them recover and return to everyday life.
That question got a concrete answer this month at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. The hospital. an RWJBarnabas Health facility in Somerville. NJ. received recertification by The Joint Commission—The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval—for total hip and total knee replacement surgery. The recertification followed an onsite review earlier this month of the hospital’s compliance with disease-specific care standards for total hip and total knee replacement.
The hospital’s joint surgery team marked the moment as a milestone: it is the seventh consecutive Joint Commission Certification for total hip and total knee replacement surgery since 2012.
Deirdre Blaus. Chief Administrative Officer at RWJUH Somerset. said the Gold Seal of Approval is meant to reassure the community that they are receiving the highest quality orthopedic care. She added that achieving the certification seven consecutive times reflects the commitment of everyone involved in care for joint surgery patients—from pre-operative education through discharge and recovery.
Orthopedic surgeon Stephen Kayiaros. MD. Medical Director of RWJUH Somerset’s Joint Surgery Program. focused on the real-world impact of joint pain. He said joint pain can significantly affect quality of life. and in many cases. surgery may be the best option for lasting relief. Kayiaros described the team’s focus on surgical outcomes, so patients can get back to the activities they enjoy.
The recertification arrives as part of a broader run of recognition for the hospital’s joint surgery program. RWJUH Somerset was recently recognized for orthopedic care as one of Newsweek’s America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 2026. In the U.S. News & World Report annual hospital rankings and ratings announced in July. the hospital achieved a High Performing Specialty rating for Orthopedics. a designation given to programs whose overall U.S. News score is in the top 10 percent in the nation for outcomes, patient experience, advanced capabilities, and expert opinion scores.
The hospital has also earned Healthgrades’ 2025 Surgical Care Excellence Award, placing it among the top 10 percent in the nation for surgical care. And Becker’s Healthcare recognized RWJBarnabas Health as one of the nation’s 100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs.
What’s behind the certification is a full pathway of care. RWJUH Somerset describes a joint care approach that includes experienced orthopedic surgeons. a dedicated Joint Care Coordinator. pre-surgical education. a specialized perioperative and inpatient nursing team. and physical and occupational therapy that begins on the day of surgery.
In 2025, the hospital added robotic surgery for total hip and knee replacement surgery. The hospital said the move is intended to enhance surgical precision, personalize treatment, and accelerate patient recovery.
After surgery, patients are cared for in the hospital’s 3 Pavilion Surgical Unit, which opened in early 2025. The unit includes all-private patient rooms and a rehabilitation gym. RWJUH Somerset also offers four physical therapy locations in Central New Jersey for post-surgical patients.
The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval sits inside a larger national picture the hospital has been building. The hospital says its joint surgery program is supported by resources across the institution. including its Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence and other national recognitions for clinical quality and patient safety.
RWJUH Somerset is also described as a nationally accredited. 343-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency. medical/surgical. behavioral health. and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents. It is a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents.
Beyond orthopedic care. the Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH Somerset. along with Rutgers Cancer Institute—the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—provide access to advanced treatment options including clinical trials. cellular therapies. and precision medicine. close to home.
For more information about orthopedic services at RWJUH Somerset, the hospital directs people to learn more through its orthopedic services information. Media inquiries are listed under Contact: Kathleen Roberts, 908-595-2319.
RWJUH Somerset Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval hip replacement knee replacement orthopedic surgery Somerville NJ robotic surgery joint care program
So does this mean they’re better than other hospitals or is it just a badge?
Seven years in a row?? That’s wild. My uncle had a knee thing done and it was like pulling teeth to get follow-up, so I’m glad somebody’s actually checking compliance.
Wait I thought Joint Commission stuff was basically marketing. Like they just review paperwork, right? Also “hip knee recertification” sounds like they recertify the doctors, not the patients? Not trying to be rude just confused.
Gold Seal of Approval… sure but can they also fix the wait times? I live nearby and every time someone mentions RWJUH it’s always long lines. Like certification is cool but I wanna see how fast people get surgery and physical therapy after.