S&P Global Ratings raised Cooper University Health Care’s credit rating to an “A+” from “A” — the health care system’s highest it has been in its 138-year history.

S&P stated that Cooper’s positive operating margins, low debt profile and experienced management team with a steadily improving market share justified the higher rating.

S&P cited Cooper’s management for, among other things, remaining “focused on sustaining financial performance through cost containment, revenue enhancement, accountability and group purchasing programs.” The report added, “Management has prioritized expanding Cooper’s market position in the very competitive southern New Jersey service area through strategic partnerships, targeted physician recruitment, and building out the organization’s ambulatory footprint.”

“This upgrade is a testament to the thousands of Cooper team members who are dedicated to our mission and the communities we serve,” George E. Norcross, III, chairman of the board of Trustees of Cooper University Health Care said. “It is also another third-party validation that we continue to successfully execute on our business strategies.”

“This is a great validation of how our extraordinary team remains focused on advanced patient care, prudent growth, and our mission to serve, to heal, and to educate that helped us transform Cooper into an elite, nationally recognized academic health system with patients from all 50 state and more than 35 countries,” Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care said.

S&P also noted Cooper’s “Solid volume trends based on successful strategic initiatives executed on by a solid management team including partnership with MD Anderson and Inspira.”

“We thank our dedicated team for focusing on becoming an extraordinary academic health system and managing our finances to help us provide advanced care to patients and meet growing demand for our tertiary services, which allowed us to achieve this strong credit rating,” Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care said.