Jordan Ellis
The United States is home to thousands of hospitals, with sources estimating there are over 5,000, 6,000, or even 7,000 hospitals across the nation. The exact number is hard to pinpoint due to the variety of hospital types and classifications, such as acute care, critical access, non-profit, government-owned, and for-profit. The American Hospital Association estimated there were 6,093 hospitals in the US as of 2023, with California, Texas, and Florida being the states with the highest number.
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What You'll Learn
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the US
The US has 6,129 hospitals as of 2023. As of 2021, there were approximately 6,090 hospitals in the country. The number of hospitals in the US has been ever-fluctuating, with several thousand hospitals serving a population of hundreds of millions. The Definitive Healthcare HospitalView product, for example, tracks more than 7,300 active US hospitals.
The most common type of hospital in the US is the short-term acute care hospital, with more than half of hospitals falling under this category. Critical access hospitals are the second most common, with over 1,300 hospitals nationwide. These hospitals are small, rural hospitals that provide healthcare to underserved communities. Other specialty hospital types include children's hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals.
There are over 5,000 community medical centres in the US, which make up approximately 85% of all medical centres. There are also around 200 government-owned or operated medical centres, making up around 3% of the total. For-profit medical centres make up around 2% of the total, with approximately 150 of these centres in the US.
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50% of US hospitals are non-profit
There are over 5,000 hospitals in the United States, with sources giving exact figures of 5,250 and 6,093. Of these, around 50% are non-profit hospitals, which equates to approximately 3,900 hospitals. Non-profit hospitals are tax-exempt and are supposed to plough the money they save on taxes back into the community by lowering healthcare costs or providing free care for those who cannot afford it. However, critics argue that this is not what happens in practice. Instead, they claim that non-profit hospitals use the money to fund lavish expenses, such as seven-figure executive salaries, extravagant galas, private jets, and lobbying.
Non-profit hospitals are able to maintain their tax-exempt status by using Chargemaster prices when filling out the charitable contribution section on their 990-tax forms. These are made-up prices that are much higher than what commercial insurance or Medicare would typically pay for the same service or procedure. This allows non-profit hospitals to inflate the amount they "give back" to the community.
Furthermore, research by Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, and the London School of Economics found that non-profit hospitals do not price any less aggressively than for-profit hospitals. This calls into question the value of the substantial tax exemptions these hospitals receive. Over the last decade, the American Hospital Association, which advocates for hospitals in the United States, has spent almost $400 million on lobbying.
Despite the criticism of non-profit hospitals, it is important to recognize that they play a crucial role in providing healthcare to underserved communities. Critical access hospitals, which are small, rural hospitals, are the second most common type of hospital in the United States, with over 1,300 hospitals nationwide. These hospitals receive most of their payer reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
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20% are government-owned or operated
The number of hospitals in the United States has reached several thousand, with sources citing different figures. Definitive Healthcare's HospitalView product, for instance, tracks more than 7,300 active hospitals in the country. Meanwhile, the American Hospital Association (AHA) reports that there are 6,093 hospitals in the United States as of 2023.
Hospitals in the US can be classified into several types, including short-term acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, children's hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals. Critical access hospitals, which number over 1,300 nationwide, are small, rural hospitals that provide healthcare to underserved communities.
In terms of ownership, nearly half of the 4,644 Medicare-enrolled hospitals are non-profit (49.2 percent), while 36.1 percent are for-profit, and 20% are government-owned or operated. This amounts to about 683 government-owned hospitals. Individuals own 8.0 percent of the hospitals, with a larger ownership share of nearly 50 percent in specialty hospitals like psychiatric hospitals.
The number of hospitals in the US is ever-fluctuating due to factors such as growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization. For instance, dozens of hospitals in rural areas of the US have closed in the last decade, particularly in the southeast.
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18% are for-profit hospitals
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, with sources citing different exact numbers. The American Hospital Association (AHA) reports 6,093 hospitals in the country. Another source states that there are over 7,300 active hospitals in the US. These hospitals are curated from nearly 40 different public, private, and proprietary sources.
The number of hospitals in the US is ever-fluctuating due to various factors, including growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization. The AHA conducts an annual survey of hospitals in the US, which includes data on the number of government hospitals, the number of hospitals in each state, and the number of hospital beds.
Among the different types of hospitals in the US, short-term acute care hospitals are the most common, followed by critical access hospitals, with over 1,300 of these serving rural communities across the country. Other types of hospitals include long-term acute care, psychiatric, and rehabilitation hospitals, which are considered specialty hospitals due to the specific patient populations they serve and the specialized care they provide.
It is against this backdrop that 18% of hospitals in the US are for-profit institutions. These hospitals are driven by financial motives and seek to generate profits for their owners or shareholders. They operate as businesses and aim to maximize revenue while providing healthcare services. The remaining hospitals are non-profit or government-owned, focusing primarily on delivering care to patients without the same degree of profit motive.
The 18% of for-profit hospitals in the US contribute to the diverse landscape of healthcare delivery in the country. They are typically driven by different incentives and operate with distinct motivations compared to their non-profit counterparts. These hospitals may prioritize efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and profitability in their operations. They may also cater to specific market demands and target certain patient populations to maximize their financial gains.
The presence of for-profit hospitals introduces market dynamics into the healthcare sector. These hospitals compete with other healthcare providers, potentially driving innovation, improving services, and creating a diverse range of treatment options for patients. However, the profit motive can also lead to criticisms and ethical concerns, particularly regarding the potential prioritization of financial gains over patient well-being.
The impact of for-profit hospitals on healthcare outcomes and accessibility is a subject of ongoing debate. While these institutions can bring efficiency and business acumen to healthcare delivery, there are also concerns about their impact on vulnerable communities and the potential for profit-driven decisions to influence the quality and availability of care. Balancing the benefits of a market-driven approach with ensuring equitable and affordable healthcare for all remains a challenge in the US healthcare system.
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428 long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs)
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs) are specialised medical facilities that provide extended hospital-level care for patients with complex medical conditions. LTACHs are designed to cater to patients who have been discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) but still require ongoing medical treatment. These hospitals are equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by a multidisciplinary team of critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory care practitioners, dietitians, occupational/physical therapists, and social workers. The goal of LTACHs is to help patients regain their strength and independence, stabilise them to their baseline of health, and ensure their optimal recovery so they can return home and function independently.
LTACHs can be standalone buildings or reside within traditional acute care hospitals. They are distinct from long-term care (LTC) facilities, which have a more residential feel with a focus on community living and amenities. In contrast, LTACHs resemble traditional hospitals, emphasising clinical care and rehabilitation. While LTC facilities may have only one registered nurse (RN) on site, LTACHs have a higher proportion of RNs specialising in critical care.
The staffing model in LTACHs typically involves nurses working 12-hour shifts, either during the day or at night, for three to four days per week. This schedule allows nurses to witness their patients' recovery from start to finish, providing a rewarding experience. Additionally, LTACHs offer innovative technology and immediate access to comprehensive hospital services, ensuring that patients receive continuous, expert care.
As of 2020, there were 5,250 acute care and critical access hospitals in the United States, with more than half of them being short-term acute care hospitals. While the exact number of LTACHs in the country was not found, they are considered specialty hospitals due to the specific patient populations they serve and the specialised care they provide.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States. The exact number varies across sources, with some stating 6,090, 6,093, and 6,129.
Approximately 36% of hospitals in the United States are non-profit organizations. This equates to around 2,845 hospitals.
Around 20% of hospitals in the United States are government-owned or operated, which amounts to over 200, and approximately 1,200 hospitals.
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