Ethan Rhodes
Hospitals are an integral part of the healthcare system in the United States, with over 6,000 hospitals providing a range of services to patients across the country. These hospitals vary in size, specialty, and ownership, and include community hospitals, non-profit and for-profit hospitals, government hospitals, and long-term care hospitals. The US hospital landscape is diverse, with critical access hospitals supporting rural communities, and VA hospitals dedicated to military personnel and veterans. With a growing emphasis on patient care, hospitals are increasingly leveraging telemedicine and artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostics and patient outcomes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals in the US | 6,093 (as per the 2023 AHA Annual Survey) or 7,300 (as per Definitive Healthcare HospitalView product) |
| Types of hospitals | Government hospitals, community hospitals, teaching hospitals, specialty hospitals (obstetrics and gynecology, eye, ear, nose, and throat, long-term acute-care, rehabilitation, orthopedic, etc.), nonfederal long-term care hospitals, prison hospitals, school infirmaries, psychiatric hospitals, religious non-medical health care institutions, etc. |
| Hospital beds | 25 or fewer inpatient beds (for small, rural critical access hospitals) |
| Funding sources | Private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, out-of-pocket payments from patients |
| Tax exemptions | Non-profit hospitals are exempt from certain taxes |
| Ownership | For-profit hospitals are owned by investors |
| Average age of registered nurses | 47 years old |
| Number of registered nurses | Over 3 million |
| Unemployment rate for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | 2.3% |
| Use of telemedicine | Increasing |
| Use of artificial intelligence | Yes, to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes |
| Most common hospital-acquired infections | Urinary tract infections and surgical site infections |
| Number of health systems in metropolitan areas | Proportional to the population of the region |
| Market competitiveness | Measured using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), which ranges from 0 (perfectly competitive) to 10,000 (monopoly market) |
| Hospital closures | 136 rural hospitals closed between 2010 and 2020, with more at risk due to financial vulnerability |
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What You'll Learn
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the US
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association's (AHA) annual survey. The AHA's role is to advocate for hospitals and health systems across the nation, and they release annual data on hospitals in the US. The 2023 survey, published in 2025, found there were 6,093 hospitals in the US.
The number of hospitals in a given area tends to increase with the population of the region. For example, while 33% of metropolitan areas had four or more health systems, these areas accounted for 77% of the US population living in metropolitan areas. In 2023, 97% of metropolitan areas had highly concentrated markets for inpatient hospital care.
The US has a variety of hospitals, including community hospitals, government hospitals, and specialty hospitals. Community hospitals include academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, while specialty hospitals cover areas like obstetrics and gynecology, ENT, rehabilitation, and orthopedics.
The US also has critical access hospitals, which are designated to improve financial stability and access to healthcare in rural areas. These hospitals are essential in underserved communities. Unfortunately, many rural hospitals are at risk of closure, with over 450 facing potential shutdown across the country. This trend is expected to continue, with a projected 25% of rural hospitals at high risk of closure.
The US hospital system is diverse and spread across the country, with a focus on providing care to all its citizens.
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Short-term acute care hospitals are most common
There are 6,093 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association's 2023 Annual Survey. More than half of these hospitals provide short-term acute care, making them the most common type of hospital in the country.
Short-term acute care hospitals specialize in providing short-term medical treatment for patients with severe or urgent health issues. They are often located in small towns and rural areas, where they serve as the primary healthcare providers for the community. Acute care hospitals are equipped to handle a wide range of medical emergencies and are often at the forefront of advanced medical technology and practices. They are staffed by diverse teams of healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, who provide comprehensive and specialized medical care.
The primary goal of short-term acute care hospitals is to stabilize patients and manage their acute medical conditions through rapid medical intervention. They focus on short-term treatment to improve patients' conditions so they can either return home or be transferred to another facility for further recovery or rehabilitation. Acute care hospitals are prepared to handle any eventuality, including natural disasters, widespread illnesses, epidemics, and accidents involving multiple casualties.
The services provided by short-term acute care hospitals include emergency departments, acute surgery, intensive or critical care units, and short-term stabilization. Acute surgery treats immediate needs, such as appendectomies or traumatic injuries like internal bleeding. Intensive care units treat and monitor patients with life-threatening conditions who no longer require emergency treatment. Short-term stabilization helps prepare patients for the actual treatment they require.
Short-term acute care hospitals play a vital role in maintaining community health and saving lives. They are an essential part of the US healthcare system, particularly in rural areas, where they improve access to healthcare services.
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Critical access hospitals are second most common
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States. Short-term acute care hospitals are the most common type, but critical access hospitals (CAHs) are a close second, with over 1,300 hospitals nationwide.
CAHs are small, rural hospitals that provide healthcare to underserved communities. They are designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals. CAHs are important because they offer more affordable and accessible healthcare to individuals living in rural areas, who are more likely to face poverty and are more susceptible to preventable illnesses.
To qualify as a CAH, a hospital must be located in a rural area, defined as any area outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area as outlined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or an area treated as rural by the CMS. They must also meet specific distance criteria: they should be located more than 35 miles from another hospital, or more than 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads. CAHs must maintain an annual average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute inpatient care and furnish 24-hour emergency care services 7 days a week.
CAHs have their own Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) and a separate payment method. They are eligible for allowable cost plus 1% reimbursement from Medicare and can also receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicaid in some states. CAHs can benefit from flexible staffing and services, capital improvement cost inclusions, and access to educational resources, technical assistance, and grants.
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Non-profit hospitals are tax-exempt
The United States is home to over 6,000 hospitals, with some sources citing a figure of more than 7,300 active hospitals. These hospitals cater to various specialties, including obstetrics, gynecology, psychiatric care, and critical access. Among these hospitals, slightly more than half of the community hospitals, approximately 5,000, are private, non-profit organizations.
Non-profit hospitals are exempt from paying taxes. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury recognize the promotion of health as a charitable purpose, and thus, non-profit hospitals are eligible for tax exemption. This tax exemption is valuable, with estimates placing the figure at $28 billion in 2020, a significant increase from the $19 billion estimated value in 2011. The rising value of tax exemption means that federal, state, and local governments forgo substantial revenue to provide these benefits to non-profit hospitals.
To maintain their tax-exempt status, non-profit hospitals must fulfill certain requirements. They are expected to provide some level of charity care and community benefits. The exact definition of "community benefits" has been a subject of debate, with some arguing that it is too broad and others claiming it is too narrow. The IRS defines community benefits to include unreimbursed Medicaid expenses, unreimbursed health professions education, and subsidized health services that are not means-tested. However, the IRS reporting format does not require tax-exempt hospitals to specify the amount of surplus funds used for facilities, equipment, and patient care, leading to potential information gaps.
Despite the substantial tax exemption, non-profit hospitals are under scrutiny to justify their status. Policymakers and special interest groups question whether these hospitals provide enough charity care to warrant the tax benefits they receive. However, advocates for non-profit hospitals argue that they provide critical services beyond charity care, such as research and training, which are essential to the nation's healthcare system. Additionally, non-profit hospitals often operate at a loss, and the tax exemption helps subsidize these services, ensuring that patients across the country continue to have access to vital clinical services.
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Psychiatric hospitals provide 24/7 inpatient mental health services
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association's 2023 survey. This number includes a variety of hospitals, such as community hospitals, government hospitals, and specialty hospitals.
Among these hospitals are psychiatric hospitals that provide 24/7 inpatient mental health services. These hospitals offer around-the-clock care for individuals with mental health disorders or those in need of behavioural health services. Psychiatric hospitals play a crucial role in providing diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring for patients under the supervision of physicians.
Inpatient mental health care in psychiatric hospitals involves admitting individuals who require intensive treatment and support. These hospitals offer a safe and nurturing environment, ensuring patients receive the necessary care with dignity and respect. The treatment plans are tailored to each patient's specific conditions and life experiences, addressing their unique mental health needs.
Psychiatric hospitals provide a range of therapies, including group therapy, medication management, expressive therapies, and alternative therapies such as art and dance. They also offer specialized programs for different age groups, addressing issues like school anxiety in children, substance abuse in teens, and senior-specific concerns. These hospitals aim to empower patients with the skills and resources to manage their mental health effectively and lead fulfilling lives.
While psychiatric hospitals have experienced a decline in inpatient capacity over the years, with a significant reduction in state psychiatric hospital beds, private psychiatric hospitals and general hospital specialty units have seen an increase. This shift reflects a focus on providing community-based outpatient services to reduce the need for inpatient care.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States.
There are over 1,300 critical access hospitals in the US. However, over 450 rural hospitals are at risk of closure.
Hospitals in the US include government hospitals, non-profit hospitals, for-profit hospitals, children's hospitals, and critical access hospitals.
