Logan Reid
The US healthcare system is made up of a network of integrated delivery networks (IDNs) or health systems, which manage dozens of hospitals and other care facilities. Health systems are growing as more independent hospitals join larger organizations to remain competitive. In 2023, there were 6,093 hospitals in the United States, with 900 active health systems owning or managing over 6,000 hospitals, for an average of around six hospitals per health system. The largest health system in the country is HCA Healthcare, with 220 hospitals in its network. Other large health systems include Veterans Health Administration with 172 hospitals, CommonSpirit Health with 140 hospitals, Ascension with 140 hospitals, and Trinity Health with 101 hospitals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals in the US | 6,093 |
| Number of health systems in the US | 900 |
| Average number of hospitals per health system | 6 |
| Largest health system in the US | HCA Healthcare |
| Number of hospitals in HCA Healthcare | 220 |
| Number of hospitals in Encompass Health | 143 |
| Number of hospitals in Ascension Health Alliance | 143 |
| Number of hospitals in Trinity Health | 92 |
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What You'll Learn
The number of hospitals in the US
The Definitive Healthcare HospitalView product, for example, tracks more than 7,300 active hospitals in the US, curated from nearly 40 different public, private, and proprietary sources. The number of hospitals is ever-fluctuating due to factors such as growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization.
Hospitals in the US can be categorized into several types, including community hospitals, long-term acute-care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, religious non-medical health care institutions, and rural emergency hospitals. Community hospitals include academic medical centers or other teaching hospitals if they are nonfederal short-term hospitals. Long-term acute-care hospitals have average lengths of stay of 25 days or more and provide acute care services, including respiratory therapy, head trauma treatment, and pain management. Psychiatric hospitals provide 24/7 inpatient services for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Rehabilitation hospitals focus on improving or restoring patients' functional abilities through therapy programs. Religious non-medical health care institutions provide 24-hour non-medical health care services to individuals for whom traditional medical care would conflict with their religious beliefs. Finally, rural emergency hospitals are designated healthcare facilities providing emergency and outpatient services in rural areas where maintaining a full-service hospital is no longer feasible.
The utilization of hospitals has changed over time, with a decrease in inpatient days and admissions per capita from 2000 to 2023. This decrease is partly attributed to an increase in procedures performed in outpatient settings. Hospital admissions in the US are influenced by various factors, with the most common reason for admission being childbirth. Men are more likely to be hospitalized than women, and the average length of a hospital stay is 4.6 days.
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The benefits of joining larger organizations
There are 6,093 hospitals in the United States, with large healthcare systems owning or managing over 6,000 of these hospitals. The largest health system in the US is HCA Healthcare, with 220 hospitals in its network.
Larger hospital systems can offer patients a wide spectrum of services, access to advanced technologies, and a broad pool of specialized medical expertise. They can also offer better benefit packages to their employees, including health insurance and retirement plans. Larger hospitals also provide more opportunities for career advancement, as they are capable of promoting nurse practitioners and physician assistants into managerial or administrative roles.
Working in a larger hospital, particularly one that is part of a network, exposes you to multiple other medical providers from multiple specialties. For example, someone working in the emergency department may interact with orthopedists, surgeons, neurologists, and their NP colleagues.
Joining a large healthcare organization can also provide employees with small conveniences that can add up to make a difference in their day-to-day lives. For example, affiliated daycares, cafeterias, and discounted healthcare rates.
Additionally, healthcare associations within large organizations provide members with a competitive advantage by offering resources, information, and opportunities they might not have otherwise. Members are bonded together as they advocate for their peers and share their challenges and triumphs. Joining an association also provides access to experts in the field, industry events, and networking opportunities.
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The largest health systems in the US
The US has 6,093 hospitals, and its healthcare markets are dominated by a few large players. These large health systems are crucial in healthcare delivery and play a pivotal role in driving change and shaping the future of healthcare. They manage entire networks of facilities, including dozens of hospitals and other care facilities, and can offer patients a wide range of services, access to advanced technologies, and a broad pool of specialized medical expertise.
The largest health system in the US is HCA Healthcare, with 220 hospitals in its network. It is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and was established in 1968. HCA Healthcare consistently makes the top 10 list more often than any other health system in the country.
Other large health systems in the US include:
- Ascension Health (151 hospitals)
- CommonSpirit Health
- Trinity Health
- Advocate Health
- Providence St. Joseph Health
- Dignity Health
These health systems are not just expanding their reach but are also driving industry-wide transformation. They are investing in community health programs to address disparities in care and focusing on preventative care, chronic disease management, and outcome-driven treatment plans. By prioritizing patient health over hospital visits, large health systems are reducing unnecessary procedures and controlling healthcare costs, ultimately leading to better long-term outcomes for both patients and providers.
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The number of hospitals in each state
As of 2019, there were 13,944 hospitals in the United States, serving a population of 328.2 million, with a ratio of 23,540 people per hospital. However, this number appears to include hospitals that are not accessible to the general public, such as prison hospitals or college infirmaries. Excluding these, the number of hospitals accessible to the general public in the US is estimated at around 6,093.
The number of hospitals varies by state, with some states having significantly more hospitals than others. For example, as of May 2023, Alaska had 11 hospitals, while California had 336. The number of hospitals in a state can be influenced by various factors, including the state's population, geographical size, and the distribution of urban and rural areas.
In addition, different types of hospitals exist, and their prevalence can vary across states. Short-term acute care hospitals are the most common type, with 3,888 facilities across the country. Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), which are designated for rural areas and have fewer than 25 inpatient beds, are the second most common, with 1,363 facilities. Rehabilitation hospitals, specializing in helping patients recover from injuries, illnesses, or surgeries, are the fourth most common, with 457 active facilities. Long-term acute care hospitals, which provide extended care for patients with complex medical conditions, are the fifth most common, with 384 active facilities.
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The types of hospitals
There are 6,093 hospitals in the United States, according to the 2023 AHA Annual Survey. These hospitals are spread across various health systems, with the largest being HCA Healthcare, which has 220 hospitals in its network.
Hospitals can be categorized into several types, each offering distinct services and catering to specific patient populations. Here is an overview of the different types of hospitals:
Academic Medical Centers
Academic medical centers often serve as teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools or universities. They provide a range of healthcare services to meet the general and specialized needs of their communities while also offering educational opportunities for students pursuing healthcare careers. These hospitals may be considered community hospitals if they are non-federal short-term facilities.
Acute Care Hospitals
Acute hospitals focus on treating patients with short-term health needs. Approximately 91% of hospitals fall into this category. Patients typically stay in these hospitals for ten days or fewer, and they are not equipped to handle chronic or long-term care.
Children's Hospitals
Children's hospitals are specialty hospitals that cater specifically to the healthcare needs of children and younger patients. The staff in these hospitals have received additional training to treat acute and long-term medical conditions in pediatric patients. They are also known for providing comprehensive psychosocial support to hospitalized children and their families.
Long-term Care Hospitals
Long-term care hospitals address the needs of patients with chronic illnesses, those requiring psychiatric or cardiac rehabilitation, or individuals undergoing extensive rehabilitation after accidents or injuries. These hospitals may include burn centers, cancer centers, and similar facilities. They are defined as hospitals with an average length of stay of 30 or more days.
Municipal/Community Hospitals
Municipal or community hospitals are typically small facilities funded in part by local governments. They provide limited acute care services to the local population. Community hospitals can include academic medical centers and other teaching hospitals if they are accessible to the general public and non-federal short-term facilities.
Specialty Hospitals
Special hospitals offer specific services such as obstetrics and gynecology, eye, ear, nose, and throat care, rehabilitation, and orthopedic services. They cater to patients requiring specialized treatments and may be part of a larger health system.
The diversity of hospitals allows for a comprehensive range of healthcare services to meet the varying needs of patients across the country. Each type of hospital plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals receive appropriate and timely medical care.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest health system in the US is HCA Healthcare, with 220 hospitals in its network.
There are 6,093 hospitals in the United States.
A hospital network is a public, non-profit or for-profit company or organization that provides two or more hospitals and other broad healthcare facilities and services.
