155+ Hospital Statistics: How Many Hospitals Are There?

10 Fascinating Hospital Statistics You Need to Know

• The United States has 6,129 hospitals in 2023
• Hospitals employ over 5 million people in the US
• Hospital care accounts for over one-third of all healthcare spending
• Hospital-acquired infections affect 1 in 31 hospital patients
• Nearly 20% of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days
• The average cost of a hospital stay is over $10,000
• Hospital emergency rooms treat over 140 million patients each year
• More than 50% of hospitals in the US are non-profit
• Hospitals provide over $38 billion in uncompensated care each year
• Hospital mortality rates have decreased significantly over the years

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How Many Hospitals Are There in the U.S?

• There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association.
• More than half of these hospitals are non-profit organizations.
• Around 20% of these hospitals are government-owned or operated.
• For-profit hospitals make up approximately 18% of all hospitals in the United States.
• The remaining hospitals fall under other categories, such as academic medical centers and specialty hospitals.

How Many Specialty Hospitals Are There in the U.S?

• Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs): There are 428 LTACHs in the United States, which make up approximately 1% of all hospitals.
• Children's hospitals: There are 220 children's hospitals in the United States, which make up approximately 4% of all hospitals.
• Rehabilitation hospitals: There are 144 rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, which make up approximately 2% of all hospitals.
• Psychiatric hospitals: There are 487 psychiatric hospitals in the United States, which make up approximately 8% of all hospitals.

How Many Hospitals and Medical Centers Are There in the U.S.?:

• Community medical centers: There are over 5,000 community medical centers in the United States, which make up approximately 85% of all medical centers.
• Academic medical centers: There are approximately 400 academic medical centers in the United States, which make up around 7% of all medical centers.
• Government-owned or operated medical centers: There are over 200 government-owned or operated medical centers in the United States, which make up around 3% of all medical centers.
• For-profit medical centers: There are approximately 150 for-profit medical centers in the United States, which make up around 2% of all medical centers.
• Other types of medical centers: The remaining medical centers fall under other categories, such as specialty hospitals and research institutions.

Number of U.S. Community Hospitals

• There were 5,198 community hospitals in the United States in 2019, according to the American Hospital Association.
• These hospitals accounted for approximately 85% of all hospitals in the country.
• Of these community hospitals, around 2,900 were non-profit organizations, while approximately 1,200 were for-profit entities.
• Government-owned or operated community hospitals made up around 850 facilities.

Non-Government Not-for-Profit Community Hospitals in the United States, Listed by State

• California: 343 (12.7%)
• Texas: 244 (9.0%)
• Florida: 174 (6.4%)
• Ohio: 126 (4.6%)
• Illinois: 118 (4.4%)
• New York: 116 (4.3%)
• Pennsylvania: 107 (3.9%)
• Michigan: 100 (3.7%)
• North Carolina: 87 (3.2%)

Number of Nonfederal Psychiatric Hospitals by State

• California: 144 (10.1%)
• Texas: 71 (5.0%)
• New York: 63 (4.4%)
• Florida: 55 (3.9%)
• Pennsylvania: 48 (3.4%)

Number of Federal Government Hospitals by State

• California: 14 (8.2%)
• Texas: 13 (7.6%)
• Florida: 9 (5.3%)
• Georgia: 7 (4.1%)
• Alabama: 6 (3.5%)
• Arizona: 6 (3.5%)
• New Mexico: 6 (3.5%)
• Oklahoma: 6 (3.5%)
• Virginia: 6 (3.5%)

Number of Community Hospitals in Rural Areas by State

• Alabama: 66 (100%)
• Alaska: 6 (100%)
• Arizona: 24 (92.3%)
• Arkansas: 50 (100%)
• California: 34 (20.2%)
• Colorado: 28 (53.8%)
• Connecticut: 1 (5.9%)
• Delaware: 1 (33.3%)
• There are approximately 2,000 community hospitals located in rural areas across the United States.
• These hospitals provide essential medical care to millions of Americans living in rural communities.
• Rural community hospitals make up around 35% of all community hospitals in the United States.

Number of Urban Community Hospitals by State

• California: 217 (8.1%)
• Texas: 184 (6.9%)
• Florida: 130 (4.8%)
• New York: 118 (4.4%)
• Pennsylvania: 95 (3.5%)
• Illinois: 89 (3.3%)
• Ohio: 87 (3.2%)
• Michigan: 81 (3.0%)
• North Carolina: 72 (2.7%)

Admissions in Community Hospitals

• In 2018, there were over 35 million admissions to community hospitals in the United States.
• This represents approximately 75% of all hospital admissions in the country.
• The most common reasons for admission to community hospitals include childbirth, respiratory infections, and heart disease.
• Approximately 60% of patients admitted to community hospitals are covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
• The average length of stay in a community hospital is around 5 days.

The Best Hospitals in the United States

• Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN): Ranked number one in the nation for adult specialties and number one for overall hospital care, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2021-2022 rankings.
• Cleveland Clinic: Ranked number two in the nation for adult specialties and number two for overall hospital care.
• Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD): Ranked number three in the nation for adult specialties and number three for overall hospital care.
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell (New York City): Ranked number four in the nation for adult specialties and number four for overall hospital care.
• UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA): Ranked number five in the nation for adult specialties and number six for overall hospital care.

Number of Community Hospitals in a System

• Single-hospital systems: There are over 1,500 single-hospital systems in the United States, which make up around 25% of all hospital systems. These systems consist of one community hospital and may include other healthcare providers like clinics and physician practices.
• Two-hospital systems: There are over 500 two-hospital systems in the United States, which make up around 9% of all hospital systems. These systems consist of two community hospitals that work together to provide coordinated care and may also include other healthcare providers.
• Three-to-five hospital systems: There are over 400 three-to-five hospital systems in the United States, which make up around 7% of all hospital systems. These larger systems consist of three to five community hospitals and may also include academic medical centers or specialty hospitals.
• Six-to-nine hospital systems: There are approximately 100 six-to-nine hospital systems in the United States, which make up around 2% of all hospital systems. These large-scale networks consist of six to nine community hospitals that collaborate to provide comprehensive healthcare services.
• Ten-or-more hospital system: There are approximately 40 ten-or-more hospital system in the United States, which make up less than 1% (0.6%) of all US Hospital Systems. These large-scale networks consist of ten or more community hospitals that work together to provide coordinated care.

Top Community Hospitals Ranked by Number of Beds Available to Patients

• Florida Hospital Orlando (Orlando, FL): With 1,767 staffed beds, Florida Hospital Orlando is one of the largest community hospitals in the United States. It is part of the AdventHealth network and serves patients in central Florida.
• Methodist Hospital (San Antonio, TX): Methodist Hospital has 1,585 staffed beds and is located in San Antonio, Texas. It offers a range of medical services, including cancer care and heart surgery.
• Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami, FL): Located in Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital has 1,550 staffed beds and is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country. It is affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
• Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY): Montefiore Medical Center has 1,503 staffed beds and is located in the Bronx borough of New York City. It offers a range of medical services to patients in its surrounding communities.
• Parkland Health & Hospital System (Dallas, TX): With 1,495 staffed beds, Parkland Health & Hospital System is one of the largest public hospital systems in the United States. It provides medical care to residents of Dallas County.

Small Community Hospitals: Which Ones Have the Fewest Staffed Beds?

• Mineral Community Hospital (Superior, MT): With only 4 staffed beds, Mineral Community Hospital is one of the smallest hospitals in the United States. It serves patients in Mineral County, Montana.
• Keokuk County Health Center (Sigourney, IA): Keokuk County Health Center has only 5 staffed beds and provides medical care to residents of Keokuk County, Iowa.
• Bear Lake Memorial Hospital (Montpelier, ID): Located in Montpelier, Idaho, Bear Lake Memorial Hospital has just 15 staffed beds and offers a range of medical services to its surrounding communities.
• Pender Community Hospital (Pender, NE): Pender Community Hospital has only 17 staffed beds and is located in Pender, Nebraska. It provides medical care to residents of Thurston County and surrounding areas.
• Perry Memorial Hospital (Princeton, IL): Perry Memorial Hospital has just 25 staffed beds and serves patients in Bureau County and surrounding areas.

Highest Diseases Treated in Hospitals

• Heart disease: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it accounts for a significant percentage of hospital admissions as well. In fact, heart-related conditions make up approximately 25% of all hospital admissions in the country.
• Cancer: Cancer is another major health concern that requires specialized medical care. Around 20% of hospital admissions are related to cancer treatment or management.
• Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection that can be serious, especially for older adults or those with weakened immune systems. It accounts for approximately 10% of all hospital admissions.
• Mental health conditions: Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are increasingly recognized as important health issues that require medical attention. They account for around 6% of all hospital admissions.
• Stroke: Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, which can cause serious damage and even death. Approximately 5% of all hospital admissions are related to stroke treatment or management.

Hospital Deaths Statistics and Information

• According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 2.8 million deaths in the United States in 2019.
• Of these deaths, around 20% (or 560,000) occurred in hospitals.
• The leading causes of hospital deaths include heart disease, cancer, respiratory failure, stroke, and sepsis.

Global Hospital Surgery Statistics

• In low-income countries, only 3.5% of the population has access to safe and timely surgical care.
• In middle-income countries, approximately 50% of the population has access to safe and timely surgical care.
• In high-income countries, this number increases to around 80% of the population.
• Globally, complications from surgery occur in approximately 10% of all cases.
• The most common postoperative complications include wound infections, pneumonia, and blood clots.
• It's estimated that around 1 million people die each year due to complications from surgery or anesthesia.

Most Expensive Medical Treatments in the World

• CAR-T therapy: This cutting-edge cancer treatment involves genetically modifying a patient's own immune cells to fight cancer. The average cost is around $475,000, and only around 10% of patients can afford it.
• Gene therapy: Gene therapy is a rapidly advancing field that involves using genes to treat or prevent disease. It can be used to treat genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis or hemophilia. The average cost is around $400,000, and only around 15% of patients can afford it.
• Spinraza: Spinraza is a medication used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder that affects muscle strength and movement. The average cost per dose is around $125,000, and only around 25% of patients can afford it.
• Zolgensma: Zolgensma is a gene therapy used to treat SMA in infants under 2 years old. It involves a one-time infusion that replaces the missing or defective gene responsible for SMA. The average cost is around $2.1 million, making it one of the most expensive medical treatments in the world. Only a small percentage of patients can afford this treatment.
• Proton therapy: Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses high-energy protons instead of X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It's often used to treat tumors in sensitive areas such as the brain or spine. The average cost per treatment course is around $$150,000-$$200,000, and only around 30% of patients can afford it.

Doctors, Nurses to Patients Ratio

• On average, there are approximately 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people in the United States.
• The state with the highest ratio of physicians per capita is Massachusetts, with 4.5 physicians per 1,000 people.
• The state with the lowest ratio of physicians per capita is Mississippi, with only 1.7 physicians per 1,000 people.
• In terms of nurses, there are approximately 9 nurses per 1,000 people in the United States.
• California has the highest ratio of registered nurses (RNs) per capita at around 14 RNs per 1,000 people.
• South Carolina has the lowest ratio of RNs per capita at around 5 RNs per 1,000 people.

Hospital Discharges by State

• Washington D.C.: 1,182 discharges per 1,000 population (118.2%)
• New York: 799 discharges per 1,000 population (79.9%)
• Massachusetts: 782 discharges per 1,000 population (78.2%)
• Rhode Island: 766 discharges per 1,000 population (76.6%)
• New Jersey: 749 discharges per 1,000 population (74.9%)

States with the lowest hospital discharge rates:

• Utah: 465 discharges per 1,000 population (46.5%)
• Colorado: 484 discharges per 1,000 population (48.4%)
• Hawaii: 491 discharges per 1,000 population (49.1%)
• Idaho: 543 discharges per 1,000 population (54.3%)
• Alaska: 557 discharges per 1,000 population (55.7%)

How Long Do Patients Stay in US Hospitals on Average?

• The average length of stay for patients in a US hospital varies depending on the type of care they receive. For example, patients admitted for surgical procedures may have shorter stays than those admitted for chronic or complex medical conditions.
• In general, the average length of stay in a US hospital is around 4.5 days.
• However, this number can vary significantly by state and region. For example, patients in the Northeast tend to have longer hospital stays than those in the West or Midwest.
• According to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the states with the longest average hospital stays are New York (5.7 days), Massachusetts (5.4 days), and Rhode Island (5.3 days).
• On the other hand, states with the shortest average hospital stays include South Dakota (3.2 days), Utah (3.3 days), and Idaho (3.4 days).

The Most Common Reasons for Hospitalization in the US

• Childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions: Approximately 4.5 million hospitalizations in the United States each year are related to childbirth or pregnancy complications, accounting for around 12% of all hospital admissions.
• Digestive disorders: Digestive disorders such as stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and inflammatory bowel disease account for around 10% of all hospital admissions in the US.
• Injuries: Injuries such as fractures, sprains, and head injuries account for approximately 8% of all hospital admissions.
• Respiratory infections: Respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis are common reasons for hospitalization, accounting for around 6% of all admissions.
• Mental health conditions: Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are increasingly recognized as important health issues that require medical attention. They account for around 6% of all hospital admissions.

FAQs

Are there any differences in hospital statistics between rural and urban areas?

Yes, there are differences in hospital statistics between rural and urban areas. For example, rural areas tend to have fewer hospitals and fewer healthcare providers per capita than urban areas. Additionally, residents of rural areas may have to travel farther to access healthcare services, which can impact their health outcomes.

How do hospital statistics in the United States compare to those of other developed countries?

Hospital statistics in the United States can vary significantly from those of other developed countries. For example, the US spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the world, but it does not necessarily have better health outcomes as a result. Additionally, some countries with universal healthcare systems may have lower hospital admission rates and shorter average lengths of stay compared to the US.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted hospital statistics?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on hospital statistics. Many hospitals experienced surges in patient admissions due to COVID-19 cases, which put a strain on resources such as staffing and supplies. Additionally, many non-COVID-related procedures were postponed or cancelled during the pandemic, which could impact hospitalization rates and length of stay for certain conditions.

Conclusion

In the US, hospital statistics show the current state of healthcare. While there have been medical advancements, access to care remains a challenge. Disparities in access and hospital stay highlight the need for improving healthcare equity. COVID-19 has shown the importance of preparedness and flexibility. Ongoing research and innovation are critical to improving patient outcomes and advancing public health.

Sources

• https://www.chausa.org/about/about/facts-statistics
• https://www.aha.org/statistics/fast-facts-us-hospitals
• https://www.rosewoodrecovery.com/blog/hospital-statistics-facts
• https://www.statista.com/topics/1074/hospitals/
• https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/history-of-hospitals/
• https://www.discoveryaba.com/statistics/hospital-statistics-facts
• https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hospital.htm
• https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details