How many hospitals are in each state?

What type of hospital is most common in the U.S.?

When most people picture a hospital, they’re likely thinking of a short-term acute care hospital. Patients who require a short-term hospital stay for recovery following a surgical procedure or care following a sudden injury or sickness are treated here. These are by far the most common type of hospital in the U.S., with 3,876 facilities across the country.

In second place are Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). This is a special facility designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is given to eligible hospitals located in rural areas. There are currently 1,357 of these facilities in the U.S., and they usually have fewer than 25 inpatient beds and maintain an average stay of 96 hours or less.

Rounding out, the top three are psychiatric hospitals. This type of facility is a place for people in need of treatment for severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and others. Stays in psychiatric hospitals are intended to last only long enough to resolve the most urgent issues as recommended by a doctor or healthcare professional—generally a few days to a few weeks. There are currently 818 of these facilities in the U.S.

What are the other types of hospitals in this country?

Long-term acute care hospitals specialize in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions that require care on an ongoing basis. These facilities typically manage patients who require more care than they can receive from a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility.

Children’s hospitals are exactly what the name implies. These facilities are designed to specifically treat children. These facilities offer treatment mindful of children’s physical and cognitive differences and serve as regional centers for research and preventive care.

Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals are facilities that provide care for people who served in the active military, naval or air service and were discharged with a rating of Honorable or General under Honorable Conditions.

Department of Defense hospitals, also known as military hospitals or military treatment facilities, are owned and operated by the U.S. armed forces. Their services are often reserved for active-duty members of the military and their dependents.

Religious non-medical healthcare institutions are facilities that provide nonmedical care and services to people in need but who choose to rely upon a religious method of healing because they feel that acceptance of medical services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs. Patients receive nonmedical services such as assistance with daily living, nutrition, and comfort.

Why does the total number of U.S hospitals change?

The hospital market is constantly changing due to shifts in the broader healthcare market.

Healthcare mergers and acquisitions resulting in industry consolidation are one driving force behind the changing numbers. This consolidation has contributed to the decline in U.S. hospitals for several decades.

In addition, many hospitals close due to financial pressures. Facilities sometimes fail to break even and even operate in the red, forcing them to shut down. Finally, patient care shifting to outpatient facilities like ambulatory surgery centers also has an ongoing impact on hospital counts.

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