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 3,888 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 1,363 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 830 of these facilities in the U.S.

The fourth most common type of hospital in the U.S. is the rehabilitation hospital. These are specialized facilities dedicated to helping patients recover from debilitating injuries, illnesses, or surgeries. These hospitals provide intensive therapy and medical care to restore function, independence, and quality of life. There are currently 457 active rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S.

Finally, long-term acute care hospitals are the fifth most common hospital type. These facilities are designed for patients with complex medical conditions requiring extended hospital-level care. These patients often transition from an intensive care unit (ICU) and need more intensive care than a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility can provide. There are 384 active long-term acute care hospitals.

What is a teaching hospital?

A teaching hospital is a hospital or medical center that provides medical education and training to future and current health professionals.

These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university and offer hands-on experience for medical students, residents, and other healthcare professionals.

What is a specialty hospital?

A specialty hospital is a healthcare facility that focuses on a specific type of patient or medical condition. Unlike general hospitals, which offer a wide range of services, specialty hospitals concentrate their resources and expertise on a particular area of medicine. For example, a specialty hospital could focus on providing care specifically for women’s health needs or treating cancer patients.

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 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.

Learn more

Healthcare Insights are developed with healthcare commercial intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare platform. Want even more insights? Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare commercial intelligence on hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers.