The number of hospitals in the United States is growing steadily, with an estimated total of more than 6,129 hospitals in the US as of 2021. This growth is largely due to increased demand for healthcare services from an aging population and the need to provide access to specialized treatments. Additionally, hospital consolidation and mergers are contributing to the growth of larger hospital networks that can better serve a broader range of patients.

10 Key Hospital Statistics & Facts

• There were 6,129 hospitals in the United States as of 2021.
• The total number of staffed beds in all U.S. hospitals is approximately 920,000.
• In 2019, there were 36.8 million hospital admissions in the United States.
• The average length of stay for a hospital admission in the United States is 4.6 days.
• In 2018, the total expenses for U.S. hospitals were $1.1 trillion.
• Medicare and Medicaid cover approximately 62% of hospital stays in the United States.
• The five leading diagnoses for inpatient hospital stays in 2019 were childbirth, septicemia, heart failure, pneumonia, and osteoarthritis.
• The five leading procedures for inpatient hospital stays in 2019 were cesarean section, respiratory intubation and mechanical ventilation, joint replacement, septicemia, and heart catheterization.
• In 2019, there were 5,198 registered hospitals in the United States.
• The number of rural hospitals in the United States has been declining, with 120 rural hospitals closing since 2010.

US Hospital Statistics and Facts: Number of Hospitals, Staffed Hospital Beds, and Admissions

• As of 2021, there are 6,129 hospitals in the United States.
• The total number of staffed beds in all U.S. hospitals is approximately 920,000.
• In 2019, there were 36.8 million hospital admissions in the United States.

Hospital Ownership Statistics in the United States

• As of 2021, there are 2,849 not-for-profit hospitals in the United States.
• The number of for-profit hospitals in the United States is 1,464.
• In addition to these, there are also 1,816 government-owned hospitals in the US.

According to a report by the American Hospital Association, not-for-profit hospitals account for roughly two-thirds of all hospitals in the US. Not-for-profit hospitals operate under tax-exempt status and reinvest their profits back into improving patient care and community health initiatives. On the other hand, for-profit hospitals are owned by private investors and focus on generating revenue for shareholders.

Community Hospitals by State

• California has the highest number of community hospitals with 341, followed by Texas with 279 and Kansas with 140.
• Alaska, Delaware, and Vermont have the lowest number of community hospitals with only one each.
• Texas has the highest number of staffed beds in community hospitals with 31,697, followed by Florida with 21,055 and California with 20,158.
• Hawaii has the lowest number of staffed beds in community hospitals with only 1,198.
• The average length of stay for a patient in a community hospital ranges from 2.9 days in Utah to 6.1 days in South Dakota.

Hospital Affiliations in the United States

• As of 2021, approximately 50% of hospitals in the United States are part of a larger healthcare system or network.
• The number of hospitals affiliated with larger healthcare systems has been steadily increasing over the past decade.
• Hospitals that are part of a larger healthcare system tend to have more resources and access to specialized services that independent hospitals may not have.
• However, independent hospitals may have more flexibility in decision-making and may be better able to tailor their services to meet the needs of their specific communities.

Urban vs. Rural Hospital Trends in the United States

• The number of urban hospitals in the United States has been increasing, with a total of 2,995 urban hospitals as of 2021.
• In contrast, the number of rural hospitals in the US has been declining, with only 1,134 rural hospitals currently operating.
• The decline in rural hospitals is due to various factors such as financial challenges and difficulties in recruiting medical staff.
• However, the closure of rural hospitals can have significant negative impacts on local communities' access to healthcare services.

Hospital Closures in the United States

• Between 2010 and 2020, there were a total of 135 hospital closures in rural areas of the United States.
• In 2020, there were 14 rural hospital closures in the US, which is the largest number of closures in a single year since tracking began in 2010.
• Since 2010, Texas has had the most hospital closures of any state, with a total of 25.
• The most common reason for hospital closures is financial distress, followed by changing healthcare needs and declining patient volumes.
• The closure of a hospital can have significant impacts on the local community, including loss of jobs, reduced access to healthcare services, and increased travel times for patients seeking care.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Statistics

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on hospitals in the United States. Here are some key statistics:

• In 2020, there were 7.6 million fewer hospital admissions than in 2019, a decrease of 16.5%.
• The average length of stay for hospital admissions increased from 4.8 days in 2019 to 5.2 days in 2020.
• Emergency department visits decreased by 21% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
• Outpatient visits decreased by 20% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
• In 2020, the number of hospitals reporting a financial loss increased from 18% in 2019 to 63%, with an estimated total loss of $323 billion.
• The cancellation or postponement of elective procedures and non-emergency surgeries resulted in a loss of revenue for many hospitals.
• Hospitals also incurred additional expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and other measures to respond to the pandemic.

Hospital Workforce Statistics

• As of 2019, there were approximately 5.2 million hospital employees in the United States.
• Registered nurses make up the largest healthcare occupation, with 3.0 million employed in hospitals.
• Other healthcare occupations that are well-represented in hospitals include nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and physicians.
• The median annual wage for registered nurses in hospitals was $75,330 in May 2020.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.
• However, there is also a projected shortage of registered nurses, with an estimated 1.1 million vacancies by 2022.
• The shortage of nurses could have significant impacts on patient care and outcomes, as well as on the healthcare workforce as a whole.

Hospital Finances

• In 2019, U.S. hospitals had a total margin of 3.5%, with for-profit hospitals having a higher margin than non-profit hospitals.
• The total operating revenue for U.S. hospitals was approximately $1.2 trillion in 2019, with the largest share of revenue coming from Medicare.
• However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on hospital finances. According to estimates, hospitals and health systems in the United States experienced a total loss of approximately $323 billion in 2020 due to the pandemic.
• The loss of revenue was primarily due to canceled or postponed elective procedures and non-emergency surgeries, which are typically sources of revenue for hospitals.
• Hospitals also incurred additional expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and other measures to respond to the pandemic.
• The financial impacts of the pandemic could have long-term implications for hospital operations and patient care.

Hospital Quality and Patient Safety

• In 2019, the readmission rate within 30 days of discharge was 15.7%, with heart failure having the highest readmission rate among Medicare beneficiaries.
• The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) is an initiative by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce hospital-acquired conditions. In 2020, approximately 800 hospitals were penalized for having high rates of hospital-acquired conditions, with penalties totaling $563 million.
• The most common hospital-acquired conditions are adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), pressure injuries, and surgical site infections.
• Falls are also a concern for patient safety in hospitals. In 2018, there were approximately 440,000 falls among hospitalized patients in the United States, with an estimated cost of $14 billion.
• To improve patient safety and quality of care, hospitals implement various initiatives such as hand hygiene programs, medication reconciliation processes, and patient education programs.

Conclusion

In summary, the hospital industry in the United States is complex and diverse. There are different types of hospitals, including not-for-profit, for-profit, and government-owned hospitals. The number of hospitals affiliated with larger healthcare systems has been increasing over the past decade, while the number of rural hospitals has been declining. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on hospitals in the US, resulting in decreased hospital admissions and increased financial losses. Staffing shortages and patient safety concerns continue to be challenges for the industry.

Sources

• American Hospital Association: https://www.aha.org/infographics/2020-07-24-fast-facts-infographics
• AHA Annual Survey Database: https://www.aha.org/statistics/fast-facts-us-hospitals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
• "Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2021," American Hospital Association, accessed September 13, 2021, https://www.aha.org/statistics/fast-facts-us-hospitals.
• "National Health Expenditures 2018 Highlights," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, accessed September 13, 2021, https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.

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