What types of hospitals are there?

Hospitals include general acute care hospitals providing emergency and inpatient services, teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools, specialty hospitals focusing on specific conditions (cardiac, orthopedic, cancer), critical access hospitals serving rural areas, and long-term acute care hospitals for patients needing extended medical care.

How do I compare hospital quality?

CMS rates hospitals on overall quality, patient safety, readmission rates, mortality rates, patient experience, and timely care. Look for hospitals with high ratings in the specific procedures or conditions you need. Also consider accreditation by The Joint Commission and specialty certifications for your particular needs.

What is a critical access hospital?

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) are small hospitals in rural areas designated by CMS to receive cost-based reimbursement to remain financially viable. They must have 25 or fewer beds, be located at least 35 miles from another hospital, and provide 24/7 emergency services. They provide essential care to rural communities.

Find Hospitals Near You

Search 7,170 Hospitals across the United States

Popular: Houston, TX Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA Philadelphia, PA

The National Landscape

Understanding Hospitals across the United States

7,170

Hospitals Nationwide

Data from CMS Hospital Compare and Provider of Services (POS) files.

Understanding Hospitals

Types of Hospitals

General acute care: Handles most conditions—ER, surgery, labor & delivery, ICU
Teaching hospitals: Train medical students/residents. Often have more specialists, newer treatments.
Critical access: Small rural hospitals (25 beds max). Essential for rural communities.
Specialty: Focus on one area—cardiac, orthopedic, cancer, rehabilitation, children's

When Hospital Choice Matters Most

Planned surgery: You often can choose. Research volumes and outcomes for your procedure.
Chronic conditions: Hospitals with specialty programs (heart failure, cancer) may have better outcomes.
High-risk conditions: Complex cases benefit from high-volume centers with experienced teams.
Emergencies: Go to the nearest appropriate ER. Transfer later if needed.

Understanding Quality Measures

Star ratings: CMS rates hospitals 1-5 stars based on mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timeliness.
Procedure volume: Higher volume often means better outcomes—surgeons and teams get more practice.
Infection rates: CMS tracks infections acquired in the hospital. Lower is better.
Patient experience: HCAHPS surveys measure communication, responsiveness, and cleanliness.

Questions for Planned Procedures

Ask about volume: "How many of these procedures do you perform each year?" Higher volume generally correlates with better outcomes.

Check network status: Is the hospital AND the doctors in-network? Anesthesiologists and others can be out-of-network even at in-network hospitals.

Research condition-specific ratings: A hospital might be great for cardiac care but average for joint replacement. Look at specific measures.

Consider location for recovery: Closer to home means easier for family visits and follow-up appointments.

Hospital Coverage Basics

Medicare Part A

Covers inpatient hospital stays. Deductible: $1,632 per benefit period (2024). Days 1-60 fully covered. Copays after that.

Private Insurance

Coverage varies by plan. Check if hospital is in-network. Understand deductible, copay, and out-of-pocket maximum.

Medicaid

Covers hospital care for eligible individuals. Minimal or no cost sharing in most states.

Financial Assistance

Nonprofit hospitals must offer charity care. Ask about financial assistance programs BEFORE your procedure if possible.

Browse Hospitals by State

Select a state to find Hospitals in your area

Alaska 31 Alabama 123 Arkansas 110 Arizona 134 California 490 Colorado 114 Connecticut 49 District of Columbia 20 Delaware 17 Florida 293 Georgia 186 Hawaii 32 Iowa 127 Idaho 51 Illinois 244 Indiana 182 Kansas 163 Kentucky 121 Louisiana 220 Massachusetts 118 Maryland 72 Maine 39 Michigan 186 Minnesota 151 Missouri 154 Mississippi 122 Montana 68 North Carolina 141 North Dakota 53 Nebraska 102 New Hampshire 35 New Jersey 107 New Mexico 70 Nevada 61 New York 246 Ohio 274 Oklahoma 175 Oregon 68 Pennsylvania 257 Rhode Island 20 South Carolina 91 South Dakota 65 Tennessee 157 Texas 691 Utah 64 Virginia 130 Vermont 18 Washington 132 Wisconsin 154 West Virginia 66 Wyoming 36

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Complete Coverage

All 7,170 Hospitals, not just paying partners. See the full picture when making your decision.

Official Data

Our data comes from CMS and state licensing databases. The same sources hospitals and discharge planners use.

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