Every day, a monumental and often unseen ecosystem of care springs into action behind hospital doors, from handling over a hundred million emergency visits to delivering nearly 13% of the nation’s newborns, revealing a world of staggering scale, profound human effort, and constant financial pressure.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, U.S. hospitals recorded 36.7 million admissions, a 2.4% increase from 2020.
- Community hospitals in the U.S. admitted 33.4 million patients in 2021.
- Average length of stay in U.S. community hospitals was 4.6 days in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals generated $1.3 trillion in net patient revenue in 2021.
- Average cost per inpatient day in U.S. hospitals was $3,025 in 2021.
- U.S. hospital expenses totaled $1.3 trillion in 2021, with 59% from labor.
- U.S. hospitals employed 6.2 million staff in 2021.
- Registered nurses made up 52% of U.S. hospital workforce in 2021.
- Physicians accounted for 12% of U.S. hospital staff in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals had 6,093 acute care facilities in 2021.
- 58% of U.S. hospitals were nonprofit in 2021.
- 20% of U.S. hospitals were government-owned in 2021.
- U.S. hospital-acquired infections affected 687,000 patients yearly.
- Hospital readmission rate within 30 days was 15.3% for Medicare in 2021.
- Sepsis mortality in U.S. hospitals was 15-30% in 2021.
Hospital admissions rose significantly in 2021, reflecting immense pressure on the healthcare system.
Admissions and Utilization
- In 2021, U.S. hospitals recorded 36.7 million admissions, a 2.4% increase from 2020.
- Community hospitals in the U.S. admitted 33.4 million patients in 2021.
- Average length of stay in U.S. community hospitals was 4.6 days in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals performed 28.4 million inpatient surgeries in 2021.
- Emergency departments in U.S. hospitals treated 131.3 million patients in 2021.
- 65% of U.S. hospital admissions in 2021 were from the emergency department.
- U.S. hospitals had 925,351 staffed beds in 2021.
- Occupancy rate in U.S. community hospitals averaged 63% in 2021.
- Newborns accounted for 12% of U.S. hospital admissions in 2021.
- U.S. rural hospitals admitted 3.2 million patients in 2021.
- Global hospital admissions reached 200 million in high-income countries in 2019 pre-COVID.
- UK NHS hospitals had 17.2 million admissions in 2022/23.
- Canadian hospitals reported 2.7 million acute care admissions in 2021-22.
- Australian public hospitals admitted 6.6 million patients in 2021-22.
- German hospitals recorded 17.3 million admissions in 2021.
- French hospitals had 8.2 million ordinary admissions in 2022.
- Japan saw 13.5 million hospital discharges in 2021.
- Indian hospitals estimated 40 million admissions annually pre-COVID.
- Brazil public hospitals admitted 14 million patients in 2022.
- South African private hospitals had 1.2 million admissions in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals discharged 33 million Medicare patients in 2021.
- Outpatient visits in U.S. hospitals: 939 million in 2021.
- U.S. teaching hospitals admitted 45% of patients in 2021.
- Alcohol-related hospital admissions in U.S.: 1.5 million yearly.
- Heart disease admissions: 1.1 million in U.S. hospitals 2021.
- COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked at 150,000 daily in U.S. Jan 2022.
- Mental health admissions: 2.5 million in U.S. hospitals 2021.
- Cancer-related admissions: 1 million in U.S. 2021.
- Stroke admissions: 795,000 yearly in U.S. hospitals.
Admissions and Utilization Interpretation
While U.S. hospitals juggled a staggering 131 million emergency visits and performed enough surgeries to fill a small nation, their beds were only two-thirds full on average, suggesting a healthcare system perpetually sprinting in a marathon but, thankfully, still with some room left to breathe.
Financial Performance
- U.S. hospitals generated $1.3 trillion in net patient revenue in 2021.
- Average cost per inpatient day in U.S. hospitals was $3,025 in 2021.
- U.S. hospital expenses totaled $1.3 trillion in 2021, with 59% from labor.
- Medicare paid $162 billion to U.S. hospitals in 2021.
- Nonprofit hospitals comprised 58% of U.S. community hospitals, generating 55% of revenue.
- For-profit U.S. hospitals had 23% of admissions but 20% of revenue in 2021.
- U.S. hospital charity care totaled $42 billion in 2021.
- Bad debt for U.S. hospitals averaged 2.7% of revenue in 2021.
- UK NHS hospital expenditure was £178 billion in 2022/23.
- Average cost per hospital stay in Canada was CAD 7,000 in 2021-22.
- Australian hospital expenditure reached AUD 90 billion in 2021-22.
- German hospital revenues were €120 billion in 2021.
- French public hospitals spent €98 billion in 2022.
- Japanese hospital costs averaged ¥1.2 million per admission in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals collected $130 billion in patient payments 2021.
- Outpatient revenue share in U.S. hospitals: 50% in 2021.
- Labor costs 59% of U.S. hospital expenses in 2021.
- Supply costs rose 20% for U.S. hospitals 2021-2022.
- Medicaid hospital payments: $90 billion in U.S. 2021.
- Private insurance paid 35% of U.S. hospital revenue 2021.
- Uncompensated care in U.S. hospitals: $42 billion 2021.
- Operating margin for U.S. hospitals: -0.5% in 2022.
- Capital expenditures by U.S. hospitals: $120 billion 2021.
- UK hospital debt reached £12 billion in 2023.
Financial Performance Interpretation
The American healthcare system is a dizzyingly expensive behemoth that somehow manages to generate trillions while running on fumes, as evidenced by its staggering revenues, colossal labor costs, and the grim reality that even after all that money changes hands, the average hospital still loses half a penny on every dollar of operation.
Infrastructure
- U.S. hospitals had 6,093 acute care facilities in 2021.
- 58% of U.S. hospitals were nonprofit in 2021.
- 20% of U.S. hospitals were government-owned in 2021.
- Rural U.S. hospitals numbered 1,799 in 2021.
- Average U.S. hospital size was 160 beds in 2021.
- 78% of U.S. community hospitals had emergency services in 2021.
- MRI scanners in U.S. hospitals totaled 7,500 in 2021.
- CT scanners numbered 13,000 in U.S. hospitals in 2021.
- UK had 1,600 NHS hospitals/trusts in 2023.
- Canada operated 700 acute care hospitals in 2022.
- Australia public hospitals: 697 facilities in 2022.
- Germany had 1,900 hospitals in 2021.
- France counted 1,400 hospitals in 2022.
- 76% of U.S. hospitals were in metropolitan areas 2021.
- Critical access hospitals in U.S.: 1,370 with 25 beds max.
- Operating rooms average per U.S. hospital: 12 in 2021.
- ICU beds in U.S. hospitals: 92,000 in 2021.
- Telemedicine capability in 80% of U.S. hospitals 2022.
- Radiation therapy machines: 2,500 in U.S. hospitals.
- UK hospital bed occupancy: 92% in 2023.
- Canada MRI units per million: 10.5 in 2022.
- Australia hospital beds: 5.8 per 1,000 population.
- Germany average hospital beds: 330 per facility.
- France radiotherapy centers: 200 in public hospitals.
Infrastructure Interpretation
In a system where 58% claim a nonprofit heart and 76% cluster in bustling cities, America's 6,093 hospitals weave a sprawling, high-tech, and geographically lopsided safety net that, for better or worse, has a bed—or a scanner—for nearly every conceivable ailment.
Patient Safety and Outcomes
- U.S. hospital-acquired infections affected 687,000 patients yearly.
- Hospital readmission rate within 30 days was 15.3% for Medicare in 2021.
- Sepsis mortality in U.S. hospitals was 15-30% in 2021.
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections declined 7% in U.S. hospitals 2020-2021.
- Patient safety incidents in UK NHS: 24,625 serious in 2022/23.
- Australia hospital mortality rate: 1.8% for admissions in 2021-22.
- Canada standardized mortality ratio in hospitals: 0.95 in 2021-22.
- Germany hospital mortality index: 85 per 1,000 in 2021.
- France avoidable hospital deaths: 10% reduction 2019-2022.
- Japan post-surgical mortality rate: 0.8% in 2021.
- CAUTI rates dropped 12% in U.S. hospitals 2019-2021.
- VTE prophylaxis compliance: 95% in top U.S. hospitals.
- Surgical site infections: 2-5% of procedures in U.S.
- Falls with injury: 700,000 yearly in U.S. hospitals.
- Pressure ulcers stage 3+: 2.5% prevalence in hospitals.
- CLABSI SIR: 0.78 in U.S. hospitals 2021.
- UK never events in hospitals: 806 in 2022/23.
- Canada Clostridium difficile infections: 12,000 cases yearly.
- Australia hand hygiene compliance: 84% in hospitals.
- Germany patient satisfaction score: 7.8/10 in 2021.
- Japan hospital infection rate: 1.5% post-op.
Patient Safety and Outcomes Interpretation
The numbers whisper of tireless progress against a backdrop of human vulnerability, where every decimal point earned in infection rates and every percentage shed from mortality reflects a quiet war being won but also reminds us that the most important statistic remains the singular patient at the center of it all.
Workforce Statistics
- U.S. hospitals employed 6.2 million staff in 2021.
- Registered nurses made up 52% of U.S. hospital workforce in 2021.
- Physicians accounted for 12% of U.S. hospital staff in 2021.
- U.S. hospitals had 1.2 million full-time equivalent RNs in 2021.
- Turnover rate for hospital RNs in U.S. was 27.1% in 2022.
- Average RN salary in U.S. hospitals was $81,000 in 2021.
- UK NHS had 1.4 million hospital staff in 2023.
- Canada had 300,000 hospital workers in 2022.
- Australia employed 500,000 in public hospitals in 2022.
- Germany had 1.9 million hospital employees in 2021.
- France hospitals staffed by 1.1 million in 2022.
- Japan hospitals had 4.3 million workers in 2021.
- RN vacancy rate in U.S. hospitals: 17% in 2022.
- Physicians per hospital bed in U.S.: 2.5 in 2021.
- Allied health staff: 25% of U.S. hospital workforce.
- Nurse-to-patient ratio average 1:5 in U.S. ICUs 2021.
- Travel nurses filled 10% of U.S. hospital RN positions 2022.
- Administrative staff: 25% of U.S. hospital employees.
- UK NHS nurse vacancies: 40,000 in 2023.
- Canada physician shortage: 2.5 million hour deficit yearly.
- Australia nurse-to-population ratio: 12.7 per 1,000.
- Germany doctor employment growth: 2% yearly 2021.
- France hospital staff turnover: 8% in 2022.
Workforce Statistics Interpretation
The American hospital system is a nurse-driven ship taking on water at a rate of 27.1%, staffed by a resilient majority who are increasingly expensive to retain yet indispensable to keeping it afloat.
Sources & References
- Reference 1AHAaha.orgVisit source
- Reference 2WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 3ENGLANDengland.nhs.ukVisit source
- Reference 4CIHIcihi.caVisit source
- Reference 5AIHWaihw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 6DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 7DREESdrees.solidarites-sante.gouv.frVisit source
- Reference 8MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 9NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 10DATASUSdatasus.saude.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 11BOARDOFHEALTHCAREFUNDERSboardofhealthcarefunders.co.zaVisit source
- Reference 12KFFkff.orgVisit source
- Reference 13AACNNURSINGaacnnursing.orgVisit source
- Reference 14NSINURSINGSOLUTIONSnsinursingsolutions.comVisit source
- Reference 15BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 16SHEPSCENTERshepscenter.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 17OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 18CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 19CMScms.govVisit source
- Reference 20G-BAg-ba.deVisit source
- Reference 21COVIDcovid.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 22NAMInami.orgVisit source
- Reference 23CANCERcancer.govVisit source
- Reference 24DEFINITIVEHCdefinitivehc.comVisit source
- Reference 25HEALTHSYSTEMTRACKERhealthsystemtracker.orgVisit source
- Reference 26KINGSFUNDkingsfund.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 27BHDDHbhddh.ri.govVisit source
- Reference 28AACNaacn.orgVisit source
- Reference 29HCAIhcai.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 30NURSINGTIMESnursingtimes.netVisit source
- Reference 31CMAcma.caVisit source
- Reference 32BUNDESAERZTEKAMMERbundesaerztekammer.deVisit source
- Reference 33RURALHEALTHINFOruralhealthinfo.orgVisit source
- Reference 34SCCMsccm.orgVisit source
- Reference 35INCAinca.frVisit source
- Reference 36JOINTCOMMISSIONjointcommission.orgVisit source
- Reference 37AHRQahrq.govVisit source
- Reference 38SAFETYANDQUALITYsafetyandquality.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 39SANAsana.deVisit source
- Reference 40JSTAGEjstage.jst.go.jpVisit source