Here are statistics on the number of independent community hospitals compared to community hospitals that are part of a larger hospital system from 1999-2008, according to the American Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals. The data show a slight decrease in the number of independent community hospitals from 1999-2008.
Source: Health Forum, AHA Annual Survey of Hospitals, 1999-2008. Learn more about the AHA.
| Year | Total community hospitals | Community hospitals in systems |
Independent community hospitals |
| 1999 | 4,956 | 2,524 |
2,432 |
| 2000 | 4,915 |
2,542 | 2,373 |
| 2001 |
4,908 |
2,580 |
2,328 |
| 2002 |
4,927 |
2,606 | 2,321 |
| 2003 |
4,895 |
2,626 |
2,269 |
| 2004 |
4,919 |
2,669 | 2,250 |
| 2005 | 4,936 | 2,716 | 2,220 |
| 2006 |
4,927 |
2,755 | 2,172 |
| 2007 2008 |
4,897 5,010 |
2,730 2,868 |
2,167 2,142 |
Source: Health Forum, AHA Annual Survey of Hospitals, 1999-2008. Learn more about the AHA.