Hospitals

The US hospital industry includes about 6,500 hospitals with combined annual revenue of about $575 billion. Major companies include Kaiser Permanente, HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), Ascension Health, Tenet Healthcare, and Catholic Health Initiatives. The industry is fragmented: the top 50 organizations generate less than 30 percent of revenue.

Hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient services using specialized equipment. This industry doesn't include residential care facilities, outpatient care centers, or doctors' offices.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for hospital services is driven by demographics and advances in medical care and technology. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, since many hospitals offer similar services. Large companies have advantages in buying supplies, sharing best practices, and negotiating contracts with health insurers. Large hospitals may offer a wider variety of services. Small hospitals can compete successfully by serving a limited geographical area or offering specialized services. Hospitals are labor-intensive: annual revenue per employee is close to $100,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major services include in-patient hospital care (55 percent of industry revenue) and outpatient services that typically don't require an overnight stay (30 percent). Other sources of revenue include prescription drug sales, ambulatory surgeries, and contributions from private donors, nonprofit foundations, and the federal government.

Hospitals can be government- or privately-run, either by a charitable organization or a for-profit corporation. Around 60 percent of hospitals are non-governmental general medical and surgical hospitals, accounting for 75 percent of total industry revenue. Government-run ...