Report: Hospitals generate $2.6 trillion a year for U.S. economy
America’s community hospitals contributed nearly $2.6 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2013, including 5.6 million jobs, according to report released today by the AHA. Hospitals are the second largest source of private-sector jobs, accounting for one of nine jobs with ripple effects included. Each hospital job supports about two more jobs in other sectors, and every dollar spent by a hospital supports roughly $2.30 of additional business activity, the analysis shows. “While hospitals provide vital health care services to millions of people each year, these statistics show a hospital’s importance to its community beyond health care,” said AHA Vice President of Trends Analysis Caroline Steinberg in an AHASTAT . “That’s why talk of cuts to hospital services could not only impact patient care but the overall financial health of the entire community.”