ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the data used to assess the claims of a narrowing distinction between hospital types. If these claims are correct, the efficiency and community-service outcomes of these two types of hospitals will tend to converge over time. The American Hospital Association surveys every hospital in the country annually. Data were obtained on all short-term general hospitals in the contiguous United States—which are self-identified in the following categories: for-profit, private not-for-profit, religious not-for-profit and government not-for-profit. Historically, researchers have linked efficiency outcomes and hospital ownership type. More specifically, they have examined the efficiency of for-profit hospitals. As for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals continue to adopt similar cost-reduction strategies, the difference between the for-profit and not-for-profit hospital expenses per adjusted admission can be expected to narrow. A hospital’s outpatient department is a costly mechanism for rendering patient care, and some fear that hospitals will abandon their provision of outpatient services.
