Quick Facts About MN Hospitals

Minnesota hospitals and health systems provide needed access to health care

• Minnesota hospitals and health systems provided care for 456,988 inpatient visits and over 11.3 million outpatient visits including 1.77 million emergency room visits in 2019.
• There are 126 24-hour emergency rooms in the state. All of Minnesota hospitals’ emergency rooms treat anyone who enters, regardless of ability to pay.
• In rural Minnesota, maintaining access to quality care is of critical importance to maintaining a healthy state. There are 78 rural hospitals with the federal Critical Access Hospital designation to preserve access to care in rural areas of Minnesota. 

Hospitals and health systems are economic engines in their communities

• Minnesota's hospitals and health systems directly employ more than 127,000 people and contribute $8.6 billion in salaries and benefits. Another 105,000 jobs are tied to health care.
• Hospitals and health systems are engines of job growth with nearly one-fifth of all job vacancies in the state in health care.

Hospitals and health systems reach beyond their walls to meet the needs of their communities

• Minnesota hospitals and health systems contributed nearly $3.3 billion to Minnesota communities in 2019.
• $180 million was used to support education and workforce development, including training for doctors, nurses and other highly skilled health care professionals.
• $13.6 million in research supported the development of better medical treatments and to find cures for diseases. 
• Minnesota hospitals and health systems provided $675 million in uncompensated care to patients who did not have health insurance or the means to pay for their care in 2019. This included $510 million in bad debt and $164 million in charity care. 

By the numbers

• There are 78 critical access hospitals in Minnesota, which means they receive cost-based federal payments to preserve access to care in rural areas.
• Of Minnesota's hospitals, 88 are rural and 53 are urban. 
• Most hospitals are small; 109 are licensed for under 100 beds.
  • 0-24 beds                 39
  • 25-49 beds               50
  • 50-99 beds               20
  • 100-199 beds           13
  • 200-299 beds            3
  • 300-399 beds            3
  • 400+ beds                11           
• Minnesota’s oldest hospital is St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul and its newest are Maple Grove Hospital and PrairieCare in Brooklyn Park.  
• The average inpatient stay lasts 4.21 days and the top reasons for inpatient stays relate to births, mental health, orthopedic procedures and digestive disorders.