Public Hospitals vs. Private Hospitals

There are many factors to consider when choosing a hospital. For non-emergency situations – such as childbirth planning or undergoing scheduled or routine medical procedures – patients often have a choice of what type of hospital to go to, either public or private.

There are benefits and drawbacks to each type of hospital. But in today’s society, many people are more concerned about getting adequate care at prices they can afford rather than paying high fees for essentially the same medical service.

As of 2019, there are more than 6,000 hospitals in the U.S. The vast majority of these are large, public facilities like community-owned hospitals rather than smaller, for-profit private facilities. Public hospitals were responsible for 33.6 million admissions in 2017, whereas private hospitals admitted only 1.8 million patients.

Let’s compare them here:

ADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Because they are partly or fully funded by a public municipality, public hospitals accept nearly every type of insurance and are very flexible. They are usually more affordable than private facilities.

They also have a much higher number of beds, so they can accommodate more patients at a time. They tend to provide more care for an emergency-room patient who doesn’t have insurance than a private hospital would, so those who do not have insurance generally fare better at a public hospital.

CONSIDERATIONS OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Private hospitals can be a bit more comfortable than a large public hospital, and patients know that they are paying more for the extra service. These hospitals often charge more for the same procedures and medical services, in terms of whether your insurance is accepted and/or your total out-of-pocket expenses.

Generally, the typical patient of a private hospital is older – in the 60-79 age range – and prefers more personalized care than a public hospital can provide. But older patients usually can afford to pay for it.

Nurses and hospitalists tending to you in a private hospital often oversee fewer patients per person, so the service feels more personalized. Because private facilities exist for profit, they often deny extra care to people who cannot pay or have no insurance.

Public hospitals don’t set money aside for sleek advertising like private ones do. That is where part of their higher fees go, to pay for things like advertising and marketing.

PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN WOOSTER, OHIO

If you live in northeastern Ohio, visit Wooster Community Hospital  , a public hospital with personalized care.  WCH is a five-time winner of the prestigious IBM/Watson 100 Top Hospitals  award. We’re conveniently located south of Cleveland and west of Canton.

Call us today to schedule an appointment or a consultation with one of our physicians at (330) 263-8144. You can also contact us online and find a physician, use our telemedicine option, or read about some of the positive feedback we’ve received from other patients. Come see for yourself how our family can take care of you and your family for a lifetime of health and wellness!