Rankings based on annual revenue and the Veterans’ Administration tops the list
When Dark Daily recently published a list of the Top Ten Largest Medical Groups in the United States, not only was it a popular topic, but many readers asked us to present a similar list for healthcare systems. Dark Daily is glad to oblige and presents below a list of the Top Ten Largest Healthcare Systems in the United States, ranked on annual revenue.
This ranking of the Top Ten Biggest Healthcare Systems includes government healthcare systems, not-for-profit healthcare systems, and for-profit healthcare systems. As you will see, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs holds down the number one position, with annual revenue of $40.7 billion. Coming in second on this ranking is HCA, Inc., with annual revenue of $28.4 billion. Of the ten largest healthcare systems, three are owned by Catholic organizations and three are for-profit hospital corporations.
For comparison, the VA operates 153 medical centers. It also operates what it describes as “more than 1,400 sites of care, including 909 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 135 nursing homes, 47 residential rehabilitation treatment programs, 232 Veterans Centers, and 108 comprehensive home-care programs.” HCA owns and operates 163 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England.
Notably, Catholic Health Initiatives, based in Denver, Colorado, has just become an equity owner of Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories, based in Spokane, Washington. (See Dark Daily, October 28, 2009, “PAML Has New Owner as Catholic Health Initiatives Buys a Stake” .) Of the ten largest health systems in the nation, Catholic Health Initiatives has a proactive strategy to use laboratory testing outreach programs as a way to build its presence in the outpatient/outreach market.
Top 10 Healthcare Systems by Revenue (ranked by net patient revenue $ millions)
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. U.S. Veterans Affairs Dept | $40,686.5 | $36,892.1 |
| 2. HCA, Inc. | $28,374.0 | $26,858.0 |
| 3. Ascension Health | $12,720.6 | $11,529.9 |
| 4. Community Health Systems | $10,840.1 | $7,127.5 |
| 5. NY Presbyterian Healthcare Sys | $8,458.3 | $7,387.5 |
| 6. Tenet Healthcare Corp. | $8,348.0 | $8,557.0 |
| 7. Catholic Health Initiatives | $7,817.1 | $7,212.3 |
| 8. Catholic Healthcare West | $7,596.2 | $6,723.5 |
| 9. Sutter Health | $6,874.0 | $6,186.0 |
| 10. Mayo Clinic | $6,143.5 | $5,730.2 |
| Top Ten’s Cumulative Revenue: | $137,858.3 | $124,204.0 |
| (Source: Modern Healthcare, 2009) | ||
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The reason why health care, as a whole, has been in need of reform for many years is because it has NOT been looked at like a business; traditionally, reducing costs was not a focus, nor was looking at ways to improve efficiency. Jacobson, if you work in healthcare, you would notice that quality improvement practices have finally made their way into hospitals. The same goes for materials management and the health care supply chain function – check out “the efficient frontier” and you’ll rethink your comment about health care being looked at as a business.
The problem with the health care system is that it’s looked at like a business. Pharmaceuticals surgery and other business’ provide incentives which changes priorities. When money trumps people’s health the system is corrupt from the roots.
In order for health care to change the principles behind it need to change.
Where does Kaiser Permanente fit into this model
Very informative.
Would be interested in seeing such a listing on an annual basis.
The US Gov’t is killin’ us. Doesn’t everybody notice that this monster of a bill absolutely will increase taxes for us all and even create new ones for everyone?
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