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 blog post. “That’s why talk of cuts to hospital services could not only impact patient care but the overall financial health of the entire community.”