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In 2024, a total of 25 U.S. hospitals closed, as reported by Becker’s. Most of them cited changing community needs, rising operational costs, and evolving care models as reasons for ceasing operations. So far for this year, 19 hospitals have already closed, a pace that forecasts more unstable markets and unmet healthcare needs across the United States. Several hospitals included in this ongoing list have shuttered emergency departments, and all have produced job loss among clinical and administrative staff. What’s interesting is that the hospital locations range from metro areas (like Chicago; St. Louis; Washington, D.C.; and New York City) to rural areas (like Brewer, Maine; Martins Ferry, Ohio; and Pauls Valley, Oklahoma), so it turns out that the trend is not exclusively tied to the well known struggles of rural healthcare operations.
Big picture: Nearly 800 rural hospitals across the United States are struggling financially with as many as 40% facing the immediate threat of closure, according to a recent analysis citing federal data through June 2025. As hospitals close their doors, the opportunity for urgent care is likely growing as a way to help fill the gaps in care. Find out more from the JUCM archive: Rural Urgent Care Growth Continues, But Challenges Remain