Hospital is a facility which provides diagnosis, treatment and care of persons who need acute inpatient hospital care under the supervision of physicians. It must be licensed as a general acute care hospital according to state and local laws. It must also be registered as a general hospital by the American Hospital Association and meet accreditation standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

For the limited purpose of inpatient care for the acute phase of a mental or nervous disorder, severe mental disorder, or substance abuse, “hospital” also includes psychiatric health facilities.