What is a micro hospital?
Small hospitals with a 24/7 emergency room and a handful of beds are opening in neighborhoods across Texas and other states. From the street they look like freestanding ERs, but they are licensed hospitals, and that changes what happens if you need to stay. I am an emergency physician, and this guide answers the questions patients ask me most.
A real hospital, small
A fully licensed hospital, often 15,000 to 50,000 square feet, with a 24/7 emergency department, imaging, lab and pharmacy. Built for less serious conditions and short stays.
A few beds
Usually about 8 to 15 inpatient beds for observation and short stays. Patients who need surgery or intensive care are transferred to a larger hospital.
Still ask about cost
Network status and billing vary by facility. If you are stable, ask whether they are in your plan's network.
Emergency? Do not shop around.
Chest pain, stroke signs, trouble breathing, severe bleeding: call 911. Paramedics take you where you need to go. Federal law protects you from most surprise bills for emergency care.
Related guides
Typical ER visit times by ZIP code, freestanding ERs compared with urgent care, and what "observation status" means for your bill.
Common questions
Is a micro hospital the same as an emergency room?
A micro hospital has an emergency room, open 24/7, but it is also a licensed hospital with a small number of inpatient beds. A freestanding ER has no inpatient beds.
Can I stay overnight at a micro hospital?
Often, yes. Micro hospitals usually have about 8 to 15 beds for observation and short inpatient stays. If you need surgery or intensive care, you will be transferred to a larger hospital.
Should I go to a micro hospital for a heart attack or stroke?
Call 911. Paramedics take heart attack, stroke and major trauma patients to the hospital best equipped to treat them, which may not be the closest building.
Do micro hospitals take my insurance?
It depends on the facility and your plan. If you are stable, ask at the front desk whether they are in your plan's network. For emergency care, federal law protects you from most surprise out-of-network bills.
Who runs micro hospitals?
A handful of operators, often in partnership with large health systems. See the operator list for official location finders.