One of Alabama’s leading medical institutions is now among the largest hospitals in the country.

UAB Hospital in Birmingham ranks as the fifth-largest hospital in the United States by number of beds, according to a new national study from Becker’s Healthcare.

The report, which examines the largest hospitals in the country based on bed capacity, lists UAB Hospital with 1,400 beds, placing it behind only four other facilities nationwide.

According to Becker’s Healthcare, the nation’s largest hospitals by bed count include AdventHealth Orlando in Florida with 2,247 beds, Montefiore Medical Center in New York with 1,558 beds, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with 1,550 beds and Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut with 1,541 beds.

UAB Hospital’s ranking reflects the growing scale of Alabama’s largest academic medical center and comes as the hospital continues expanding facilities and services to meet rising patient demand.

In 2025, UAB Hospital cared for a record 929,021 unique patients, underscoring the growing demand for care at the Birmingham-based medical center.

Recent investments include the opening of a $156.7 million inpatient rehabilitation pavilion, which added 134 patient beds and expanded recovery services for patients across Alabama and the Southeast.

The new facility features indoor and outdoor therapy spaces, a rooftop garden, simulated streetscape environments for rehabilitation training and advanced equipment such as robotic therapy devices and virtual-reality gait systems.

UAB Medicine is also undertaking a $73 million expansion of its emergency department, supported by $50 million from the State of Alabama, which will add 59 new exam rooms to address increasing demand for emergency care.

The Becker’s Healthcare analysis highlights how hospitals across the country are expanding capacity as healthcare systems respond to demographic shifts, consolidation in the industry and rising patient demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another Alabama facility appearing on the list is Huntsville Hospital, which reports 881 beds, placing it among the largest hospitals in the United States.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].