BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — The COVID-19 Pandemic was undoubtedly a horrific experience for many Americans, even those who were never actually infected — with nurses and hospitals in particular finding themselves overwhelmed by the sudden surge of patients. If nothing else, this experience has made medical staff more aware of the steps that must be taken to contain and treat a pandemic. Thankfully for residents of North Dakota, as new research shows, the Peace Garden State is well-prepared to treat patients in the event of another pandemic… at least, when compared to other parts of the US.

As part of a study on hospital access across America, researchers with Omega Law Group examined data from the Sheps Center regarding the number of hospital and critical care beds available for each hospital type (including COVID, specialty, and general care). When this information was weighed against US population data from the latest countrywide census , it was found that North Dakota’s hospitals are some of the most prepared in the nation — not only in terms of handling crisis situations, but in responding to any emergency whatsoever.

For every 1,000 residents of ND, the state has an average of 4.24 open hospital beds: one of the largest numbers in the nation. This is an impressive number on its own, but made even more impressive when combined with other information: in addition to a fairly high ratio of critical care beds, North Dakota has the highest number of hospitals in the nation per 100,000 residents.

In contrast to these statistics, the number of hospital beds in states like Oregon, Utah, and Hawaii is far lower than the national average — with Washington in particular featuring extremely low numbers of beds and hospitals compared to other areas (specifically, less than 1/5th ND’s results in the latter category).

“It’s crucial for both policymakers and the public to be aware of these differences to address the underlying issues,” states a spokesperson with Omega Law Group, “and improve hospital bed availability where it is needed most. By understanding where patients are least likely to get a hospital bed, we can better allocate resources and advocate for necessary changes to ensure equitable healthcare access for all.”

As of this article’s publication, North Dakota has 47 licensed and certified General Acute Care Hospitals — including 37 Critical Access Hospitals, two Indian Health Service Units, three Psychiatric Facilities, and 38 Rural Hospitals. For a complete list of care centers, visit this page on the Center for Rural Health’s website.

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