What is the minimum number of patients for a building to qualify as a hospital?

A building qualifies as a hospital when it is designed for the treatment of patients, providing a range of healthcare services. The specific requirement of having a minimum of four patients stems from the need to establish a formal definition that distinguishes hospitals from other types of medical facilities. This threshold ensures that the facility can operate at a level that reflects the complexity and capacity typically associated with hospital care, which includes having adequate staffing, services, and facilities to attend to multiple patients simultaneously.

In regulatory contexts, defining a hospital with this minimum number also corresponds to the operational structures and resources necessary for effective healthcare delivery. It emphasizes the facility's role in providing a comprehensive approach to medical care rather than just serving as a place for occasional treatment. Thus, having at least four patients signifies a status that allows the facility to be classified as a hospital under relevant codes, regulations, and operational standards.