Tennessee's infant mortality rate in 2000 was 9.1 per 1,000 live births. In the same year, 16,924 legal abortions were performed, a rate of 14 per 1,000 women. The death rate due to HIV-related infections stood at 5.2 per 100,000 population, higher than the US average of 5.3 in 2000. A total of 9,166 AIDS cases had been reported through 2001. In 2000, the overall death rate stood at 998.4, significantly higher than the national average rate of 873.1.
The major causes of death in Tennessee in 2000 (with rates per 100,000 population) were heart disease, 292.3; cancer, 223.0; cerebrovascular diseases, 77.1; accidents, 49.6; and suicide, 13.2. Of all Tennessee residents 18 years of age or older, 25.7% were regular smokers in 2000. Lung disease occurred at a rate of 89.8 per 100,000 population in 2000.
Tennessee's 123 community hospitals had 751,495 admissions and 20,600 beds in 2001. There were 20,150 full-time registered nurses and 4,335 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 263 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000. The average expense of a community hospital for care was $1,418.70 per inpatient day in 2001.
Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $3.7 billion; 842,264 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 11.3% of Tennessee's residents were uninsured in 2002.
Tennessee has four medical schools: two in Nashville (Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical School), one at Johnson City (East Tennessee State University), and one at Memphis (University of Tennessee).