Which of the following is classified as a free-standing type of hospital?

A free-standing type of hospital operates independently and is not part of a larger health system or a hospital affiliation. Among the options, a free-standing cancer hospital fits this definition. These hospitals focus specifically on providing cancer care and services, operating separately from general hospitals. This specialization allows them to concentrate their resources and expertise on oncology, offering tailored treatments and care plans for cancer patients.

Critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, and rural referral centers, while they serve important roles in the healthcare system, are often part of broader hospital networks or designed to serve specific community needs within particular regulatory frameworks. Critical access hospitals typically provide essential services in rural areas, sole community hospitals serve the only hospital within a geographic area, and rural referral centers are larger facilities that bring in specialized care but are still linked to wider health systems. Thus, the free-standing cancer hospital distinctly stands apart as an independent entity focused solely on cancer treatment, making this answer the most accurate choice.