In this country (unless someone is being very precious or pretentious and imitating British speech patterns, which is happening more and more often), you would go to the hospital regardless of your reason for being there. If someone had fallen ill or been injured, he/she would probably have been taken to a hospital. (although I did drive myself to the hospital when I was in labor with my first kid...)You may go to the hospital because you're sick, because you need to have tests run, or to visit a sick friend. No matter what your reason, you will go to or be in "the" or "a" hospital. We use articles more often than you do, and we also use prepositions somewhat differently. :) So, if you are "IN" the hospital, you are a patient. If you've gone "to" the hospital, it can mean any one of a number of things.