Final answer:
The mission of a community hospital is to provide general medical and surgical services to the community it serves, offering a broad range of healthcare services compared to specialized institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mission of a community hospital is best described by the statement that its primary purpose is to provide general medical and surgical services to the community it serves. Community hospitals play a crucial role in healthcare in the United States by offering accessible medical care, including emergency care, inpatient and outpatient services, and often specialized services to meet the diverse health needs of the local population. Unlike facilities primarily focused on end-of-life care or military healthcare, community hospitals offer a broad range of services that address various health needs irrespective of the patient's stage of life. In this respect, they differ from specialized institutions such as hospices, which provide supportive care specifically designed for the terminally ill and focus on comfort and quality of life toward the end of a patient's life.