Objective To review the research hotspots and cutting-edge dynamics in the field of hospital operations management, providing references for relevant research in our country. Methods Using CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software, we conducted a visual analysis of English literature in the field of hospital operations management collected from the Web of Science database Core Collection from the establishment of the database to December 31st 2022. Result A total of 808 articles were included, with the first article in the field of hospital operations management published in 1980 since the establishment of the Web of Science database. Over the 42-year period, annual publications had shown an increasing trend. Research outcomes were concentrated in institutions and researchers from Europe and the United States, but academic collaboration among institutions and authors was not particularly close. The hotspots in related fields mainly focused on aspects of care quality, management, and performance. Conclusions Studies on hospital operations management in China are in the early stage, and the international influence of research outcomes needs to be further strengthened. The research frontier has shifted from healthcare quality and safety to internal financial performance, human resource management, and resource allocation. Research on the application of technological methods in hospital operations management will continue to emerge.