Ten-time honoree: HCA Healthcare named a 2019 World’s Most Ethical Company

Improving more lives in more ways. It’s not just a tagline on our website. It’s what HCA Healthcare does in 185 hospitals and 1,800 sites of care. It’s who our 265,000 colleagues are. And, it’s why HCA Healthcare has been recognized for the 10^th consecutive year by The Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of The World’s Most Ethical Companies.

Sam Hazen, HCA Healthcare Chief Executive Officer

“To be recognized 10 years in a row reflects the culture we have built here at HCA Healthcare,” said Sam Hazen, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Healthcare. “We have 265,000 colleagues who share a strong sense of purpose to improve the lives of our patients and to enrich the communities we serve.”

This year, The Ethisphere Institute recognized 128 honorees spanning 21 countries and 50 industries. HCA Healthcare is one of only seven healthcare providers honored on this year’s list.

In the 13-year history of the award, HCA Healthcare is one of 29 companies worldwide to be honored 10 times.

Kathi Whalen, HCA Healthcare Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer

Kathi Whalen, HCA Healthcare’s senior vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer, is proud to usher in her first year in the role with this accomplishment. “It is an honor to continue to be recognized as one of Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies and it speaks volumes about our values-based ethics and compliance program, which is a vital part of the way we care for people and conduct business.”

Methodology and scoring

The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute’s Ethics Quotient® (EQ) framework, which offers a finite way to assess a company’s performance in an objective, consistent and standardized manner.

Ethisphere evaluates companies based on these main categories:

• corporate citizenship and responsibility
• ethics and compliance program
• corporate governance leadership
• innovation and reputation
• culture of ethics

HCA Healthcare honored: Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies

Ethisphere’s 11th Annual Global Ethics Summit in New York City; pictured (L-R): Sherri Neal, HCA Healthcare Vice President of Cultural Development and Inclusion; Erica Salmon Byrne, Executive Vice President, Governance and Compliance, Ethisphere; Kathi Whalen, HCA Healthcare Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer

This week, as we celebrate this ten-time milestone, let’s reflect on what it means to work at HCA Healthcare, infusing integrity, passion and purpose into every aspect of our jobs.

Commitment to the communities that we serve

Caring for patients is only one part of what we do at HCA Healthcare. We have a long history of caring for our local communities to create healthier tomorrows. Last year, colleagues spent more than 150,000 hours volunteering in the communities they serve.

In 2018, HCA Healthcare donated more than $41 million to charitable organizations and provided charity care, uninsured discounts and other uncompensated care at a cost of $3.3 billion.

HCA Healthcare’s philanthropic arm, the HCA Healthcare Foundation provides leadership, service and financial support to non-profit organizations.

Like family, we also embolden each other, through the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, which exists to support HCA Healthcare colleagues in need nationally.

Championing a culture of diversity and inclusion

Healthcare providers face unique challenges to ensure safety and quality for all patients. HCA Healthcare’s culture of inclusion continues to support the delivery of culturally competent care, responding effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs of our 31.2 million annual patient encounters.

Our affiliates are using more than 160 languages and dialects to communicate with their diverse patient populations.

For our colleagues, in 2018, HCA Healthcare unveiled an “outside-of-the-box” inclusion platform, providing a space to discuss BRAVE Conversations in an interactive, innovative and safe way.

Supporting sustainable healthcare

HCA Healthcare seeks to protect and preserve the environment inside and outside of its facilities.  We have a comprehensive environmental sustainability program to promote energy and water conservation, green buildings, increase recycling and amplify environmentally conscious purchasing.

As we surge forth with all new construction and renovation projects, we strive to protect the environment with energy and environmentally-conscious design procedures.

World-class ethics and compliance program

Guided by integrity, excellence and a respect for our patients, HCA Healthcare’s ethics and compliance program works hand-in-hand with colleagues to achieve our centered mission: above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. The program includes:

• steadfast teams of ethics-centered partners and collaborators: facility ethics and compliance officers and corporate and facility ethics and compliance committees
• orientation and annual code of conduct training for all colleagues
• policies and procedures for all lines of business
• methods for reporting concerns, such as an Ethics Line that is available 24 hours a day
• innovative processes for assessing the effectiveness of compliance efforts in our hospitals

As a worldwide ethical leader, we use our platform to create a positive legacy for our colleagues, our patients and for humanity. At HCA Healthcare, we are proud to work for one of The World’s Most Ethical Companies. From our operating rooms to our research labs, and from our oncology wings to our data centers, our work matters. Working at HCA Healthcare makes a positive difference in people’s lives every single day.