Military Times names HCA Healthcare a top employer for veterans

HCA Healthcare has been recognized by Military Times as one of the country’s best employers based on the organization’s military-connected employment programs, benefits and support efforts. Since 2012, HCA Healthcare has hired more than 39,000 veterans, active-duty personnel and military spouses.

“HCA Healthcare has a strong and longstanding connection to the U.S. armed forces, military veterans, and their families,” said Sam Hazen, chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare. “We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to supporting them, and we are immensely thankful to those that have chosen to serve our country, and now serve our patients in communities across the nation.”

The Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers ranking is a highly-respected analysis of efforts to connect with veterans and provide an environment for success. The rankings are based on a voluntary survey that included questions on companies’ policies and practices related to veteran recruitment and retention, support for translation of military skills to civilian credentials, support for military spouse employment and accommodations for members of the National Guard and reserves.

The designation recognizes the work HCA Healthcare is doing to support and employ veterans and their families, including:

• Launching an internal mentoring program for veterans and military spouses, which has been successful in helping recently transitioned veterans navigate the civilian workforce.
• Offering military leave and supplemental pay to eligible colleagues, and supporting those who want to continue to serve as active duty military while working at HCA Healthcare.
• Partnering with the U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade to create the Patriot Partnership Program allowing the Army to provide specialized training for residency and fellowship programs nationwide.
• Serving on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Veteran Employment and Military Spouse Employment Councils.
• Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on the “Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses” campaign to help military spouses seeking meaningful 21st-century career opportunities.

HCA Healthcare has been nationally recognized as a military-friendly employer and military-spouse friendly employer for ten consecutive years by VIQTORY. In 2015, the Company received the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring our Heroes – Lee Anderson Award for overall excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses.

HCA Healthcare veteran colleagues are highly valued members of our family. Their real world experience, teamwork, resourcefulness and leadership capabilities bring a unique skill set to our approximately 2,000 healthcare facilities. Meet three veteran colleagues who’ve successfully transitioned from the military to careers at HCA Healthcare below…

“Military experience helps me prioritize and provide patients with clear instructions.”

Dana Cruz, nurse practitioner

Dana Cruz is a board-certified family nurse practitioner at affiliate CareNow Urgent Care in San Antonio, Texas with three decades of nursing experience. She’s also served as a captain for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and as a commander for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service.

Dana feels strongly that her military background enhances her skill set as a provider, “I can prioritize my care and be more efficient when the clinic is busy,” says Dana. She says her time in the USAF helps her “provide clear directions so the patient has a better understanding of how to take care of themselves at home.”

Planning to stay with HCA Healthcare until she retires, she feels “privileged to work with a group of fine individuals and be part of a healthcare team!”

“I want each patient to remember me for displaying excellence. I want them to know that I care and will always do my best to serve them like every service member does.”

Melanie Putter, nurse

Melanie Putter currently conducts pre-admission testing as a nurse for outpatient surgery at HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Dallas in Dallas, Texas. Earlier in her career, she served four years in the USAF as a military policeman. She believes nursing and military careers align through service and sacrifice, saying “A service member will give themselves to protect other service members regardless of nationality, race or sex. Nurses must also sacrifice and put service above self.”

This is her sixth year working for HCA Healthcare. She’s spent time at several HCA Healthcare hospitals as a traveling nurse cared for patients during hurricanes Charlie and Ivan in Florida. “The USAF made me the best nurse I can be. Every day I want to be the best at my job,” Melanie continues. “I want every patient and coworker to know that I will work hard to have the best patient satisfaction.”

She is proud of her career at HCA Healthcare because she says it provides a family-like atmosphere. “HCA Healthcare sends veterans a coin every Veteran’s Day and we have a badge to let others know we are veterans,” says Melanie.  “The badge really makes patients appreciate our service. It’s often an ice-breaker and helps them develop a rapport with us.”

“When you serve in the military you become part of one big family. This is the first company I have found where that feeling of family is shared again.”

Jason Thomason, consulting PCI architect

Jason Thomason also served four years in the USAF. He is now a consulting payment card industry (PCI) architect at HCA Healthcare affiliate Parallon, in Nashville, Tenn. During his time in the military, Jason says he learned to work with others to accomplish objectives, explaining, “Sometimes this required I lead and sometimes I was expected to support the team. My role with HCA Healthcare is similar in that I work with multiple teams to ensure PCI compliance, and I lead annual PCI audits.”

Jason is proud to work for a Best for Vets employer because he says HCA Healthcare wants to help veterans be successful. “Since starting with HCA Healthcare last year, I was matched with a wonderful mentor and joined the veterans’ colleague network. These provide ways for a veteran to reach out to someone who understands the challenges they are facing. I hope to eventually become a mentor so I can help others transition from military life.”

He feels blessed to work for HCA Healthcare because he says he is encouraged to grow, adding “HCA Healthcare shares the values instilled in me from my time in the service: integrity, service before self, excellence in all you do.”