HCA Healthcare Named as One of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere

Recognition of commitment to business integrity through robust ethics, compliance and governance programs

NASHVILLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, today announced that it has been recognized as one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. HCA Healthcare has been recognized 14 times and is one of only four honorees in the Healthcare Providers category this year.

“Being named as one of the World’s Most Ethical companies for the 14^th time is a reflection of our commitment to the values on which HCA Healthcare was founded,” said Sam Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare. “We are proud of the culture we have built and will continue to strive to make a positive impact on our patients, colleagues and communities.”

Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical assessment is grounded in their Ethics Quotient, which requires companies to provide over 200 proof points on their culture of ethics, including environmental, social and governance practices, ethics and compliance program, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data then undergoes further qualitative analysis by Ethisphere. The process serves as a framework to capture and codify leading ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

“Our comprehensive, values-based ethics and compliance program encourages the highest standards of ethical conduct for our approximately 310,000 colleagues,” said Kathi Whalen, senior vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer at HCA Healthcare. “It is an honor to be recognized by Ethisphere year over year for our dedication to doing what is right.”

HCA Healthcare strives to make the communities where we live and work stronger. In 2023, colleagues logged more than 180,000 volunteer hours and gave $16.9 million in giving with HCA Healthcare matching. Additionally, the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, a 501(c)3 public charity run by colleagues, for colleagues, surpassed $100 million in grants awarded since its founding in 2005.

HCA Healthcare strives to foster a culture of diversity and belief that excellence in healthcare starts with a foundation of inclusion, compassion and respect. As a part of that commitment:

• HCA Healthcare maintains a Patient Advisory Group to help identify and address potential health disparities, as well as to develop strategies that advance health equity.
• HCA Healthcare has hired more than 60,000 veterans, active-duty and reserve personnel and military spouses since 2012. In 2023, HCA Healthcare was again designated as a Best for Vets Employer by Military Times for the fourth consecutive year and was upgraded to a Gold distinction for veteran hiring practices by VIQTORY.
• HCA Healthcare is committed to workplace inclusion and in 2023 earned a top score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index^® (DEI) for the second consecutive year.
• HCA Healthcare and its facilities are members of Practice Greenhealth, which seeks to provide sustainable healthcare solutions. Since 2002, HCA Healthcare has received 173 Practice Greenhealth awards.
• HCA Healthcare has also announced approximately $7.42 million towards its $10 million commitment over three years to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to invest in the next generation of healthcare leaders and help create a stronger, more inclusive healthcare system.

In 2023, HCA Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare Foundation gave more than $43 million to community organizations across the nation. The HCA Healthcare Foundation also continued to support the Healthier Tomorrow Fund, a community impact fund focused on addressing high-priority community needs and advancing health equity. Since its launch in 2021, the Fund has committed more than $19 million in communities where HCA Healthcare has a presence and made grants to 81 nonprofit organizations. Additionally, HCA Healthcare delivered charity care, uninsured discounts and other uncompensated care at an estimated cost of approximately $3.7 billion in 2023.

HCA Healthcare also aims to support the physical, mental, professional and financial health of its colleagues in multiple ways. HCA Healthcare is proud to invest in a variety of benefits and resources such as Nurse Care, a 24/7 free and confidential mental health program for the needs of HCA Healthcare hospital-based nurses, and the Wellbeing Hub, a one-stop website for support tools and resources.

“It’s always inspiring to recognize the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Through the rigorous review process, we see the dedication of these organizations to continually improving their ethics, compliance, and governance practices to the benefit of all stakeholders,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s chief strategy officer and executive chair. “Companies that elevate best-in-class cultures of ethics and integrity set a standard for corporate citizenship for their peers and competitors to follow. Congratulations to HCA Healthcare for achieving this honor and demonstrating that strong ethics is good business.”

In 2024, 136 honorees were recognized spanning 20 countries and 44 industries. The full list of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

About HCA Healthcare

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services comprising 186 hospitals and approximately 2,400 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44%. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 43 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.

All references to “Company,” “HCA” and “HCA Healthcare” as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.