Hospital Corporation of America (NYSE: HCA), a leading healthcare
provider with 162 hospitals and 112 ambulatory surgery centers in 20
states and London, England, has been named one of the Ethisphere
Institute’s 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies. It is the fourth
consecutive year HCA has achieved this distinction.
The Ethisphere Institute, a leading international organization dedicated
to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business
ethics, governance, anti-corruption and sustainability, established its
World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2007. According to Ethisphere,
companies recognized are those that truly embrace ethical business
practice and demonstrate industry leadership, forcing peers to follow
suit or fall behind. HCA is one of only four healthcare providers on
this year’s list.
“Because Ethisphere’s demanding selection process looks to the true
ethical content of the day-to-day operations of organizations in all
industries, this is really recognition for all 200,000 individuals who
work in the various facilities throughout HCA,” said Alan Yuspeh, HCA’s
Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. “We have
been included once again because our team reflects our values of
compassionate patient care, fairness and integrity in all that they do.
We are honored to have been chosen as one of Ethisphere’s World’s Most
Ethical Companies for the fourth year in succession.”
In addition to HCA’s long-standing, industry-leading ethics and
compliance program, which has served as a model for others, the company
is a leader in environmental practices among healthcare companies.
Increasingly, the company is purchasing eco-friendly products, using
sustainable building materials, improving recycling efforts and using
energy and water more efficiently. HCA has installed both solar and
geothermal energy sources at facilities and helped lead an industry
effort to create standardized environmental questions for healthcare
purchases. HCA is a member of Practice GreenHealth and a charter member
of the Healthier Hospitals Initiative, two organizations that champion
eco-friendly practices in healthcare.
HCA also has been a pioneer in establishing an improved charity care and
uninsured discount policy, which has been emulated by hospitals across
the country. Later, HCA became one of the first providers to make
detailed pricing information publicly available. HCA facilities provide
extensive health care to individuals who are unable to pay for such
care. In addition, the company is active philanthropically, supporting
agencies that promote health and well-being, support childhood and youth
development and foster the arts in Middle Tennessee. Through the HCA
Foundation, the company has awarded grants totaling approximately $25
million since 2008.
“Not only did more companies apply for the World’s Most Ethical
Companies recognition this year than any year in the past, which
demonstrates that ethical activity is an important part of many of these
companies' business models, but we are also seeing more companies be
proactive and create new initiatives that expand ethics programs and
cultures across entire industries, such as industry-based ethics
associations and other activities,” said Alex Brigham, Executive
Director of Ethisphere. “We are excited to see the 2013 World's Most
Ethical Companies take these leadership positions, and embrace the
correlation between ethical behavior and improved financial performance.”
Through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis, Ethisphere reviewed
nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries.
The methodology for the World’s Most Ethical Companies includes
reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction
histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable
business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate
citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry
peers, suppliers and customers.
Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2013
World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme/.
The World’s Most Ethical Companies list will also be featured in the
2013 Quarter 1 issue of Ethisphere Magazine.
All references to “Company” and “HCA” as used throughout this release
refer to HCA Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
HCA
Investor Contact:
Mark Kimbrough, 615-344-2688
or
Media Contact:
Ed Fishbough, 615-344-2810