At HCA Healthcare, we share a common purpose: to give people a healthier tomorrow. Our annual Awards of Distinction program offers an opportunity to recognize our people, who enable us to achieve that purpose. The first Award of Distinction was presented in 1971 as a tribute to HCA Healthcare co-founder Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr.’s lifelong dedication to improving the lives of others. Today, more than 50 years after our founding, Dr. Frist’s legacy lives on as our organization strives to improve more lives in more ways: through innovative technologies, groundbreaking research, deep engagement within our communities and lasting investments in our colleagues.

In addition to the Frist Humanitarian Awards, the Awards of Distinction also include the HCA Excellence in Nursing Awards and HCA Innovators Award. The award recipients form an elite group of truly remarkable individuals who represent what HCA Healthcare stands for: caring like family for patients and communities, raising the bar for the entire field of healthcare, and above all else—the care and improvement of human life. Our six recipients demonstrate a level of commitment and caring that goes beyond the everyday.

Frist Humanitarian Awards

Volunteerism and humanitarianism have long been cornerstones of  HCA Healthcare’s culture. In 2018 alone, our organization provided more than $42 million in charitable contributions and volunteered more than 156,000 hours in our communities. The Frist Humanitarian Awards have three categories: Employee Recipient,  Physician Recipient and Volunteer Recipient.

HCA Excellence in Nursing Awards

Nurses are the differentiator for our patients and their loved ones, and HCA Healthcare supports nurses through a multi-year nursing strategy. The HCA Excellence in Nursing Award has two categories: Compassionate Care and Professional Mentoring.

HCA Innovators Award

As a learning health system, we use our data to create innovative tools that improve patient outcomes. Recently, innovations like SPOT (an algorithm-driven technology that detects sepsis earlier) and TV as a Platform (which creates a central point of communication between the patient and the care team) have been positively impacting patients across our organization. Though it’s been awarded in several categories in past years, this year’s HCA Innovators Award stands alone.