This fall, the Nashville Health Care Council convened a large crowd at War Memorial Auditorium for an event spotlighting the 50th anniversary of what is today HCA Healthcare. The evening’s highlight was a panel discussion featuring former CEO Jack Bovender, current CEO Milton Johnson and CEO-to-be Sam Hazen as well as LifePoint Health CEO Bill Carpenter. On the following pages are some of the HCA execs’ (lightly edited) thoughts from that talk — which was moderated by former White House policy staffer, private equity investor and HCA board member Nancy-Ann DeParle — on some key moments from the company’s five decades and the philosophies behind running the company.
kAmkDEC@?8m|@>6?ED E92E DE2?5 @FEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8my@9?D@?ik^DEC@?8m %H@ E9:?8D 4@>6 E@ >:?5] x 8@ 324< E@ `hgd 2?5 x H2D ah J62CD @=5 2?5 925 366? 2E wrp[ 2E E92E A@:?E[ 23@FE 7@FC J62CD] xE H2D AC@A@D65 E@ >6C86 wrp :?E@ p>6C:42? w@DA:E2= $FAA=J] %96 562= 5:5?’E 92AA6?j q2IE6C H@F?5 FA E2<:?8 p>6C:42? w@DA:E2= $FAA=J @FE] qFE :7 E92E H@F=5’G6 92AA6?65[ 9@H E92E H@F=5 92G6 27764E65 }2D9G:==6 2?5 9@H E92E H@F=5’G6 27764E65 wrp[ H6 ?6G6C H:== <?@H]k^Am
kAm%92E H2D 2 EC2?D24E:@? E92E %@>>J WuC:DEX H2D DFC6=J DFAA@CE:G6 @7] qFE q2IE6C 42>6 :? 2?5 ;FDE >256 2 3:5 E92E H2D @G6C E96 E@A 2?5 :E 3C@<6 @FC EC2?D24E:@? FA] qFE x C6>6>36C E92E G6CJ 4=62C=J[ E9:?<:?8 23@FE E92E :>A24E] x7 E92E EC2?D24E:@? 92AA6?65[ H@F=5 wrp 92G6 DE:== C6>2:?65 :? }2D9G:==6 @G6C E96 J62CDnk^Am
kAm%96 D64@?5 E9:?8[ 282:?[ :D 23@FE E96 :>A24E @? }2D9G:==6] ,…. *@F 92G6 E@ C642== E92E — x E9:?< :E H2D 2C@F?5 E96 `hhc\`hhd E:>67C2>6 — r@=F>3:2^wrp H2D >@G:?8 :ED 4@CA@C2E6 @77:46 E@ {@F:DG:==6[ z6?EF4<J] xE H2D =62G:?8 }2D9G:==6] (:E9 E96 w62=E9%CFDE >6C86C E92E 92AA6?65 :? `hhd[ A2CE @7 E92E ?68@E:2E:@? H2D — 2?5 %@>>J C6>6>36CD E9:D H6==[ x <?@H — wrp 925 E@ DE2J :? }2D9G:==6 2D A2CE @7 E92E EC2?D24E:@?]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 :E ?6G6C C62==J 76=E =:<6 :E >@G65 E@ {@F:DG:==6[ E649?:42==J[ :E H2D 564=2C65 E96 4@CA@C2E6 9625BF2CE6CD @7 wrp 7@C 2 A6C:@5 @7 E:>6] qFE E96? @7 4@FCD6[ :E H2D 23=6 E@ DE2J 96C6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms6!2C=6ik^DEC@?8m $2>[ J@F’C6 D>:=:?8] (92E 92G6 J@F 8@Enk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw2K6?ik^DEC@?8m x 5@?’E 6G6? <?@H E92E %@>>J <?@HD E9:D DE@CJ] x? `hha[ x H2D ba J62CD @=5 H96? E96 EC2?D24E:@? 36EH66? r@=F>3:2 2?5 wrp @44FCC65] x? E96 5:D4FDD:@? 23@FE E96 4@CA@C2E6 @77:46[ x H2D E96 =625 ?68@E:2E@C 7@C x 5@?’E <?@H H9@ — x 925 E9C66 @C 7@FC A6@A=6[ 2== @7 H9@> 4@F=5 7:C6 >6] x H2D ?68@E:2E:?8 282:?DE r2C= !@==2C5[ E96 492:C>2? @7 v2=6? ,w62=E9 r2C6.[ #:4< $4@EE H2D E96 rt~ 2?5 E96? E96C6 H2D E9:D 86?E=6>2? x’5 ?6G6C >6E[ %@>>J uC:DE[ H9@ H2D AF==:?8 7@C }2D9G:==6]k^Am
kAm$@ x’> E96C6 ?68@E:2E:?8 H:E9 E96 8@G6C?@C @7 z6?EF4<J 2?5 E96 D64C6E2CJ @7 4@>>6C46 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E9:D 562= 5@?6] x C6>6>36C E6==:?8 >J H:76[ “x 5@?’E <?@H H9:49 5:C64E:@? E@ 8@] tG6CJ3@5J :?G@=G65 :? E9:D 6G6?E 42? 7:C6 >6] x’> ?@E DFC6 H6’C6 8@??2 >2<6 E9:D D@ =6E’D DE2CE D2G:?8 D@>6 >@?6J]”k^Am
kAm(96? x C@== :E 7@CH2C5 E@ E96 62C=J ‘h_D[ :? 2?J :?5FDECJ[ E96C6’D 2=H2JD 2 A6C:@5 @7 4@?D@=:52E:@? E92E @44FCD E92E x E9:?< D6ED 2 A=2E7@C> 7@C 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E@ C62==J 8C@H 2?5 AC@DA6C] (96? x =@@< E@52J 2E wrp 2?5 x =@@< 2E E92E 7@FC\J62C 4J4=6 — x E9:?< :E H2D `hha E9C@F89 `hhd — H96C6 E96 4@>A2?J AFE E@86E96C 7@FC @C 7:G6 5:776C6?E AF3=:4 4@>A2?:6D 2== 2E @?46] xE :?EC@5F465 FD E@ ?6H >2C<6EDi $2? y@D6[ r2=:7@C?:2j s6?G6C[ r@=@C25@j $2? p?E@?:@[ %6I2Dj pFDE:?[ %6I2Dj 566A6C A6?6EC2E:@? :? $@FE9 u=@C:52… %@52J[ H92E :D EC6>6?5@FD=J F?:BF6 2?5 A@H6C7F= 23@FE wrp :D E9:D :?4C65:3=6 A@CE7@=:@ @7 >2C<6ED E92E H6 92G6] %96 =6824J :D :E 42>6 7C@> E92E A6C:@5]k^Am
kAmp?5 E@ 36 A6C764E=J 42?5:5[ H6 2== 8@E ;@3D 3642FD6 @7 E92E A6C:@5] pD 5:77:4F=E 2D :E H2D[ :E’D 2 EC6>6?5@FD =62C?:?8 =6DD@?] xE’D 2 =6DD@? 7@C 2?J >2?286>6?E E62> E@ F?56CDE2?5] (96E96C :E’D 23@FE 4@?D@=:52E:?8 E@@ >F49 E@@ BF:4<=J[ ?@E 92G:?8 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? A=246 E92E J@F ?665[ ?@E 92G:?8 E96 4F=EFC6 E92E J@F ?665… p== @7 E9@D6 E9:?8D 42? 3C62< 5@H? 2 8C62E 24BF:D:E:@? DEC2E68J]k^Am
kAm(96? x E9:?< 23@FE E92E A6C:@5[ E92E’D 2 G6CJ :>A@CE2?E A6C:@5 :? H9@ H6 2C6 E@52J 2D 2? @C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 9@H H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 36?67:E 7C@> E92E E:>6 A6C:@5]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC@H:?8 E96 72>:=J EC66k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms6!2C=6ik^DEC@?8m wrp 92D 2 9:DE@CJ @7 DFAA@CE:?8 :ED E62> >6>36CD H9@ =62G6 E@ DE2CE ?6H 4@>A2?:6D @C ;@:? @E96C 4@>A2?:6D] x’> :?E6C6DE65 :? H9J E92E :D] $@>6 6>A=@J6CD H@F=5?’E =:<6 E92E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq@G6?56Cik^DEC@?8m x E9:?< E9:D 8@6D 324< E@ A2CE:4F=2C=J sC] uC:DE $C] 2?5 %@>>J 2?5 E96:C 2EE:EF56 E@H2C5 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 H@C<:?8 7@C FD @C 2C6 H@C<:?8 7@C FD] x7 E96J H2?E E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 ECJ D@>6E9:?8 @? E96:C @H?[ ,E96C6 :D 2. “v@ H:E9 v@5” <:?5 @7 A9:=@D@A9J]k^Am
kAm%@>>J :D @?6 @7 E96 8C62E 6?EC6AC6?6FCD :? E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 &]$] w6 5@6D?’E 86E C64@8?:K65 7@C :E 3642FD6 96 5:5?’E 8C@H FA :? E96 w6?CJ u@C5^t5:D@? 52JD] w6’D 2 >@56C? 6?EC6AC6?6FC H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E 249:6G6>6?E] w6 C64@8?:K65 E92E :? E96 DA:C:E @7 @E96C A6@A=6[ >2?J @7 E96> D:EE:?8 :? E9:D C@@> E@52J] w6 2=H2JD 2AAC@24965 2 A6CD@? =62G:?8 H:E9 E92E <:?5 @7 2EE:EF56i “x 9@A6 J@F >2<6 :E] (6’== 5@ H92E H6 42? E@ DFAA@CE J@F]” tG6? H96? E96J H6C6 A@E6?E:2= 4@>A6E:E@CD :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8my@9?D@?ik^DEC@?8m xE’D E96 DA:C:E @7 E96 4@>A2?J E92E J@F’C6 86EE:?8 2E] xE H2D 2=H2JD DFAA@CE65] x 42? C6>6>36C :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ H2?E65 E@ 36 2 rt~ @7 E96:C 4@>A2?J 2?5 E96J <?6H[ 3642FD6 @7 G2C:@FD 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ E92E >2J36 E92E H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? — 2E =62DE ?@E @? E96:C E:>6 7C2>6 2E wrp] $@ E96J H6C6 DFAA@CE65 E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 DE2CE E96:C @H? 4@>A2?J 2?5 3F:=5 E96:C @H? 4@>A2?J 2?5 86E E92E 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 3F:=5 ;@3D]k^Am
kAmp=D@[ J@F’G6 8@E E@ C6>6>36C E92E H6’G6 4C62E65 2 =@E @7 4@>A2?:6D[ H96E96C :E H2D E96 ADJ49 4@>A2?J E92E H6 DAF? @77 367@C6 @C E96 2>3F=2E@CJ DFC86CJ 3FD:?6DD E92E H6 DAF? @77] %96C6 H6C6 2=H2JD 3FD:?6DD6D E92E H6 564:565 >:89E 36 36EE6C 3FD:?6DD6D @? E96:C @H? E92? F?56C E96 wrp F>3C6==2]k^Am
kAm%@ D66 E9@D6 4@>A2?:6D 7=@FC:D9 :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E 82G6 wrp 2 =@E @7 4C65:3:=:EJ :? E96 :?G6DE>6?E 4@>>F?:EJ] xE C67=64E65 E96 36?49 E92E H6 925[ E92E H6 4@F=5 D6?5 2? 6I64FE:G6 @77 2?5 H2E49 E96> 36 DF446DD7F= =625:?8 E96:C 4@>A2?J] %92E 92D 4C62E65 2 4:C4=6 E92E 92D 4@?E:?F65 7@C d_ J62CD] %96:C DF446DD C62==J 92D AC@>@E65 @FC DF446DD]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC62E >2?286CD E@ 8C62E =6256CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms6!2C=6ik^DEC@?8m {6E’D E2=< 23@FE =6256CD9:A 7@C 2 >:?FE6] x’> :?E6C6DE65 :? H92E 25G:46 J@F 92G6 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 2DA:C6 E@ =6256CD9:A A@D:E:@?D :?D:56 E96:C 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw2K6?ik^DEC@?8m (6’C6 7F?52>6?E2==J :? E96 A6@A=6 3FD:?6DD 2?5 D@ H6 92G6 E@ 92G6 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 42? =625 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E9C@F89 @E96C A6@A=6] x E9:?< :E DE2CED H:E9 2 8C62E AFCA@D6 2?5 E96? F?56C?62E9 E92E[ :E 92D E@ 92G6 2 DEC@?8 G2=F6 DJDE6> E92E C62==J DFAA@CED E96 AFCA@D6]k^Am
kAm(6 92G6 2? :?4C65:3=6 A@@= @7 E2=6?E E@52J 2?5 H6’G6 925 2? :?4C65:3=6 A@@= @7 E2=6?E 9:DE@C:42==J] %96C6’D 2? 2H6D@>6 @AA@CEF?:EJ :?D:56 @7 wrp E@ =62C? 7C@> 6249 @E96C 2?5 3F:=5 2 =6256CD9:A A=2E7@C> E92E 2==@HD E96 4@>A2?J E@ DF44665] xE’D 23@FE F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 3FD:?6DD[ :E’D 23@FE >2<:?8 564:D:@?D[ :E’D 23@FE 5@:?8 E96 C:89E E9:?8[ :E’D 23@FE 92G:?8 2 DEC@?8 G2=F6 DJDE6> — 2?5 C62==J 9@?@C:?8 E96 724E E92E H6 2C6 2 G6CJ :>A@CE2?E[ 2=>@DE AF3=:4 D6CG:46\EJA6 @7 FE:=:EJ D6CG:46 :? >2?J @7 E96 >2C<6ED H96C6 H6 2C6]k^Am
kAm(92E A6@A=6 5@?’E F?56CDE2?5 23@FE wrp E@52J :D E92E H6’C6 >F49 =2C86C E92? 2 9@DA:E2= 4@>A2?J] (6 92G6 C@F89=J a[___ 724:=:E:6D AC@G:5:?8 2?JH96C6 36EH66? `ad[___ 2?5 `d_[___ A2E:6?E G:D:ED 2 52J] %92E C6BF:C6D ad_[___ 6>A=@J66D[ c_[___ A9JD:4:2?D 2?5 ?F>6C@FD 72>:=:6D 2?5 7C:6?5D] %96 =6256CD9:A DECF4EFC6 92D 2 9F86 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 E9@D6 A6@A=6 :? E9@D6 <:?5D @7 D:EF2E:@?D] u@C FD[ 92G:?8 E96 C:89E AFCA@D6 :? 4@??64E:?8 E96 3FD:?6DD E92E H6’C6 :? E@ 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 DJDE6>D 2==@HD FD E@ 86?6C2E6 8@@5 A6@A=6 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 8@@5 =6256CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8my@9?D@?ik^DEC@?8m x 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ DA62< E@ 2 =@E @7 E96 J@F?86C A6@A=6 :? E96 4@>A2?J 2?5 E92E’D 2 BF6DE:@? E96J 2=H2JD 92G6i “w@H 5@ J@F 364@>6 2 =6256C :? E9:D 4@>A2?Jn”k^Am
kAmx ECJ E@ 56D4C:36 :E 2D[ “w@H 5@ J@F >@G6 7C@> A@DD:3=J 36:?8 2 8C62E >2?286C E@ 36:?8 2 8C62E =6256Cn” 2?5 F?56CDE2?5:?8 7:CDE @7 2== E92E :E’D 2 5:776C6?E C@=6]k^Am
kAm%@ >2<6 E92E EC2?D:E:@?[ 7:CDE[ J@F 92G6 E@ 92G6 2 D6?D6 @7 244@F?E23:=:EJ] pD 2 =6256C[ J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ >2<6 2 =@E @7 564:D:@?D 2?5 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 D@>6 >:DE2<6D] *@F 92G6 E@ DE2?5 FA 2?5 E2<6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C E96 8@@5 564:D:@?D 2D H6== 2D E96 325 564:D:@?D E@ 36 2? 67764E:G6 =6256C]k^Am
kAm}@] a[ $2>’D 23D@=FE6=J C:89E] *@F 92G6 E@ 4@??64E E96 A6@A=6 J@F’C6 =625:?8 E@ 2 D6?D6 @7 AFCA@D6] *@F 92G6 E@ :?DA:C6 E96> E@ 244@>A=:D9 D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D H@CE9 E96 677@CE J@F’C6 2D<:?8 E96> E@ AFE :?E@ :E] %96? J@F 92G6 E@ :?G6DE :? 3F:=5:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2D 2 =6256C]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96 =2DE E9:?8 x’== D2J :D 9F>:=:EJ] (96? J@F H:?[ J@F H:? 2D 2 E62>] x? 2 3:8 @C82?:K2E:@? =:<6 wrp[ ?@ @?6 A6CD@? 42? 36 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C @FC DF446DD] xE :D 2 E62> 677@CE]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 42? AFE E@86E96C 244@F?E23:=:EJ[ AFCA@D6[ :?DA:C2E:@?[ C6=2E:@?D9:A\3F:=5:?8 2?5 9F>:=:EJ[ E96? J@F 42? =625]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms6!2C=6ik^DEC@?8m y24<[ E92E DEC:<6D 2 49@C5 H:E9 J@Fnk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq@G6?56Cik^DEC@?8m *6D] (96? x DA62< E@ |qp DEF56?ED 2?5 @E96CD 2?5 E96J 2D< >6 H92E 2C6 E96 2EEC:3FE6D @7 =6256CD9:A[ x 2=H2JD D2J E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E @?6 :D 9F>:=:EJ] %9:D :D 2 E62> DA@CE E92E H6 2C6 :?G@=G65 H:E9] xE’D ?@E 23@FE E96 A6CD@? 2E E96 E@A] xE’D 23@FE E96 E62>]k^Am
kAm|2?J J62CD 28@[ D@>6@?6 82G6 >6 2 A=2BF6 E92E D2:5i “%96 8@2= @7 E96 FDF2= =6256C :D E@ >2<6 A6@A=6 E9:?< >@C6 @7 E96 =6256C] %96 8@2= @7 E96 6I46AE:@?2= =6256C :D E@ >2<6 A6@A=6 E9:?< >@C6 @7 E96>D6=G6D]” x E9:?< E92E’D E96 C62= <6J E@ 4C62E:?8 2? 2E>@DA96C6 H96C6 6G6CJ@?6 :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ E96 E9:?8D E92E |:=E@? E2=<65 23@FE 2?5 ?@3@5J :D C6249:?8 4@?DE2?E=J E@ 86E E96 4C65:E 7@C 244@>A=:D9>6?ED]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96? x’== D2J @?6 @E96C E9:?8 E92E x E9:?< :D 6IEC6>6=J :>A@CE2?E] p 8@@5 =6256C DFCC@F?5D 9:>\ @C 96CD6=7 H:E9 A6@A=6 H9@ H:== E6== E96> E96 ECFE9 6G6? H96? E96J 5@?’E H2?E E@ 962C :E] x? @E96C H@C5D[ E96J H:== D2J E@ J@F[ “x7 J@F 5@ H92E J@F’C6 E9:?<:?8 23@FE ?@H[ J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ D4C6H FA 2?5 D4C6H FA 3:8 E:>6]”k^Am
kAmx? >J 42D6[ H96? x H2D 492:C 2?5 rt~[ E92E A6CD@? H2D qCF46 |@@C6[ H9@ :D D:EE:?8 :? E96 2F5:6?46 324< 96C6 — 2?5 :D DE:== 2C@F?5 2?5 DE:== 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8[ x’> DFC6] qFE x’> G6CJ D6C:@FD 23@FE E92E] $@>6 =6256CD[ @G6C E:>6[ E6?5 E@ 288C682E6 2C@F?5 E96> A6@A=6 E92E E6== E96>[ “*@F’C6 E96 8C62E6DE E9:?8 E92E 6G6C 92AA6?65 E@ E9:D 4@>A2?J @C E9:D :?5FDECJ @C H92E6G6C]” p?5 E92E’D G6CJ[ G6CJ 52?86C@FD]k^Am
kAmp=H2JD AFE A6@A=6 2C@F?5 J@F H9@ H:== E6== J@F E96 ECFE9]k^Am
kAmk^Am
