Denver Health vs. Centura Health vs. HealthONE

transducen, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2012

I hope someone answers this.

msancheeze, BSN · Oct 20, 2012

Stay far, far away from HCA/HealthOne. Two words: FOR PROFIT. Lowest pay, worst benefits, most expensive health insurance (especially if you have a family), and notorious for the bait-and-switch recruitment tactic - they bait you with a good schedule or singing bonus, lock you in with a work contract, and change the rules of the game. Of note, some of the nicest and best nurses I have ever worked with. Management varies but their hands are often tied by the corporate entity and they flounder to provide "service excellence" in a "do more with less" culture. There is a reason for the break-neck pace of RN turnover and high dollar signing bonuses. Do your homework on HCA and decide for yourself.

I have heard great things about DH. They have a fantastic reputation in the Denver nursing community and reportedly some of the best benefits and pay. The ER is a true level I trauma center ER. I don't know much about St. Anthony/Centura right now - they faced some hard times when the economy dropped and went through some management changes.

Hope this helps.

P.S. avoid HCA like the plague and c-diff combined.

heartlover · Oct 29, 2012

Been in Colorado for 2.5 years now and have heard nothing but bad news about HealthOne. I have worked for two Centura facilities including St. Anthony's. Porter Adventist is my current hospital and in the OR we have gotten 3 different Swedish employees jump ship and come here. They all say it was horrible over at HealthOne, but they were in the OR not the ED. There are two other Swedish employees that I know of that went to St. A's. I have a friend who worked at DH and she left there for Centura but has very little bad to say about DH.

Overall, Colorado pays less than one would like but HealthOne has been know to pay less by rumor. Good Luck and welcome to Colorado!!

RNlovesherPharmD · Dec 3, 2012

I have a friend who works at Swedish and hates it. Benefits, supplies/equipment, etc are terrible per her--salaries are also low. She has taken on a second job to supplement income because she signed with them and would have to repay her sign on bonus, plus any education costs if she were to leave. I also have a friend that is a pharmacist there. He has pretty much the same sentiment.

DenverRN91 · Dec 13, 2014

Could you tell me a little bit more about the OR? I have an interview for a preoperative training program and am trying to get some perspective on the facilities.

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2014

Don't lump all of HCA into one cubby! I love the HCA facility I am at, but I have heard horror stories about 2 of the others in the area. The people are fantastic, the training is even better than the staff, they seem to care about their nurses and they epitomize the meanng of teamwork! The pay is lower than DH (not sure about Centura or Exempla), but it is a lot less than I expected to make as a new grad. My offer letter was precise, and I got exactly what I was told I would get in terms of shift and compensation, no "bait and switch". The benefits are pretty much exactly what my classmates at DH, Exemplan and Centura are getting.

Overall, get a feel for the facility when you interview, and then decide. If you are looking for better pay, DH, University, and the VA (if you can get in-it isn't easy) are where you want to focus. If pay is not your first concern, then don't let what you hear sway you away from all HCA hospitals.

DenverRN91 · Dec 13, 2014

Trying not to, I am just not sure if at the end of training I could end up at any of the facilities.i won't know until I can ask more questions at the interview

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 14, 2014

Just FYI, this thread is over 2 years old.

DenverRN91 - you would probably have better responses if you start a new thread asking your questions. Since you did not start the thread, most posters are going to read the OP and answer HER questions, and completely miss that you revived the thread with questions of your own.

SHefner22 · Jun 21, 2016

klone...I was offered a position in the SICU at St. Anthony's as well as a position in the STICU at UCH. I have seen the STICU and really liked it. I will not be able to see the SICU at St. Anthony's. Since you seem to know a lot about St. Anthony's (your username pops up on all the threads with St. Anthony's). I was hoping you had some insight.

I liked the STICU @ UCH because the technology is a similar level to where I am coming from (Baltimore--Shock Trauma, Multi-trauma ICU). They also used epic which is the charting system I am most familiar with. The downside was that the pt acuity seemed pretty low, and I prefer to work in a fast-paced, high acuity setting. They are not a level I trauma, but they get post-surgical patients.

What appeals to me about St. Anthony's is it's connection with EMS. My roots are in EMS and I want to fly one day. I also like that St. Anthony's in a level I trauma, among being a resource for other things like stroke, cardiac, etc. Of course, I have not been able to see the unit, so things like technology, charting systems, patient acuity, make-up of employees, etc. are a mystery to me.

I am going to ask as many questions as I can during my next skype interview, but I am hoping to get insight from absolutely anywhere.

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 23, 2016

Sorry I can't be more help - my experience with St. Anthony's is in their OB departments, and I haven't worked for them in over 5 years.

For trauma, Denver Health is considered the best in the area.

If I had to choose between Centura and UCH, I'd definitely go with UCH. They have a great reputation for being a teaching hospital, which means cutting edge and evidence-based practice. And their benefits are very very good.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2016

The following Denver healthcare systems use Epic:

Exempla

Centura

UCH

TCH

Denver Health

... basically everyone except HealthOne/HCA and VA.