HCA, Parallon, Colorado & Utah

Specialties Travel

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I'm starting to get toward the end of my contract and I'm weighing my options as far as extending or potentially submitting to jobs in CO and UT. I've noticed that many of the hospitals in the areas that I want to go to are HCA/Parallon. I know their reputation isn't good, but I don't know why. I'd like some feedback...positive or negative, whatever you may know. Has anyone worked around the Denver area? The hospital I'm currently contracted with in TX has been a great experience and they want me to extend. I don't want to give up a decent job for one that I'm going to regret going to. TIA! Also considering the Baltimore, MD area FWIW.

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Specializes in NP. Former flight, CCU, ED RN and paramedic..

I worked ER staff at two SLC HCA hospitals. Not bad places compared to some other dumps I've worked at over the years.

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For profit hospitals have built in incentives to minimize costs, including staff. So HCA, Tenet hospitals and their ilk have bad staffing ratios typically (short staffed) with minimal support personnel and supplies. Management with an impossible job is not fun to work for. That is the big picture. Some HCA hospitals or specific units can be OK, but they tend to be outside the South. There are even a couple in California where there are staffing laws. I have a manager friend who works for the one in San Jose and she describes management as evil.

Given the huge number of facilities in this country, it is beyond me why any traveler bothers risking assignments with HCA. Yes, sometimes you get enticing crisis rates, but in the absence of those or some geographical need, why HCA?

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Oddly, the hospital I am at turned to Tenet just this week. :-(

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What is odd about that? Hospitals that are poorly managed with bad finances turn to professional management companies. I suspect Tenant hospitals are better workplaces than HCA hospitals, but with a valid option, I pick neither!

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Specializes in NP. Former flight, CCU, ED RN and paramedic..

I worked at a Tenet hospital (Desert Regional ER) just prior to my current assignment. Very busy ER, VERY well staffed. Typically 3:1 ratio, lots of support staff (float nurses) available when you need them. ER was kinda run down, lots of hall bed usage, but hard working people, good team environment, etc.

Worst hospital I've ever worked in (I've travelled as agency RN and standard contract traveller, working in 40+ hospitals) has been Banner Boswell, by far. Non-profit junk show.

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I just left my assignment at an HCA facility. From what I was told it was one of the worst HCA facilities and they aren't all that bad but I was only able to stick it out 5 weeks. Needless to say I will not be attempting another Parrallon contract. It was extremely unorganized and inefficient. I could go on for days.... :bored:

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