Patient experience is shaped by everyday moments of care — where thoughtful decisions at the bedside and behind the scenes can make a meaningful difference. During Patient Experience Week, April 27 through May 1, 2026, HCA Healthcare celebrates the approximately 320,000 colleagues across our organization who make each interaction matter. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on our facilities and caregivers who have been recognized for going above and beyond to enhance patient care.
Press Ganey Human Experience Awards recognize HCA Healthcare hospitals
Press Ganey, a provider of healthcare experience solutions, recently released its annual rankings of top hospitals and health systems in the nation that are working to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care. Its 2025 Human Experience (HX) awards recognize organizations that put human experience at the heart of healthcare and raise the bar through outstanding performance.
This year, HCA Healthcare hospitals received 26 recognitions, including nine Pinnacle of Excellence Award® honors and 17 Guardian of Excellence Award® honors.
Guardian of Excellence Award®
The Guardian of Excellence Award® honors healthcare providers that performed in the top 5% of Press Ganey clients last year and upheld the highest standards in patient experience, employee engagement, physician engagement or clinical quality. This year, the following HCA Healthcare facilities were named Guardian of Excellence Award® recipients for patient experience:
Colleton Medical Center (Inpatient Behavioral Health) in Walterboro, South CarolinaCorpus Christi Medical Center (Inpatient Behavioral Health) in Corpus Christi, TexasHCA Florida Aventura Hospital (Inpatient Behavioral Health) in Aventura, FloridaHCA Florida Boynton Beach Emergency, an extension of HCA Florida JFK Hospital (Emergency Department) in Boynton Beach, FloridaHCA Florida Kendall Hospital (Inpatient Behavioral Health) in Miami, FloridaHCA Florida West Tampa Hospital (HCAHPS) in Tampa, FloridaHCA Healthcare Brighton Park ER, a part of HCA Healthcare Trident Hospital (Emergency Department) in Summerville, South CarolinaHCA Houston Healthcare Tomball (Inpatient Behavioral Health) in Tomball, TexasHeart Hospital of Austin (Emergency Department and HCAHPS) in Austin, TexasHighlands-Cashiers Hospital (Emergency Department) in Highlands, North CarolinaMedical City McKinney (Outpatient Behavioral Health and Outpatient Services) in McKinney, TexasOgden Regional Medical Center (Inpatient Rehabilitation) in Ogden, UtahPortsmouth Regional Hospital (Outpatient Behavioral Health) in Portsmouth, New HampshireSouthern Joint Surgery Center (OAS CAHPS) in Nashville, TennesseeTriStar Centennial Medical Center (Outpatient Oncology) in Nashville, TennesseePinnacle of Excellence Award®
The Pinnacle of Excellence Award® honors healthcare providers who place among the highest-performing organizations nationwide — those that consistently delivered outstanding results in patient experience, employee engagement, physician engagement or clinical quality over a minimum of three years. This year, the following HCA Healthcare facilities were named Pinnacle of Excellence Award® recipients for patient experience:
Our care in action
The impact of patient-centered care is seen in the experiences of those we serve. We extend our sincere gratitude to clinicians, colleagues and hospital volunteers across HCA Healthcare for the dedication and expertise reflected in each of the patient stories below.
Bruce Hill, left, and Dr. Tommy Tran following Hill’s treatment at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
When Raymond “Bruce” Hill’s home caught fire on Sept. 29, 2025, everything he owned was gone within minutes. The flames left him with second-degree burns to both feet and his left arm, injuries that required specialized treatment and a long recovery. But Bruce, who had already rebuilt his life once before, refused to let tragedy define him.
At HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Skyline Medical Center, Bruce began treatment with Dr. Tommy Tran, a burn surgeon at the HCA Healthcare hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He received comprehensive burn care, including careful wound management, appropriate pain management and close monitoring. During Bruce’s stay, Dr. Tran performed a surgical procedure to prepare Bruce’s wounds and place a skin substitute, helping support healing and reduce the risk of infection. The care team worked closely with case management to coordinate resources after Bruce lost his home, ensuring a safe discharge plan and continued support beyond the hospital.
Did you know? TriStar Skyline Medical Center is home to one of HCA Healthcare’s 11 American Burn Association-recognized burn centers.
What began as a frightening experience soon became something more — a connection built on humor, trust and shared humanity.
Dr. Tommy Tran completed a tandem skydive in honor of HCA Healthcare patient Bruce Hill after making a promise during Bruce’s treatment.
Before the fire, Bruce had already overcome another battle. After surviving an overdose in 2019, he found purpose in helping others and founded Recovery Warriors: whatwasisnomore. The group brings survivors together each year to skydive in honor of those lost to addiction and to celebrate second chances.
While preparing for surgery, Bruce joked with Dr. Tran, “You’ll just have to jump for me this year.” Dr. Tran told him he would. True to his word, Dr. Tran joined the Recovery Warriors Jump, skydiving from 10,000 feet in Bruce’s honor. “Maybe it’s the burn surgeon in me,” Dr. Tran said. “But when Bruce asked, I said ’yes,‘ and I meant it.”
For Bruce, that gesture spoke volumes. “Dr. Tran didn’t have to do that, but he did. That’s what it means to truly care.”
Now preparing for his next annual jump, Bruce is healing with renewed purpose. His story is a reminder that exceptional care goes beyond treatment — it’s about showing up for patients in ways they never expect, even if it means taking the leap yourself.
Utah care team plans impromptu wedding ahead of baby’s arrival
Gian Bardellini, left, places a ring on HCA Healthcare patient Vanessa Bardellini during their wedding ceremony at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Utah.
When Vanessa Aguirre and Gian Bardellini were preparing to welcome their baby, they never imagined they would also be planning a wedding inside the hospital.
Already building a blended family, the couple was looking forward to their next chapter and hoped to be married before their baby arrived. But at 28 weeks pregnant, Vanessa noticed something didn’t feel right. Trusting that instinct, the couple contacted her obstetrician and soon learned she was leaking amniotic fluid. Vanessa was admitted to HCA Healthcare’s Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah, and placed on bed rest with the goal of helping the baby continue to grow safely for as long as possible.
Knowing the baby could be delivered at any moment, the couple’s plans quickly shifted. “We thought we’d just get married in our sweats in the hospital room,” Gian shared, but the care team at Timpanogos Regional Hospital had other ideas. Once they learned about the couple’s situation, teams across the Utah hospital came together to help create a meaningful moment.
On Jan. 6, 2026, a space near the labor and delivery unit was transformed for a small wedding ceremony, complete with decorations, flowers and a cake. Gian also made a quick trip home to gather his military uniform and several dresses for Vanessa to choose from, adding a personal touch to the day.
Vanessa and Gian were able to pause and celebrate their growing family surrounded by support — right when they needed it most. Vanessa delivered her baby boy later in January, at 31 weeks and five days. He received care in the hospital’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for approximately six weeks before going home to begin the next chapter with his family.
“I always try to go above and beyond for patients. In a place where people often experience uncertainty, we also have the opportunity to create moments of joy. Helping bring their wedding to life wasn’t just about doing more — it was about showing up for them in a moment that mattered.”
Hayley Elsholz, obstetric technician, Timpanogos Regional HospitalHospital volunteer welcomes patients into the “Zipper Club”
Jim Leath, a volunteer at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Centennial Medical Center, supports patients recovering from heart surgery.
Some hospital volunteers offer more than their time — they offer a perspective only experience can give. Jim Leath, a volunteer at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, has spent more than two decades supporting patients recovering from heart surgery.
Having undergone an open-heart procedure himself in 2001, it’s a journey he knows firsthand. Jim understands that recovery is measured in small, steady gains — one step, one hallway walk at a time. He also understands the physical challenges and the questions that can arise in the days that follow. Today, at 87 years old, he uses that experience to help others as they begin their own recovery.
Jim welcomes some patients to what he calls the “Zipper Club,” a nod to the scar many open-heart surgery survivors carry. The name comes from the scar that runs down a patient’s chest, which can resemble a zipper. As a volunteer, he visits patients early in their recovery, offering reassurance and sharing what helped him along the way. “I’ve been through what you’re going through,” Jim tells them. “I want to share what I experienced and what you might expect.”
For many patients, hearing from someone who has been in their position offers a different kind of comfort — one rooted in lived experience. Jim’s visits provide perspective, encouragement and a sense of connection during a critical moment in recovery. Through his volunteer work, Jim is making an impact beyond clinical treatment — providing patients with emotional support as they navigate the path ahead. Sometimes, Jim says, the best medicine is someone who’s been there.
HCA Healthcare volunteer Jim Leath welcomes recovering patients into the “Zipper Club,” named for the chest scar from open-heart surgery that resembles a zipper.Florida NICU celebrates micropreemie’s journey home
Baby Tamiyah wears a pink cap and gown after graduating from the NICU at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital.
Born at just 22 weeks, Tamiyah entered the world in January 2025, weighing little more than a pound. Considered a micropreemie, Tamiyah was tiny, fragile and required immediate, complex care in the Level III NICU at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. From her very first moments, her mother, Taylor Saunders, said her baby girl faced extraordinary odds. Tubes, monitors and machines became her lifeline, and the NICU quickly became a second home for Taylor and her family.
As the weeks turned into months, progress came gradually for Tamiyah. Firsts that many families might take for granted — changing a first diaper, wearing a first outfit — became meaningful steps forward. Each day revealed steady determination from a baby who refused to give up, a mother who held onto hope and HCA Healthcare caregivers who showed up with skill, compassion and unwavering dedication. “Even if I didn’t take care of her that day, I would stop by and see her,” said Alexis Rowan, one of Tamiyah’s NICU nurses.
Through it all, Tamiyah’s care team became an extension of Taylor’s family. She described the nurses as feeling like “aunties,” providing not only clinical care, but also emotional support during an uncertain time. “The bond grew really strong,” she said. “They really helped the journey be much smoother.”
After 244 days in the NICU, Tamiyah was strong enough to go home with her family. On discharge day, her care team lined the hospital hallway, clapping and cheering as she made her way out. Dressed in a tiny pink graduation cap and gown, Tamiyah marked the end of her NICU journey surrounded by the people who helped her get there.
Taylor credits the entire care team with supporting her daughter’s progress. “Without the nurses, the doctors, the case managers — even the housekeepers and custodians — it’s not possible without all of them,” she said. When Tamiyah left the NICU at 18 pounds, she carried with her the strength she built over eight months, supported every step of the way by her HCA Healthcare team.
A final wish fulfilled in a Colorado intensive care unit
The care team at HCA HealthONE Rose arranged a wedding display, including a chocolate cake, for an ICU patient.
After many stays at HCA HealthONE Rose in Denver, John* was well-known and beloved by the care team in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). In early 2026, he developed a serious condition that affected his heart and lungs, which grew progressively worse until treatment no longer worked. When the director of the ICU began talking with him about his end-of-life options, he only had one wish: to marry his partner.
His condition was declining rapidly, and time was incredibly limited. Moved by John‘s* wish, the nurses and his entire team at HCA HealthONE Rose stepped in and worked quickly with his loved ones to arrange a hospital wedding. They coordinated logistics and ensured everything was in place for the ceremony. In a matter of hours, the plan came together.
Wanting the celebration to feel personal and familiar, the team took their efforts a step further to ensure the space reflected the spirit of the occasion. The hospital’s Food and Nutrition Services team fashioned a full wedding display — flowers, linens, champagne flutes and a beautiful chocolate cake with fresh strawberries — so the couple could share a true cake-cutting moment. The attention to detail helped create a sense of normalcy during an otherwise difficult time.
Because of the dedication, urgency and heart of the colleagues at HCA HealthONE Rose, John’s* final wish was fulfilled. He and his partner were legally married, surrounded by love and the very caregivers who made it possible. He passed peacefully just hours later.
*Name has been changed for privacy purposes