Best Places to Work in Healthcare - 2024

Years on the list: 6

Number of U.S. employees: 214

Voluntary employee turnover: 16%

What leaders say: “We believe that our people are our greatest asset, prioritizing employee well-being, teamwork, development and inclusivity. Our culture promotes open communication, innovation and a strong sense of community. Our leadership team is committed to fostering a culture of trust, transparency and empowerment. We also understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.”

From the Winner (Sponsored Content)

Ardent Health’s commitment to empowering team members

As a leading provider of healthcare services across the country, Ardent Health is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. With a comprehensive network of 30 hospitals, 200+ sites of care across six states, 24,000 team members and 1,700 aligned providers, Ardent is building an ecosystem of care that puts people at the center.

Guided by this north star, Ardent is dedicated to empowering team members to provide exceptional care, which is supported by strategic investments, partnerships and programs that drive clinical innovation and operational excellence.

"What sets Ardent apart is our forward-thinking approach to the delivery of care - not only for patients, but ways we can support our caregivers and lessen the burden so they can focus on what's most important,” shares Carolyn Schneider, Ardent’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “It's a comprehensive look at creating meaningful work that brings them closer to why they chose healthcare - to help people.”

Ardent was among the first health systems to introduce virtual nursing. The platform allows remote nurses to manage patient care responsibilities that do not require physical proximity. With virtual nurses taking on tasks such as routine monitoring, documentation and compliance reporting, bedside nurses can focus more time and attention on providing crucial hands-on care.

Ardent has also made notable investments in remote inpatient monitoring, which uses a small wearable device and analytics engine to automate the collection of inpatient vital signs up to 1,440 measurements a day. These integrations help clinicians more quickly identify patients in need of intervention. By extension, clinical teams can work at the top of their license with actionable insights facilitating care adjustments in near real-time, supporting caregivers and improving care for patients.

In addition to technology, Ardent prioritizes building and nurturing a culture where everyone feels heard and seen – creating a sense of belonging where engagement matters. Leaders consistently seek team member feedback and take action to continuously improve the work experience.

Ardent’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and local committees lead the charge on developing policies and practices in service of equity and belonging for all. This work to foster a positive environment for every team member is reflected through measurable improvements in culture ratings over the past three years.

Ardent firmly believes that to fully care for patients and serve its communities, the organization must also care for team members. The Ardent Cares Foundation was established in 2019 to assist team members who experience a medical emergency or natural disaster. Team members can voluntarily add to the foundation by donating PTO or recurring contributions to help colleagues pay utility bills, mortgages, healthcare expenses and more.

Empowering team members and creating a strong culture has led to consistent recognition on the national stage. In 2024, six Ardent entities were named Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, marking the 16th year an Ardent entity has been honored.

“I'm proud of the investments we're making to reshape our work and improve lives in the communities we serve,” said Schneider.