In October 2020, Richard M. Bracken was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fortune 500 Company, HCA Healthcare. In taking on this role, Mr. Bracken joins an illustrious group of CEOs — including Charles C. Flippin, the first CEO in 1978 — who have commanded the highest-ranking Fortune 500 company for the past forty-one years.
HCA Healthcare is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, with over 265,000 employees and 375 hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout the United States. The company’s revenue and health outcomes have consistently ranked among the best of any health system in the country, and the organization has long been a leader in providing innovative and comprehensive solutions to enable better patient care. Through its commitment to creating access to quality healthcare, HCA Healthcare aspires to provide better support and services to every patient who walks through its doors. It is this commitment to quality and improvement that has led HCA Healthcare to appoint Richard M. Bracken as its new CEO.
After serving as a member of HCA Healthcare’s Executive Leadership team since 2017, Mr. Bracken stepped into the role of CEO with an impressive background in healthcare administration, regulatory compliance, and financial management. Prior to his position at HCA Healthcare, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Mercy Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the Midwest. He also held the role of Senior Vice President of Finance for Covenant Health, a cornerstone of the Knoxville, Tenn. healthcare system.
Bringing thirty years of experience in health systems and operations to his role, Richard M. Bracken has already begun to lead HCA Healthcare with strategic vision and ambitious leadership. Starting with a commitment to extending HCA Healthcare’s comprehensive services and best-in-class care, he has already rolled out plans to expand the company’s investments in innovation and technology — including a focus on telehealth, digital health, and artificial intelligence — and to secure a bridge to the future of healthcare.
Mr. Bracken has articulated HCA Healthcare’s commitment to become the nation’s healthcare provider of choice, surpassing expectations in service, innovation, and quality of care. He says that “as healthcare continues to evolve, we believe that recent investments and advancements in technology, along with our culture of excellence, will allow us to remain at the forefront of an increasingly competitive landscape.”
Mr. Bracken has further committed to building a strong and highly competitive team — with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds — while engaging with patients and their families in a way that provides an unparalleled level of service and respect. By surrounding himself with like-minded individuals, Richard M. Bracken is setting the stage for leadership that places value not only on short term goals and objectives, but also on long-term growth and sustainability.
Part of the value of appointing Richard M. Bracken as CEO of HCA Healthcare is his deep understanding of the industry and comprehensive knowledge of the company’s long-term goals. He has already articulated a vision for how the company will meet the challenges of the future and build upon its successes of the past. As one of the largest and most respected healthcare systems in the world, HCA Healthcare now has a leader in Richard M. Bracken who understands both the opportunities and challenges in forging the company’s path forward.
