The Best Hospitals to Work for in 2017

We already know that doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers play a crucial role in keeping us healthy. But thanks to dramatically increasing demand for people with the skills and experience to look after us when we're sick, these professionals are poised to become even more highly valued.

What’s behind this surging demand? It’s largely fueled by overwhelming numbers of aging people within a specific generation, whose healthcare needs will continue to increase as they get further into their older years. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough healthcare workers to meet this demand, with some experts predicting a shortage of 90,000 doctors by 2025 and others anticipating a shortfall in nurses that could prove at least as challenging.

And unlike other industries that can potentially address greater demand with automation, the healthcare industry is filled with roles that rely on empathy and advanced motor skills, making it challenging — if not impossible — to automate these jobs.

So if you’re a qualified healthcare professional, your employment outlook is bright. And for those with the right qualifications, hospitals offer many great opportunities. But which offer the best work experiences? Our data science team examined the 15 million employee reviews in our database and crunched the numbers for U.S. hospitals to find out the answers. Let’s take a look at the results, and see what they found.

Research hospitals dominate the top 10

“We have seen a significant shortage of healthcare professionals in the U.S. for years,” says Indeed Senior Vice President Paul D’Arcy. “With rapid growth in demand for nurses and doctors, and a much slower growth in supply, many professionals with these highly technical skills are finding the job market to be in their favor.”

But which hospital comes out top? 

Earning the #1 spot on the list, Massachusetts General Hospital is the teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and a biomedical research facility located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Another teaching hospital — Montefiore Medical Center — claims the #4 ranking and serves as the teaching hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York.

In fact, university hospitals have a particularly strong showing in the top 10, with the University of Michigan Health System at #6, Yale New Haven Health at #7 and Stanford Health Care at #10. And the top three also includes two highly regarded not-for-profit hospitals, with Baptist Health at #2 and Houston Methodist at #3 — the latter of which also includes a research institute among its facilities.

Florida and Texas each have two hospitals in the top 10. However, when we look at the top 25 (scroll to the bottom to see the longer list), we see that great hospitals can be found in cities spread across the United States and encompass a range of specialties and types of organizations. In other words, medical professionals have a variety of options and opportunities to find a great hospital that’s also a good fit.

So what do these top hospitals have in common?

“Many of the employee reviews at these top-ranked institutions note ‘inspiring’ and ‘diverse’ workplaces with top tier research teams and opportunities for advancement, " explains D’Arcy.

Keep reading to learn more about how the top hospitals stand out from the rest.

The best of the best: what they’re doing right

1. Massachusetts General Hospital

Founded: 1811
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts
No. of employees: 10,000+

The third oldest general hospital in the United States, Massachusetts General Hospital specializes in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer and human genetics.

Because Massachusetts General Hospital is an academic institution, one employee notes that the pay may not be as strong as it is at other organizations. Still, employees point to great benefits, diversity and strong opportunities for growth and advancement.

In addition to topping the overall list, Massachusetts General Hospital also ranks #1 in the individual rankings for best management and work/life balance.

“It was such a joy to work among the best and learn from the best,” says one employee. “The vast majority of staff at all levels are open and giving of their time and expertise.”

2. Baptist Health South Florida

Founded: 1990
HQ: South Miami, Florida
No. of employees: 10,000+

The second largest employer in the state of Florida, Baptist Health South Florida is a non-profit organization that specializes in surgical, diagnostic and urgent care services.

The hospital's management is described as "very knowledgeable and competent," while one reviewer points to a "diversity of cultures and personalities" that makes Baptist Health "an interesting place to learn."

“We have access to learning tools, technical support, and guidance. Leadership is always available to listen and work to improve processes,” says one reviewer.

Not only do employees have great things to say about the work environment, but the hospital earned the second highest ranking for work/life balance.

3. Houston Methodist

Founded: 1919
HQ: Houston, Texas
No. of employees: 10,000+

One of the most comprehensive teaching hospitals in the U.S., Houston Methodist has gained worldwide recognition in cardiovascular surgery, cancer, epilepsy treatment and organ transplantation.

While employees point to the company’s excellent salaries, quarterly bonuses, strong benefits, and tuition reimbursement, they seem to be most excited to talk about its positive work environment.

Employees say they’re happy to come to work and describe a family feel among coworkers, making it no surprise that the hospital has the second highest rating for company culture.

“It's hard to imagine that in this fast-pace world we live, that anything can seem constant and safe, but that's exactly how I feel about my job,” says one employee.

4. Montefiore Medical Center

Founded: 1884
HQ: New York City, New York
No. of employees: 10,000+

Located in the Bronx, New York, Montefiore Medical Center is committed to healing, teaching, discovering and advancing the health of the communities it serves.  

“Despite the fact that this is an extremely large organization, you feel like you are working for a tightly knit family,” one reviewer says. Other employees praise the company’s great pay, diversity and professionalism.

The hospital ranks second for management, with employees praising the inclusive management style that is respectful of employees’ rights.

5. Texas Children’s Hospital

Founded: 1954
HQ: Houston, Texas
No. of employees: 5,001 - 10,000

The largest children’s hospital in the U.S., Texas Children’s Hospital aims to create a healthier future for children and women by leading in patient care, education and research.

Not only is Texas Children’s Hospital consistently ranked as one of the top children’s hospitals in the country, but it performed exceptionally well in Indeed’s individual rankings, coming in first for culture, second in compensation and third for work/life balance.

While employees point to the hospital’s excellent benefits, tuition assistance and multiple opportunities for career advancement, it’s the positive culture that they rave about.

“The culture of the company is amazing,” one employee says. “Everyone loves to put a smile on the children's faces!”

For a deeper dive into employee reviews, salaries and job openings at the best hospitals in the U.S., click the banner below.

Methodology:

Indeed has over 15 million company reviews. Indeed compiled this list by including hospitals with at least 50 reviews. These hospitals are the most highly rated for overall employee experience.