Vanguard Health Systems Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems

Pros – There is a lot of growth and learning opportunities.

Cons – Vanguard is a conservative organization and that can sometimes hinder progress.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Vanguard Health Systems as a contractor for more than 10 years

Pros – Company attempts to develop talent from within, deep company pockets help to support capital projects other health systems cannot afford. Competitive benefits/compensation for higher level employees. Takes feedback from employees seriously.

Cons – No loyalty - will end employment for the long-term employees without a second thought if saves money. To work there a management level employee needs to find a way to live with management behavior patterns that are troubling to one's conscience - an example is telling an employee their job was secure while at the same time planning to end their employment. Standard operating procedure is to make an employee so uncomfortable in their job they leave on their own, rather than respectfully sitting down to say this is not working out and offering severance. To avoid unemployment or accountability for their actions.

Advice to Senior Management – Be upfront - the mission is quality healthcare and profit. Where medical education and residency training fits into this mission is highly questionable.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems full-time for more than a year

Pros – - Many of the hospitals have patient programs and services which are distinguished or accredited.
- The company offers many additional employee benefits programs besides health and dental insurance to full time and part time employees. This includes, but is not limited to tobacco-cessation programs, employee assistance programs, and tuition assistance programs.
- Multiple nation-wide locations allow for employees to transfer positions across geographies.

Cons – - Since late 2011, there have been several waves of job cuts, geographical job shifting along with organizational restructuring and department outsourcing across many Vanguard hospitals. This includes, but is not limited to: accounting, payroll, information systems, middle management and directors, hospital transporters, hospital interpreters, patient advocates, and chaplains. This was cited as being because of decreases in patient volume and in government reimbursement funding.
- During the 2012 fiscal year for the Chicago Market hospitals, no employee merit raises nor matches to employee retirement were made. But, during the following fiscal year (2013) the Chicago Market President was awarded 28,559 shares of stock in the company.
- Inconsistency across market hospitals. Depending on the market you hired in, there may be no standardized training program for your position. Many employees must "hit the ground running".
- A non-exempt person hired as per diem (registry) without benefits who then transfers into a part-time or full-time position with benefits is offered a lower hourly rate than what they were hired with. Additionally, unless you are hired as an exempt salaried employee, negotiating with Vanguard recruiters is often difficult and lengthy.
- Depending on the market, Vanguard serves its employees as it's own health insurance firm by using their own staff physicians as plan providers. However, many physicians physically located across the hospitals are not Vanguard employees, but are part of their own medical group or are independent contractors. Additionally, some of the health insurance coverages are minimal to non-existent.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Big company with lots of opportunities nationally. Willing to invest in employees.

Cons – Too much going on. They are constantly changing their mind on the future and strategy.

Advice to Senior Management – Pick a simple & effective strategy and stick to it.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems

Pros – Many company perks, company engagement

Cons – Leadership changes usually have a ripple effect.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep your focus for each facility and don't change the rules in the middle of the game.

Former Employee – worked at Vanguard Health Systems

Pros – The only pro is that in today's economy you might have a job before they cut you

Cons – Vanguard Health Systems say that they believe and empower the employees but when it comes down to it all they care about is the bottom line. They come in and completely let the staff go to a point that a department is unoperable to give excellent service

Advice to Senior Management – Do not take a job with Vanguard Health Systems

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems

Pros – Company encourages staff to be creative and is receptive to new technologies

Cons – To many projects to keep up

Advice to Senior Management – Keep moving forward

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Vanguard Health Systems

Pros – I work at one of the Health Systems that Vanguard owns. Overall, I like working there b/c of benefits, I have no long hours, everything is very routine. Once you get your job down you can pretty much do it in your sleep.

Cons – No upward mobility. Also, we tend to be treated like children by management team.

Advice to Senior Management – There should be more recognition for lower rank jobs, these are the people actually doing all the work. More communication please, let us know the big picture. However, this might not be a Vanguard problem it could just be our Sr management team.