If you have ever passed Jose Mercado in the hallway, you did not just get a smile. You got an experience.
From his time in Environmental Services to his new role in Facilities, Jose has always been driven by one thing: people. Working in the facility’s public areas, he was constantly interacting with patients, visitors and colleagues. For him, the job was never just about maintaining a space. It was about how that space made people feel.
“We work in a hospital,” Jose shared. “People are coming here with different stories. I want them to feel like they are coming home, comfortable and happy.”
Jose began his career at HCA Healthcare as a member of the Environmental Services team. From day one, he showed up with a smile and a strong sense of purpose. He was motivated not simply to do a good job, but to show up for our patients in meaningful ways.
He consistently went above and beyond expectations, always putting patients first. If he passed someone in the hallway who looked lost or unsure, he would stop what he was doing to help.
“For me, personal fulfillment is helping,” he said.
His positivity is intentional. “We all have bad days,” Jose explained. “That is why I choose to show grace and try impact people in a positive way.” He knows that for many who walk through our doors, it may be one of the most difficult days of their lives. If he can help them feel welcomed and supported, even for a moment, he feels he has done his part.
His hard work and positivity were noticed.
At HCA Healthcare, potential is recognized and nurtured. Jose’s leaders saw more than strong job performance. They saw initiative, heart a the willingness to learn and grow.
His manager and colleagues encouraged him to think about what could be next. When a role opened within the Facilities team, they urged him to apply. He was hesitant at first. The move meant stepping into something new and unfamiliar, and he did not want to leave the team he cared so much about. But his leaders and colleagues reminded him that growth is not walking away, it is moving forward. They continued to reassure him that he was seen, valued and worthy of pursuing the opportunity.
As Dawn Normoyle, director of clinical resources, told him, “You are not leaving. You are growing. We grow our own.”
Jose decided to take the step. The night before his first day in Facilities, he did not sleep. He was nervous and excited. It would be a new team and new responsibilities. But he kept telling himself, “I know I can do it.”
Now in his new role Facilities, he is learning every day and setting long term goals, including attending school for plumbing so he can specialize. He wants to build a better life for his family and show them that you can rise above adversity and create your own path forward.
Even in a new department, his purpose remains the same. He still greets people in the hallway. He still helps whenever he can. He still believes that everyone who comes through our hospital should feel like family.
Jose’s journey reflects who we are as an organization. We identify potential. We invest in our colleagues. We give them space to learn, grow and thrive. Internal growth strengthens our teams, builds engagement and shows every colleague that their future can be built right here.
At HCA Healthcare, we do more than fill positions. We build careers. We grow our own.
