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Following Ebola, Texas Health Resources Makes Fortune's 'Best Companies' List

Cooper Neill/Texas Tribune
Texas Health Resources, parent company of Texas Health Presbyterian, has been named one of the country's best companies for workers.

Texas Health Resources, which attracted worldwide headlines last fall for the way one of its hospitals misdiagnosed a patient who had Ebola, has been named one of the country’s best companies for workers.

Fortune has named Texas Health Resources as one of its “100 Best Companies To Work For.”

Texas Health Resources said this was its first time applying for the honor.  

“This recognition is a wonderful honor for our organization and a testament to the work of every member of the Texas Health family," Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health Resources, said in a statement. “Being named one of the 2015 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For is especially meaningful because Fortune’s metrics took into account the very challenging period we faced last year. This speaks to the way we take care of and support each other, and that is undoubtedly reflected in the compassion and care we show our patients.”

That "challenging period" refers to Ebola. Thomas Eric Duncan arrived at Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas last fall, complaining of abdominal pain and a headache. The hospital sent him home with antibiotics. A couple days later, Duncan was back at the hospital, and placed in an isolation ward. Tests confirmed he had Ebola.

Two Presbyterian nurses who treated Duncan, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, contracted Ebola. They both recovered. Duncan died in October.

Earlier this week, Pham filed a lawsuit against Texas Health Resources, saying the company failed her. She’s seeking unspecified damages for physical pain and mental anguish, medical expenses and loss of future earnings.   

Fortune says:

The faith-based health organization promotes an atmosphere of mutual support and optimism, where employees can voice any concerns in town hall meetings and 91% report the company often or almost always provides work that is personally challenging, necessary training, and fair promotions. After two of its nurses contracted Ebola while caring for a patient last fall, the organization saw an initial drop in hospital visits but refused to lay off employees; revenue had recovered fully by year’s end.

Texas Health Resources says:

Texas Health, which applied for the first time, was selected from among hundreds of companies vying for a place on the list this year. The selection process includes an employee survey and an in-depth questionnaire about programs and company practices. Fortune’s partner Great Place to Work then evaluates applications using methodology based on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.