Our Stories

Bill Boeheim works in guest services at the front door of the emergency room at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Each night, he helps loved ones find their family members, answers questions and offers reassurance during some of the most stressful moments of their lives. Helping people in their times of need is what makes the work meaningful to him.

Bill has undergone multiple open-heart surgeries. After his second surgery, he remembers struggling with the financial burden that followed. Years later, when he learned he needed a third operation, those worries returned. This time, he was also helping care for his 85-year-old mother while managing the mortgage, household expenses and medical bills. He described the pressure as a weight on his shoulders.

When a colleague in human resources asked Bill how he was doing, he shared that mounting bills were adding to the challenges he and his wife were facing. She encouraged him to apply to the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund. Although he had heard of the Hope Fund, he did not know much about the assistance it provided. He applied and soon received support that helped ease the financial strain, allowing him to focus on his recovery during the two and a half months he was away from work.

For Bill, the experience reflected the same care he gives others. “Every shift, I’m there to help people in times when they need the most,” he said. “When I needed the help the most, the Hope Fund was there for me.” He encourages colleagues in a time of need to learn more and apply, and those who can contribute to the Hope Fund can continue helping colleagues across HCA Healthcare.