As elected officials in Western North Carolina, one of our primary tasks in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has been evaluating our infrastructure with an eye toward making our community more resilient. Infrastructure includes roads and bridges, electrical grid and water systems, and things like our schools and health care systems.
Mission Hospital is a vital part of WNC’s infrastructure as the only Level II trauma center west of Charlotte and only tertiary care hospital in our 18 westernmost counties. If a community member requires advanced and specialized care for trauma, heart surgery, stroke, or pediatric intensive care, Mission is the only option. If Mission isn’t properly functioning, that is as much of a concern as when I-40 is washed out.
As you have likely seen, Mission Hospital has, once again, been placed in “Immediate Jeopardy” status by federal regulators. This is the most severe sanction that the federal government can take against a hospital, and the third time this status has been imposed on Mission since HCA purchased the hospital in 2019. Mission has also been cited for violating EMTALA in 2024 and 2025, and has been referred for a possible third violation. EMTALA is the federal law that requires hospitals to treat people who come to their emergency departments. This is not normal. Advent Hospital in Henderson County has had no citations in the last decade, and Pardee Hospital, also in Henderson County, has had only one…