A North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services investigation found no care deficiencies at HCA Healthcare’s Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C.
The investigation was conducted May 13-16 to evaluate the hospital’s compliance with Medicare conditions of participation, according to HHS documents shared with Becker’s.
It examined 35 complaints related to hospital management and patient care, including staffing issues and at least one patient death that nurses alleged was avoidable, the Asheville Watchdog reported June 18.
An Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act investigation was also conducted May 14-16. Information from that review has been forwarded to CMS’ regional office in Atlanta, which will determine compliance or noncompliance, according to a June 11 HHS letter addressed to Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe and shared with Becker’s.
In a statement shared with Becker’s on June 20, a hospital spokesperson said the organization has not been notified of any potential EMTALA findings but confirmed the results have been forwarded to CMS for review.
“We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff for their professionalism, resilience, and focus throughout this challenging process,” the spokesperson said. “Regulatory surveys are a vital part of ensuring healthcare quality, and they can be intense and time-consuming for our colleagues. The results of this survey again reaffirmed the strength of our team and our shared commitment to excellence.”
Mission Hospital had been placed in immediate jeopardy in February 2024. That designation was lifted in June 2024 after a plan of correction was submitted and a subsequent CMS visit found no deficiencies.
