In February 2019, HCA Healthcare purchased the Mission Health System, transitioning the Hospital from a nonprofit to a for-profit organization.

Following a major transition such as ownership, many businesses experience an attrition of employees, according to Nancy Lindell, Division Director of Public and Media Relations for HCA Healthcare’s North Carolina Division and Mission Health. For Mission Health, she said, this attrition immediately followed by the pandemic and then the ‘Great Resignation’ had a compounding effect on the hospital’s staffing, though they have programs in place to try to mitigate the situation. 

“Mission Health offers a Certified Nursing Assistant program at two locations – Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Mission Hospital,” Lindell said. “People can go into the program and learn while they are getting paid. It is a six-week program consisting of classroom hours, a simulation lab, and supervised hours in clinical units. These individuals are not only students; they are hired as a Patient Safety Attendant of Mission Health. They earn an hourly wage in addition to a benefits package including healthcare, paid time off, and a 401(k).” This program also can be a prelude into nursing school, she said. “Many schools require a CNA certification before entering the school,” Lindell said. “If they choose to pursue that path, individuals may also be eligible for tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per calendar year as employees of Mission Health.”

Mission Health also said that they are funding an instructor position at three local nursing schools. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; Blue Ridge Community College and Western Carolina University now have the potential to add 30 students into nursing programs because of this staffing.Mission Health’s affiliate, Galen College of Nursing, started online classes in Fall 2022 and opened a new campus in Asheville on Dec. 15.

“As we continue to look at creative ways to combat the healthcare worker shortage across the United States, we are proud not only of our strong partnership with our area colleges, but to help bring an additional education option to our community,” said Fran Paschall, Mission Health Chief Nursing Executive.

Lindell said that while it is important to focus efforts on acquiring new healthcare workers, retention of current employees is a priority for Mission Health. “HCA Healthcare has funded $20 million in raises for staff involved in direct patient care,” she said. “This is as much as a 15 percent raise.”

While working toward expansion of staff, Mission Health and HCA Healthcare are also expanding services. They opened the new $68 million Angel Medical Center in Franklin in September of 2022. The facility will also be home to a new heliport for Mountain Area Medical Airlift in early 2023. “It will house both the MAMA crew and the MAMA 2 helicopter,” she said. “This facility is only a 10-minute flight to the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.”

Mission Health plans to open a new behavioral health facility, the Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center, in early 2023. The facility will offer 120 beds and multiple therapies, a gymnasium for physical activities, and outdoor recreational spaces for patients.

Executive Director of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County Clark Duncan said that locally manufacturing critical personal protective equipment products will benefit both the economy and long term public health of our region. The joint venture between HCA Healthcare and A Plus International Inc. with support from the HCA Healthcare Mission Innovation Fund LLC began manufacturing PPE masks in Asheville during the pandemic. “We opened our own plant because of the supply chain issues during the pandemic,” Lindell said. “We had to make sure that we are able to properly protect our staff and patients. It is still in production now, and will continue to be in production into the future.” 

During staff and facility expansions, Lindell said that quality of care is still a top priority for Mission Health. “Mission Hospital received their third consecutive Grade A rating from The Leapfrog Group,” she said. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. Mission Hospital McDowell also received this Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog. 

Transylvania Regional Hospital and its Transitional Care Unit have both earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards in Fall 2022. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. 

“The Mission Health System receives many other accolades for quality, including the highest star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as well as being recognized as one of the Top 50 Best Hospitals in America by Healthgrades in 2022,” Lindell said. Mission Health was the only hospital in North Carolina to receive this designation.