In a significant development for healthcare in Western North Carolina, Asheville’s Mission Hospital has been awarded the Level I trauma center designation by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This distinction places Mission Hospital in a select group of facilities capable of delivering advanced trauma care.
Despite this achievement, Mission Hospital, owned by HCA Healthcare, is under scrutiny for issues related to patient safety and staffing, particularly within its emergency department. The hospital’s recent challenges include being put under the “immediate jeopardy” designation, which is the most severe sanction for a healthcare facility. This was due to a failure in maintaining proper monitoring systems and addressing risks associated with patient identification.
Mission Health President and CEO Greg Lowe emphasized the importance of this verification, stating, “This verification not only signifies Mission Hospital’s critical role in delivering timely, coordinated care, it solidifies Mission’s high standard of readiness. When the unthinkable happens, families across Western North Carolina can take comfort in knowing that world-class trauma care is right here at home.”
The ACS conducted a thorough review of Mission Hospital in September, leading to its current Level I status, which it will hold for the next three years. Presently, only six other hospitals in North Carolina share this top-tier designation.
Courtesy of the North Carolina Office of EMS
According to ACS standards, Level I trauma centers are equipped to provide extensive trauma care for all injury types, a step up from Level II centers, which offer initial definitive care for various injuries.
Buncombe County officials have expressed concerns about the hospital’s ability to meet the obligations of a Level I trauma center. In a letter to the state Office of Emergency Medical Services, the county’s Board of Commissioners highlighted “numerous, well-documented operational and staffing issues” at Mission Hospital. The letter urged a thorough evaluation of the hospital’s emergency room staffing and overall performance to ensure it aligns with Level I standards.
While the “immediate jeopardy” designation was lifted following a re-inspection, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) noted that Mission Hospital remains non-compliant with Medicare requirements. A CMS spokesperson stated, “This means that while the most serious and immediate threats to patient safety have been addressed, the hospital must continue working to achieve full compliance with all applicable Conditions of Participation.” Mission must submit a corrective plan to address these deficiencies.
