ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services dispatched more than 30 inspectors to Mission Hospital for a complaint investigation earlier this month, according to State Sen. Julie Mayfield.
The investigation, conducted from Jan. 6 to 9, follows up on issues identified in a survey last September.
In 2025, Staff members with the NCDHHS confirmed to News 13 that its staff members were at the hospital on Monday, Sept. 15, and Tuesday, Sept. 16. This visit followed concerns raised by nurses, patient advocates, and doctors regarding patient deaths and unsafe conditions at Mission Hospital that they believe could have been prevented.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS REVISIT MISSION HOSPITAL AMID CONCERNS OVER ‘PREVENTABLE’ DEATHS
Sen. Mayfield said the probe focuses on patient discharge practices, with concerns that some patients are being released prematurely.
“We heard that some patients who, for instance, needed oxygen when they were discharged were being sent home without oxygen,” Mayfield said. She added, “This is maybe a larger issue that patients who need oxygen upon discharge and can’t afford it were suddenly being told, well, Mission’s not going to provide that for you.”
Mission Hospital has not responded to requests for comment.
The hospital recently reported being named one of the 50 best hospitals in America by Healthgrades, a doctor search engine. Industry experts note that hospitals pay licensing fees to use Healthgrades awards in their marketing.