ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — News 13 has learned inspectors returned to Mission Hospital Thursday to determine if the facility can clear its latest immediate jeopardy designation.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) set a deadline of next Wednesday for the hospital to finalize corrective plans focused on patient rights, nursing services and infection control. A report by CMS showed that two patients died as a result of various safety breakdowns and protocols at Mission Hospital.
HCA Healthcare bought Mission in 2019. In the past two years, the major healthcare company has faced three serious patient safety designations.
A hospital spokesperson confirmed, additionally, Mission utilizes travel nurses and other supplemental staffing resources as needed.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS ANNOUNCED AFTER MISSION HEALTH’S LATEST ‘IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY’ STATUS
HCA’s career vacancy website shows nearly 500 open positions when the portal is narrowed to Mission Hospital openings. A hospital spokesperson said, however, that the number is for Mission’s regional network.
When News 13 didn’t narrow the job search to just Mission Hospital, job listings grew. The listings included openings for Mission’s trauma medical director and director for emergency medicine. There were also vacancies for heart doctors, and over 200 nurse vacancies. News 13 has learned some positions have been posted in advance of current employees retirements in hopes of having the position filled quickly.
HCA Healthcare’s careers page for Mission Hospital shows nearly 500 available job openings. (WLOS)
News 13 Investigates has also confirmed HCA is offering up to $50,000 in bonus pay to recruit experienced nurses. There are numerous vacancies for neurology nurses and oncology nurse openings, and a vacancy for a nurse manager for cardiovascular progressive care.
DOCUMENTS: PATIENT DEATHS, MEASLES EXPOSURE PRECEDED MISSION’S ‘IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY’ STATUS
Last October, the hospital announced 200 job offers taken in 65 days, which included Mission hiring over 100 registered nurses. Doctor openings currently scroll for several pages at Mission. They include openings for a pediatric anesthesiology physician and an infectious disease physician.
Mission Hospital also has multiple vacant positions in radiology for technicians and phlebotomists who take patient blood.
HCA Healthcare’s careers page for Mission Hospital shows nearly 500 available job openings. (WLOS)
Additionally, there are multiple openings for housekeepers. Hospital experts have told News 13 in past reports that housekeeping is a critical component of keeping rooms clean and ready to go for discharge and timely patient admissions from the ER.
Mission also has listings for a director of patient safety and a patient safety manager, plus at least two other advertised positions in the patient safety department.
COALITION MEMBERS URGE INVESTIGATION INTO MISSION HOSPITAL PATIENT DISCHARGES
Nancy Lindell, spokesperson for Mission Hospital, provided the following statement:
“Positions currently posted on our careers site reflect normal hiring activity for an organization of our size and breadth of services, as well as growth and ongoing recruitment in key clinical areas.Mission has launched several targeted recruitment initiatives in recent months, including surpassing our goal of 200 hires in 100 days ahead of schedule last year — reaching 200 accepted offers by day 65 and welcoming more than 250 colleagues by the end of the campaign. As part of our current effort to hire 90 medical-surgical nurses in 90 days, eligible registered nurses may receive enhanced sign-on bonuses. Recruitment is an ongoing process, and we continue to actively fill positions across clinical, physician and support roles. Additionally, Mission utilizes travel nurses and other supplemental staffing resources as needed.”