Federal inspections find patient safety failures at Mission Hospital

Documents reviewed by this newsroom show that a September survey and a follow up unannounced revisit by regulators identified multiple deficiencies at Mission Hospital that rose to the level of immediate jeopardy before that finding was later lifted. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found ongoing noncompliance after the revisit, and warned the hospital it must make corrections or face possible termination of Medicare payments.

The reports describe concrete incidents that preceded two patient deaths. In one case vital equipment monitoring blood oxygen levels failed during transport. In another, a patient’s monitoring equipment became disconnected and the patient went more than three hours without being checked. Inspectors also cited a case of a patient misidentified in records and a separate case in which a COVID positive diagnosis was not properly communicated to staff, exposing caregivers to risk. The documents point to technological errors, staff level disputes and breakdowns in communication as underlying causes rather than isolated mistakes.

Mission Hospital leadership has told regulators it submitted plans of correction, according to the records. The documentation itself, however, suggests systemic problems that will require sustained fixes in technology, staffing practices and clinical communication protocols to fully protect patients and workers. At the time of reporting Mission had not responded to requests for comment.

Local implications are significant. Mission is a primary provider for many Buncombe County residents, including older adults who depend on Medicare, people with chronic conditions and communities that already face barriers to care. A loss of Medicare certification would disrupt access to inpatient care, strain neighboring hospitals and disproportionately affect low income and rural patients who have fewer alternatives.

These findings also raise broader public health and policy questions about oversight, staffing stability and the reliability of medical monitoring systems. For patients and families who use Mission Hospital, the immediate priorities are transparency from hospital leadership, verification that corrective actions address root causes, and assurance that infection control and monitoring procedures are reliable. Local elected officials and health leaders will need to monitor implementation closely to protect patient safety and preserve equitable access to care.