In February, a patient at HCA’s Mission Hospital died in an emergency department bathroom—a tragedy that local Asheville, NC advocates have linked to HCA’s ongoing understaffing at the hospital.
An investigation by the Asheville Watchdog found that the emergency department was crowded and understaffed, with no rooms available when the patient arrived.
“HCA has completely ignored our warnings,” said Ashley Bunting, a Mission ER nurse, speaking about the tragic death. “We have spoken out, we have called for action, and they have chosen to do nothing. And when nurses are ignored, patients suffer.”
This is not the first time HCA and Mission Hospital have been accused of unsafe conditions in their ER. In late 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services placed Mission in “immediate jeopardy” in part due to ER’s dangerous staffing levels and other deficiencies in care.
Sources:
‘When nurses are ignored, patients suffer:’ Coalition demands HCA add staff after Mission ER death
Patient dies in Mission emergency department bathroom after call for help goes unanswered