Asheville, North Carolina, August 3, 2025

News Summary

Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina has been recognized as a top-performing hospital in the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, standing out as the only hospital in Western North Carolina to receive this esteemed designation. The evaluation considered various adult specialties and patient care metrics. Despite facing staffing challenges, the hospital’s commitment to high-quality care and recruitment efforts resulted in this significant acknowledgment. CEO Greg Lowe emphasized the importance of this accolade in fostering patient trust in the hospital’s services.

Asheville, North Carolina – Mission Hospital Earns Top Marks in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 Best Hospitals Rankings

Mission Hospital has been recognized as one of the top-performing hospitals in North Carolina, making it the only hospital in Western North Carolina to achieve this prestigious designation. According to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 Best Hospitals rankings, only 13% of the over 4,400 hospitals evaluated nationwide received the “Best Hospital” distinction, making this recognition significant for Mission Hospital’s standing.

The rankings assess hospitals based on their performance in 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions. Mission Hospital has ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the state, exhibiting exceptional performance in patient safety, mortality rates, preventable complications, and across various specialties and procedures.

CEO Greg Lowe noted that the recognition reflects the skilled and compassionate nature of the hospital staff, highlighting the importance of this accolade in reassuring patients about the quality of care they can expect. The rankings are designed to guide patients toward identifying high-performing hospital care closer to home.

Details on Mission Hospital

Mission Hospital is licensed for 853 beds and serves as the region’s only Level II trauma center, comprehensive stroke center, Level III neonatal intensive care unit, and children’s hospital. Furthermore, the hospital holds a Magnet designation for nursing excellence, emphasizing its commitment to high-quality nursing care.

Inspection Findings

In mid-May 2025, inspections at Mission Hospital, prompted by 35 complaints, revealed no deficiencies. These inspections were conducted to ensure compliance with the Federal Medicare Conditions of Participation, and findings confirmed that the hospital was compliant as stated by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Despite the positive inspection results, there have been ongoing concerns about conditions at the hospital, raised by Reclaim Healthcare WNC. There was scrutiny regarding patient care, especially following a warning from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about potential loss of Medicare funding due to compliance issues. However, the hospital avoided termination by implementing crucial improvements.

Nursing Staff Concerns

Nurses at Mission Hospital have voiced concerns about staffing levels affecting patient care and have organized demonstrations advocating for better staffing practices. In response, the hospital has been proactive in recruiting and retaining staff, adding over 375 team members and conducting more than 70 recruitment events since January. Currently, the hospital has managed to reduce its RN turnover to 6% below the national average.

Future Insights

As Mission Hospital continues to maintain its status among the best hospitals in both America and North Carolina, further details regarding the rankings will be available in the upcoming print edition of the Best Hospitals 2026 Guidebook and online.

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Additional Resources

• WLOS: State Survey Finds No Deficiencies at Mission Hospital
• Carolina Journal: NC Court Grants Stay in Con Dispute
• WLOS: North Carolina DHHS Conducts Review at Mission Hospital
• Mountain X: HCA Potentially Not in Compliance with Purchase Deal
• Wikipedia: Mission Hospital

Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER

The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.