Asheville Watchdog, Author at North Carolina Health News

Commercial building exterior with a stainless-steel utility enclosure, yellow safety bollards, and a covered side entrance on a rainy day. This is a cooler extension that acts as an overflow morgue at Asheville's Mission Hospital.

Healthcare Workers

Death takes a holiday: NC medical examiners plan coordinated vacation to protest low pay

by Asheville Watchdog June 7, 2026June 5, 2026

By Ted Clifford Asheville Watchdog Paula Case knows the job of a medical examiner wasn’t meant to be easy. Since 2021 she has driven up and down seven counties of western North Carolina investigating deaths that are sudden, violent, unexpected or simply unattended by a physician. Like all local medical investigators in the state, Case, […]

A modern hospital sits over a mountain town.

In quest for more beds, Mission plans to keep staff lean, CON application shows

by Asheville Watchdog May 16, 2026May 15, 2026

Exterior view of Mission Hospital, a large multi-story medical center with red brick and glass architecture, at a street intersection under a partly cloudy sky.

Mission Hospital to evaluate leadership’s “capacity and competency,” hires consultant in wake of Immediate Jeopardy

by Asheville Watchdog March 22, 2026March 20, 2026

A large brick and glass hospital building stands under a cloudy evening sky, partially obscured by tall trees in the foreground. The windows reflect soft light from the setting sun, and the scene conveys a calm, moody atmosphere.

HCA reports $3.8 billion increase in 2025, citing rise in admissions, volume

by Asheville Watchdog November 16, 2025November 14, 2025

A woman with long curly hair sits on a teal couch in a sunlit living room. She is wearing a blue dress and a light pink scarf, speaking with her hands clasped. Behind her are pillows and a red blanket, and in the foreground sits a glass of water and a decorative bowl filled with colorful spheres on a glass coffee table.

“There’s no way”: Huge ACA premium hikes force Buncombe policyholders to make hard choices, including dropping coverage

by Asheville Watchdog November 15, 2025November 12, 2025

A hospital stands along a treelike in a rural mountain town.

Mission Hospital faces new immediate jeopardy recommendation as state agency flags major safety risks

by Asheville Watchdog October 19, 2025October 18, 2025