Mission Hospital Plans To Hire 200 Nurses And Specialty Techs, Activists Criticize Anyway
Earlier this month, Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe sent an internal email announcing the hospital’s plan to hire over 200 nurses and specialty techs in 100 days. The email detailed an incentive program for current employees to help with recruitment efforts, and Mission plans to hold over 140 recruitment events across the region.
Healthcare providers across the country are struggling with a nurse shortage. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released a study in 2024 that highlighted the challenges associated with expanding the nurse workforce. According to the study, about 177,000 nurses are expected to enter the workforce, while 190,000 on average retire every year for the next decade. The United States is short about 78,000 nurses, and by 2030 the shortage is expected to drop to only 63,000 nurses.
The NC Health Talent Alliance (NC HTA) recently released its annual analysis of the workforce for key healthcare roles in North Carolina. Despite making gains in increasing the number of nurses graduating, North Carolina is still short 2,710 nurses and 620 annual LPNs. Across the country and state, policymakers and healthcare providers are working to address this challenge.
Yesterday, a left-leaning activist group, Reclaim Healthcare WNC, held a press conference attacking Mission Hospital. The core of their complaint is that there are not enough nurses staffed at the hospital, which they noted Mission was already addressing. The activist then went on to cite numerous anonymous, unverifiable complaints to paint an unflattering picture. Notably they claimed there were “preventable deaths” but provided no concrete evidence.
Mission spokesperson Nancy Lindell told the Asheville Citizen Times that previous complaints aired by Mayfield were not substantiated by multiple government agencies that conducted the surveys. Lindell continued, “It's disappointing that she is continuing to mislead members of the community with false information. Hospitals are a place for healing and her desire to criticize and tear down our caregivers at every turn does not serve this community and only hurts our efforts to recruit nurses."
Tim’s Take: It is baffling that Reclaim Healthcare WNC would continue to attack Mission Hospital, even after they announced plans to address their core complaint: not enough nurses. Reclaim Healthcare WNC and Julie Mayfield provide a clear example of what is wrong with the Left’s nonprofit industrial complex. These groups must continually identify problems to justify their existence and secure ongoing funding. The activist group “needs” to perpetuate a tale about problems at Mission Health, even though qualified government agencies have already investigated and dispelled these complaints. Local media outlets should provide greater scrutiny for Mayfield's claims, especially since her group has a clear interest in painting a dark picture divorced from reality.
