Mission Hospital Plans 95-Bed Expansion in Asheville With Minimal Staff Growth

Mission Hospital has received conditional approval to expand its capacity by 95 acute-care beds, a project that involves constructing four new floors atop the facility's existing 'J tower.' Despite state projections that would see the hospital's capacity grow to 828 patients by 2031—a nearly 13 percent increase—the facility’s Certificate of Need (CON) application indicates a plan for only a 3.7 percent growth in its workforce over the same period.

Critics and nursing staff argue that the proposed staffing levels are insufficient to support current patient demands, citing ongoing concerns about vacancy rates and the correlation between patient-to-nurse ratios and clinical outcomes. The hospital currently operates above 90 percent capacity frequently, with 528 open positions reported as of early May 2026. The approval of these beds is currently the subject of appeals from other health systems challenging the regulatory decision.