Word on the street: Mission Health envisions twin towers for expansion

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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mission_health_logoMission Health has been working quietly on big-time construction and expansion plans that appear to be coming together. Here’s what I understand is being discussed:

The plan, as it stands now, is to build two 16-story towers on the western side of Biltmore Avenue, or the Mission Hospital side. The towers would be built roughly where the MAHEC building stands now. Two stories would be underground, the other 14 above. At least one would be topped with a helicopter pad to service Mission’s air ambulance.

The towers would be home to Mission’s emergency room and surgeons – the expensive, invasive procedures. The plan is to eventually move all of the hospital’s operations to the old Mission Hospital side of the street. As most folks now, the hospital now is the result of a merger of two hospitals, Mission and St. Joe’s on either side of Biltmore Avenue. It is costly and time-intensive to move patients and employees between the two campuses, so the aim of the new construction is to consolidate.

This planning is for work that is still a few years down the road. But Mission is clearly making or nearing some big decisions now about its footprint in the community and its future operations.

This information has not been confirmed.

Image link for Mission Health.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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14 Comments

  1. Media Watcher May 8, 2013

    In light of the government’s recently released study showing wide disparities in charges among hospitals, is any media outlet here (MX, Citizen-Times) doing a comparative study of what the same procedures cost at Mission and other area hospitals? This would be valuable to health consumers.

    Reply
  2. luther blissett May 5, 2013

    Hospital administrators sure do love their cranes. But Mission’s on a… mission to gobble up everything it can in WNC, partly to stave off bigger hospital groups further east, partly because it means they can bill for specialist treatment at hospital rates. A shame that it’ll mean more out-of-pocket costs for patients, even those with insurance.

    Reply
    1. orulz May 6, 2013

      I think you nailed the reason for all this hospital expansion. For whatever reason, hospitals are allowed to bill much higher rates for the services otherwise offered at independent medical offices.

      This runup in the amount of money flowing through the healthcare business has all the hallmarks of a boom, and every boom is sooner or later followed by a bust. Hopefully all this construction won’t leave the area’s main medical facility saddled with huge debts it can’t pay back when the bubble bursts.

      Reply
      1. luther blissett May 7, 2013

        Exactly. And a word to the wise: if you’re getting specialist treatment at one of Mission’s “affiliates”, avoid sticker shock by calling up ahead of time to see whether it’s going to be billed at hospital rates.

        Reply
  3. NFB May 5, 2013

    Charming reply.

    Reply
    1. Harry Sax May 6, 2013

      hey i think you were told to fuck off

      Reply
  4. NFB May 5, 2013

    “This information has not been confirmed.”

    But hey, why not post it anyway?

    Reply
    1. Jason Sandford May 5, 2013

      Exactly. Because I know it’s true. Fuck off.

      Reply
      1. Smytty May 6, 2013

        /applause

        Reply
        1. This is a joke right? I mean no one would take this unprofessional ” journalism” to heart.

          Reply
  5. Julie May 5, 2013

    They have business operations spread out all over town – may be a chance to consolidate those.

    Reply
  6. Murphy May 5, 2013

    The plans are to move operations to the Mission side of the campus … what will happen to the St. Joe side of things …

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    1. Big Al May 5, 2013

      I have worked at Mission for 5 years and have always been told that the St. Joseph’s campus will become administrative offices and in-patient services (doctor’s offices, exam rooms) that require little or no interaction with the in-patient services across the street.

      Reply
      1. thetruth October 8, 2013

        The St. joseph building is to be torn down. Had heard it before and then it was in the paper not long ago.

        Reply

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