Mission Health Ranks Among Nation's Best For Both High-quality Patient Care and a Valued Work Culture

ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Health is among the top healthcare institutions recognized nationally for extraordinary dedication to two vital aspects of modern healthcare – providing high-quality, innovative patient care, while at the same time keeping its more than 9,500 valued employees "engaged, healthy and motivated." The annual Becker's Hospital Review and Becker's ASC names Mission Hospital as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America," and Mission Health is among Becker's list of "100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare."

"Our caregivers are the foundation and core of Mission Health. With their talents and compassion, we are able to provide superb healthcare to more than 880,000 residents throughout western North Carolina," Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health, said. "We are steadfast in our mission to maintain a positive and just culture that our employees value and respect – one that also provides safety and quality of care for the people we serve."

"Our performance evolves from our BIG(GER) Aim: to get each patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for the patient and family," Paulus said. "Working together in pursuit of our BIG(GER) Aim has more accessible, higher value and greater quality while also transforming Mission Health into a nationally recognized health system."

The annual Becker's Hospital Review and Becker's ASC selected Mission Health as one of the "100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare" because of its positive work culture, based on these criteria: Robust benefits, wellness initiatives, professional development opportunities, and work environments that promote employee collaboration and satisfaction.

Mission Health, the largest employer west of Charlotte, creates a collaborative work environment among its more than 9,500 employees. Mission Health offers outstanding benefits, which include access to on-campus health services, childcare, wellness programs, a homebuyer-education program with matching employer funds, career guidance, and tuition reimbursement. In addition, employees receive discounts on apartments, cell phone service and pet care.

Personal health is emphasized by Mission Health's wellness program, which offers cash and other incentives for healthy living choices. Other wellness services like massage therapy are also available to employees. Mission's Center for Leadership and Professional Development coordinates a host of career advancement classes for all staff at Mission Hospital, ranging from instruction on how to build a resume to mentoring nursing colleagues.

"Our employees dedicate more than just their time to Mission Health. They are true caregivers, invested in every aspect of improving the health of the patients we serve. Their happiness and well-being is important to us, because we know that life is about so much more than the work they do," Taylor Foss, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Mission Health, said. "We also understand that when our employees are happy and healthy, Mission Health is a better environment for everyone – staff, patients and visitors."

Mission Health's flagship hospital, Mission Hospital, received recognition as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America" for demonstrating exceptional care through innovative medical treatments, research technology and care delivery. The list includes academic medical centers, community hospitals and others that have demonstrated a commitment to the health of their communities through unceasing self-improvement and growth.

"The fact that Mission Hospital was chosen out of the thousands of hospitals in the United States is a testament to the superb care that our physicians, nurses and other caregivers provide right here in western North Carolina," Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, President of Mission Hospital and Mission Medical Associates, said. "This accolade is further evidence that the people of our great region receive the best care available, when and where they need it most close to home, and are linked to one of the Top 15 Health Systems in the nation."

Mission Hospital was named in 2013 as one of the nation's Top 100 Hospitals for the fifth consecutive year by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as Thomson Reuters. Professional Research Consultants also ranked Mission Hospital in the top 15 percent nationally in patient satisfaction in 2012.

Becker's Hospital Review and Becker's ASC is a national healthcare industry publication that reports on business, legal and best practice information for hospital and health system leaders.

About Mission Hospital

Mission Hospital, based in Asheville, N.C., is a not-for-profit hospital that serves as the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care in western North Carolina and the adjoining region. Mission Hospital is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina and houses the region's only dedicated Level II trauma center. It also includes Mission Children's Hospital– the regions only children's hospital. Mission Hospital has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children's Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women's Health.

Mission Hospital is the flagship hospital of Mission Health, named in 2012 as one of the nation's Top 15 Health Systems by Thomson Reuters – the only health system in North Carolina to receive this recognition. This year, Mission Hospital was named as one of the nation's Top 100 Hospitals for the fifth consecutive year by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as Thomson Reuters. Professional Research Consultants ranked Mission Hospital in the top 15 percent nationally in patient satisfaction in 2012. Mission Hospital is licensed for 730 beds and employs more than 6,500 people, including over 1,800 RNs. Mission Hospital is committed to serving its community and improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org

About Mission Health

Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state's sixth-largest health system and the region's only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. Mission Health was recognized as one of the nation's Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. Mission Health is one of only two medium-sized health systems to receive this recognition in 2012 and 2013, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.

Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers and the region's only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children's Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women's Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system's flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children's Hospital – the region's only children's hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 9,500 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.

SOURCE Mission Health