Asheville, NC, Helps Residents Stay in Good Health
Asheville health care options are not one-size-fits-all, and residents have access to a variety of top-notch services.
The Asheville area benefits from top-notch providers offering both primary and highly specialized care close to home. And the Asheville health care options are continuing to grow right along with the community.
A Legacy of Asheville Health Care
Mission Hospital in Asheville has been caring for the region since 1885.
Licensed for 815 beds, it has the region’s Level II trauma center, Level III neonatal intensive care unit, comprehensive stroke center, and children’s hospital. Its cardiovascular surgery program received a three-star rating – the highest awarded by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
“Each colleague at Mission Hospital contributes to these achievements by keeping our patients safe and providing compassionate care,” says Chad Patrick, the hospital’s CEO.
Did You Know?
Mission is also a magnet hospital for nursing excellence.
Building for the Future
Mission is growing to meet the needs of the community. The state-of-the-art Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center is set to open in 2023, and it will have 120 beds, offering much-needed inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care to patients ages 4 through geriatric.
“The facility will include elements like outdoor courtyards, an indoor gymnasium, a horticulture area, and music and art therapy spaces all designed to support a holistic healing process,” says Nancy Lindell, division director for public and media relations.
The Mission Breast Center moved into a renovated 13,000-square-foot space. Expanded services include six 3D mammography units, four ultrasound rooms and two ABUS whole breast ultrasound units.
“Last year, our team completed 25,000 mammograms, and will be able to double the number of patients served with the added technology and investment,” Lindell says.
Other recent renovations and expansions include a new lobby for the women’s and children’s wing as well as a new dedicated, covered parking area to create a seamless arrival for expectant patients.
“Next up, we will be opening the new obstetrics triage area, with private rooms adjacent to the new lobby, as well as continuing to work on our newly renovated patient rooms in the labor and delivery area and the mother-baby unit,” Lindell says.
Myriad of DPC Options
Direct primary care, or DPC, is a health care model where patients visit a doctor’s office and pay an affordable monthly membership fee instead of dealing with insurance. The DPC plan removes any fee-for-service payments, and there are no third-party billing obstacles.
The region has several DPC choices. For example, Integrative Family Health of Asheville offers a one-time $80 enrollment fee as well as a one-year membership fee that can be paid monthly with a range of $79-$109.
Lantern Health has a downtown office and opened a second office in South Asheville in September 2023. It has a membership fee of $60-$100 a month. One Health offers a monthly plan ranging from $60-$110.
My Brookhaven Health provides personalized treatment plan options, while Wellspring DPC includes a family physician, nurse practitioner and dietitian who all provide holistic care. With two pricing structures, Twardon Family Care is run by Dr. Elizabeth Twardon, a family medicine specialist who has lived in Asheville since 2005.
Ashewell Medical Group provides unlimited primary care for individuals and specializes in affordable pricing packages for small businesses. Another excellent option is Mercy Urgent Care. This provider has a MercyMe program that allows its members to receive a full range of medical services, plus get annual flu shots and a wellness assessment.
Get to Know Asheville
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