Florida-based Advent Health, which operates a hospital in Hendersonville, has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to build a 67-bed acute care facility in Buncombe county. It was announced via Twitter on November 22. Blue Ridge Public Radio says the statement was confirmed by Advent spokesperson Victoria Dunkle, but has not been posted on the NCDHHS website, which lists decisions on a monthly basis.
BPR notse that The N.C. 2022 State Medical Facilities Plan, released earlier this year by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (Division of Health Service Regulation) determined Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties will have a projected need of 67 additional acute care beds by 2024.
Advent was one of three contenders. Nashville-based HCA Healthcare which operates Mission Hospital System and Winston Salem-based Novant Health, which operates hospitals in parts of central North Carolina and in South Carolina also put in bids. You can find more on the proposed plans here. Both companies say they they are considering fighting the decision.
In August, the state held a public hearing on the three proposals in Asheville. You can find out more about the application and review process here.
Advent’s plan proposes a site at the Enka Center off Smokey Park Highway in the county’s Enka Candler Community, with a completion date of 2025.