ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —

Western North Carolina residents will have several chances this month to ask questions and share concerns about HCA Healthcare with Dogwood Health Trust and Affiliated Monitors Inc.

The meetings are part of the independent monitor’s efforts to determine whether HCA Healthcare complies with its Mission Health System purchase agreement.

The first meeting was Monday night in McDowell County. The next is set for Tuesday night in Spruce Pine. The Buncombe County meeting is set for Wednesday night in Asheville.

During the community meetings, Affiliated Monitors will introduce its team to the community, review HCA’s commitments under the purchase agreement, provide an overview of how independent monitoring works within the constraints of the established purchase agreement and update the communities about the steps Affiliated Monitors has taken to date, a news release said.

The public meetings will also allow attendees to share information with the monitor and ask questions about the process. Concerns that fall outside the role of the independent monitor will be referred to an appropriate party, the news release said.

“We are grateful to the many community members who shared their concerns pertaining to HCA’s compliance with the APA and their desire for more engagement with the Independent Monitor,” Dogwood Health Trust CEO Dr. Susan Mims said in the news release. “We heard you and have asked Affiliated Monitors to focus time on community engagement and education as part of their scope of work. We look forward to this new phase of community meetings and invite the public to attend so that we may continue to learn from your experiences and fulfill our role in ensuring HCA’s compliance.”

Dogwood Health Trust was created in 2019 when Mission was sold to HCA Healthcare. Net proceeds from the sale were to go to the nonprofit “to dramatically improve the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina,” according to the Dogwood Health Trust website.

One of Dogwood Health Trust’s roles was to ensure that HCA complies with the purchase agreement. To help do that, it has hired an independent monitor.

The format for these meetings with the independent monitor is designed to educate the community on the monitoring process and gather input about each HCA facility. Affiliated Monitors has requested that attendees pre-register using the updated Independent Monitor website.

All meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. and doors will open 30 minutes before the meeting.

Upcoming meetings are listed below:

Mitchell/Yancey Counties Meeting (Blue Ridge Regional Hospital)
5:30–7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Cross Street Commerce Center, 31 Cross St #215, Spruce Pine

Buncombe County Meeting (Mission Hospital)
5:30–7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at Ferguson Auditorium at A-B Tech, Fernihurst Drive, Asheville

Transylvania County Meeting (Transylvania Regional Hospital)
5:30–7 p.m. Monday, June 17, at Transylvania County Library, 212 Gaston St. Brevard

Highlands/Cashiers Meeting (Highlands-Cashiers Hospital)
5:30–7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, location to be determined

Macon County Meeting (Angel Medical Center)
5:30–7 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at Robert C. Carpenter Room, Macon County Community Facilities Building, 1288 Georgia Road, Franklin

Click here to submit questions or comments.

To register to attend the meetings, click here.

Click here to learn more about the meetings and to attend them virtually.