ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Mission Hospital’s plans for an emergency department along the Smokey Park Highway corridor in West Asheville/Candler is moving forward.

On March 7, 2025, the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings affirmed the State Health Planning Agency’s approval of Mission Hospital’s Certificate of Need application for an ER in West Asheville, hospital officials said in a news release. This is a step forward toward opening a much-needed facility, they said.

“Mission respects the work of the administrative law judge in the CON appeal process, and we are gratified he has affirmed our CON application for the West Asheville ER,” Mission Health and Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe said in the release. “This ER will help meet community needs and expand emergency care access in Buncombe County. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care with this new facility.”

Emergency departments nationwide and locally have seen an influx of patients facing longer wait times, officials said. To address this, Mission Hospital began pursuing CON approval for an ER to meet the rising demand.

In May 2022, Mission Hospital’s application was approved by the State Health Planning Agency. Following that approval, Mission has defended the agency’s decision at the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings and the North Carolina Court of Appeals, hospital officials said.

The West Asheville ER will provide 24/7 emergency care, staffed with board-certified ER physicians and meeting the same accreditation standards as our other hospital-based ERs, the news release said. It will treat stroke, severe chest pain, traumatic injuries and accept EMS patients. The facility will also offer advanced life support, complex radiology and lab services.

“The South Asheville ER has been warmly received, allowing us to care for many patients closer to home,” Lowe said. “This new facility will provide convenient access to emergency care for West Asheville residents, offering faster treatment for urgent medical issues. We are excited about this opportunity to enhance our community’s health.”