Starting this week, residents across Western North Carolina are invited to learn more about AdventHealth’s proposed plan to apply for a Certificate of Need to expand its services in the region by adding more hospital beds.
Residents will be able to preview the proposed Weaverville hospital design, share input with AdventHealth leaders, and learn how the company’s expanded services can meet the growing health care needs of Western North Carolinians.
Director of communications Victoria Dunkle told BPR that AdventHealth is applying for additional beds based on what the 2025 North Carolina State Medical Facilities plan outlined as additional health care needs in Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties.
“ It's an exciting time,” Dunkle said. “ We're in the process now with these listening sessions for the communities to talk directly to our teams with AdventHealth and make sure they're letting us know what they want with this additional need that the state has outlined for their communities and it's been really eye-opening.”
The listening sessions follow the North Carolina Court of Appeals’ decision in mid-June to uphold state health authorities’ approval of the nonprofit's original Certificate of Need for 67 beds. HCA’s Mission Hospital had appealed the decision in 2023.
The Florida based nonprofit held its first listening session on Thursday at the Yancey County Senior Center in Burnsville. More sessions are planned in the upcoming weeks in Buncombe, Graham, and Madison counties.
AdventHealth previously held listening sessions in 2024 after receiving approval to build a new hospital site in Weaverville.
READ MORE HERE: AdventHealth kicks off listening sessions after receiving approval for new Weaverville hospital
North Carolina law requires health care providers to receive a Certificate of Need from the state Department of Health and Human Services before offering a new institutional health service like adding more beds.
AdventHealth seeks to add 129 acute care beds to its new hospital site in Buncombe County. If approved, it would bring their total bed count to 222.
Applications for the additional 129 beds can’t be submitted to the state until Oct. 15 and are then reviewed on Nov. 1, according to the 2025 state medical facilities plan.
Confirmed listening sessions from AdventHealth are below:
- South Buncombe: Aug.20, 4- 6 p.m. at Skyland/South Buncombe Library
- Weaverville: Aug. 26, 4-6 p.m. at Weaverville Community Center
- Candler: Aug. 27, 4-6 p.m. at Enka-Candler Public Library
