The North Carolina Department of Labor is investigating a complaint at Mission Health.
“We can confirm that we received a complaint and opened an investigation on October 1st,” said Erin Wilson at the labor department.
Wilson couldn’t confirm any details of their investigation because it is ongoing. National Nurses United, the union that represents nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville, told BPR they filed an Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint last month.
It focused on the Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 protocols and says that nurses were not involved in COVID-19 safety plans, and that there is a lack of PPE and COVID-safe protocols for nurses.
NC DOL investigations usually take anywhere from a few weeks to six months, according to the department.
A Mission spokesperson told BPR they expect findings from the report at the end of the week.
"We appreciate the dedication of all of our colleagues in following the OSHA guidance in our commitment to exceptional patient care,” said Nancy Lindell, Mission spokesperson.
In August, the National Nurses United filed a federal health and safety complaint against HCA at 16 hospitals in four states for violating the Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 protocols. Mission is mentioned in the complaint. It notes that the nurses had moved forward to file a petition for an NLRB election. And it says that Mission nurses were not given proper PPE and nurses were not notified of exposures.
Mission nurses joined the National Nurses United union in September 2020. Their first contract was agreed upon in July 2021.
An anti-trust lawsuit was also filed against HCA and Mission Health in August 2021.
