Press release

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2013) – “We are pleased to report that at this stage of our exhaustive and on-going investigation we can confirm that the blisters a small number of our patients have experienced appear to be related to skin conditions not uncommon to post-operative patients. These conditions arise from such causes as pressure, friction, and immobility. We have found no evidence of infection from our investigation and testing to date; the blisters are localized to the skin; and there is no evidence of any spread from person-to-person. Occurrence rates are extremely low. To date, approximately one-half of one percent of the more than 1,800 surgeries and procedures performed since Feb. 1 have resulted in this type of a skin condition – again, a condition not uncommon to post-operative patients. Patients experiencing this condition are being treated and discharged normally upon the order of their attending physician.”

About Mission Hospital

Mission Hospital, the flagship hospital of Mission Health, is a not-for-profit hospital that serves as the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care in western North Carolina and the adjoining region. Mission Hospital is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina and houses the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital– the regions only children’s hospital. Mission Hospital has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. In 2012 Thomson Reuters named Mission Hospital as a Top 100 Hospital for the fourth consecutive year, and Professional Research Consultants ranked Mission Hospital in the top 15% nationally in patient satisfaction. Mission Hospital is licensed for 730 beds and employs more than 6,500 people, including over 1,800 RNs. Mission Hospital is committed to serving its community and improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.