WNC Wellness Review: regional hospital battles in the news

In this week’s WNC Wellness review: Henderson County hospitals ‘locked in a death match’; Mission criticized for ‘perceived predatory practices’; Yoga helps breast cancer patients; Coffee cuts prostate cancer risk; & more
 

• Asheville’s Mission to manage Angel Medical Center:

Officials with Angel Medical Center have agreed for the Franklin-based hospital to be managed by Mission Health System.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

Healthcare group urges Gov. Perdue to curtail “perceived predatory practices” of Mission:

Two health facilities and a local cancer doctor sent a letter to Gov. Bev Purdue, urging her to ‘curtail the perceived predatory business practices currently undertaken by Mission’ Health System. The authors of the letter are Park Ridge Health CEO Jimm Bunch, 21st Century Oncology’s Barton Paschal and HOPE Women’s Cancer Center’s Nathan Williams.” – [Mountain Xpress] 

Study: Yoga helps breast cancer patients::

Breast cancer patients who practice yoga experience lower stress and improved quality of life compared to counterparts who do stretching exercises, a US study indicated. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center studied 163 women with an average age of 52 who were undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, ranging from early onset to stage three.” – [Agence France-Presse] 

Henderson County’s two hospitals — Pardee and Park Ridge — are locked in a death match that only one of them can survive, according to an April email from the chairman of the Pardee Hospital board of directors to the chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners.” – [BlueRidgeNow]

Local control makes a difference, and a bill proposed by state Rep. Jim Davis could take it away, says Angel Medical Center CEO Tim Hubbs. The Franklin hospital is close to signing an affiliation agreement with the Asheville-based Mission Health System, but Davis’ bill (which has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations) would bring the talks to a standstill. Specifically targeting Mission, it calls for a moratorium on the system’s partnerships and acquisitions (see “The COPA Debate,” May 4 Xpress).” – [Mountain Xpress]

‘Many of our staff are very wellness-oriented,” Chase said. “It fits in with a lot of their lifestyles. And it’s a great opportunity for us to go and be a part of the business community and the Asheville community and support the chamber.’” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

More is better when it comes to drinking coffee to ward off the risk of deadly prostate cancer, according to a major US study released Tuesday by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.Men who drank six or more cups per day had a 60 percent lower risk of developing the most lethal type of prostate cancer and a 20 percent lower risk of forming any type of prostate cancer compared to men who did not drink coffee, it said.” – [Agence France-Presse] 

When it comes to keeping kids safe in the water, there is no trendy gadget or dazzling new iPod app to replace the best method on the market — good, old-fashioned supervision.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

Access to affordable health care is essential to quality of life and peace of mind. I should know: I don’t have it. A 63-year-old UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, mother of three and grandmother of three, I lost my job in July 2010. I managed to pay for COBRA for a month or two; I then applied to Blue Cross for a policy with a $5,000 deductible, but was turned down. This places me in the company of at least 1.7 million other North Carolinians who are without health insurance. ” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

Please submit WNC health & wellness info to: mxhealth@mountainx.com

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About Wade Inganamort
• Partner / Digital publisher @ Hukilau.us • Heavy reader, screenwriter, and information liaison currently enjoying the small-town life in North Carolina •

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