Melanie Wetmore, DNP, RN, will exit her role as chief nursing officer of HCA’s Mission Health on May 1, with plans to take on another nursing leadership role within HCA Healthcare, according to an internal letter obtained by the Asheville Watchdog.
The Asheville, N.C.-based health system’s CEO, Greg Lowe, shared news of Dr. Wetmore’s departure in an email sent to staff March 28. An announcement on Dr. Wetmore’s successor will be forthcoming, he said.
“During her tenure, we have benefitted from Melanie’s nearly 30 years of nursing experience and two decades of leadership both within HCA Healthcare and in other health systems,” Mr. Lowe wrote in the letter. “Melanie has brought an unwavering outlook of hope and healing during times of uncertainty.”
Appointed chief nursing officer in 2021, Dr. Wetmore’s tenure spanned a rocky period for Mission Hospital. During her time in the role, the hospital faced high rates of nurse turnover, ongoing allegations of understaffing and increased scrutiny from regulators. In early 2024, CMS issued the hospital an immediate jeopardy citation following three patient deaths in 2022 and 2023. In February, a patient died in the emergency department after reportedly waiting more than 12 minutes for help in a bathroom.
The hospital has faced mounting criticism from staff, union leaders and community members since its acquisition by HCA Healthcare in 2019.
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