ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Doctors, nurses, and state leaders criticized Mission Health's plan to correct concerns surrounding patient care at the hospital during a press conference on Feb. 22, 2024.

This comes as federal and state inspectors are in town, ensuring the hospital system is doing what it said it would in its Plan of Correction (POC).

State senator Julie Mayfield was joined by multiple former Mission doctors and nurses, and patient advocates during Thursday's press conference.

FORMER ER DOCTOR: HCA'S ACTION PLAN FOR MISSION HOSPITAL IGNORES KEY PROBLEM OF STAFFING

Earlier this month, Mission Health was required to submit a POC to address safety issues after the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) told the hospital system it was violating Medicare conditions of participation and "the noncompliance posed immediate jeopardy to patients' health and safety."

On Thursday, the group argued that the plan doesn't include a requirement to increase staff.

"Hiring enough staff to do the work is rule number one, especially when you have the money to do it," Mayfield said.

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:

The group said it held the news conference specifically because several patient cases that resulted in deaths were due to understaffed facilities, particularly in the ER.

"The nurses at Mission are not fooled by the paltry efforts HCA has done to remove the hospital from immediate jeopardy, but I promise the nurses at Mission will not stop fighting for this community," Molly Senker, a Mission Hospital nurse, said. "We will not lie down. We will not be bullied. We will continue to advocate for the health and well-being of the people."

GROUP CALLS MISSION HEALTH'S PLAN OF CORRECTION 'INSUFFICIENT'

A spokesperson with Mission Health provided the following statement on Wednesday, Feb. 21, when the press conference was announced:

"We are pleased that CMS accepted our Plan of Correction and we will continue to collaborate with the surveyors through this process."

Some of those who spoke Thursday said they're in touch with relatives who lost family members and whose cases of immediate jeopardy were cited in a recent report. They said relatives learned the extent of the hospital's issues via the report and are in shock.

PATIENT DEATHS, INJURIES, CARE DELAYS AT MISSION DETAILED IN NEWLY-RELEASED REPORT

This story will be updated.