He Chose Surgery At A Hospital Known For Poor Outcomes–Here's Why

Speak Up For Your Health · Apr 28, 2026 · 30m

Choosing a hospital for cardiac surgery is one of the most important decisions a patient can make — and most of us do it wrong.

Health policy analyst Paul Keckley, PhD has spent 45 years studying the U.S. healthcare system. Then he became a patient. When he was diagnosed with a 95% coronary artery blockage, he made a decision that shocked everyone around him: he chose to have his quadruple bypass at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina — a facility with four safety citations and mounting community outrage over its for-profit owner, HCA. He wanted to experience the hospital firsthand…