Temporarily, no visitors aged 11 and under are permitted. This year's dominant flu virus is a mutated flu A virus that appears to make children and teens sicker than the typical flu. We are restricting visitors aged 11 and under because young children often can carry and transmit viral infections with no symptoms, especially early in the infection. As always, visitors should not come to the hospital if they have respiratory viral symptoms or nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Effective 1/1/26, all UNC Health Appalachian (UNCHA) teammates (including providers and staff) will be required to wear masks when they are around other people indoors.
Patients and visitors will also be encouraged but not required to wear a mask when they are around other people (e.g., in the hallway, in the waiting room, in the exam room being seen). This applies to all UNCHA hospitals, outpatient facilities, and offices.

Meetings of the UNC Health Appalachian Board of Trustees

The UNC Health Appalachian Board of Trustees meets on the fourth Thursday of January, April, May, June, July, September, and October. In December, the meeting is held on the first or second Thursday.

Board Commitment to Quality and Safety

To our patients, community members and clinical care teammates,

At UNC Health Appalachian, our top priority is keeping our patients safe and healthy. As the governing board, we are committed to delivering high-quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients. We support The Joint Commission's goal of zero harm, meaning we strive to ensure that no patient is harmed during their time in our care.

We promise to:

  • Maintain high standards of patient care by always checking and improving our processes.
  • Provide ongoing education and training for our staff, so they have the latest knowledge and skills.
  • Promote open communication among staff, patients and visitors to quickly address any safety concerns.
  • Use the latest research and new solutions to keep improving your care and health.
  • Monitor our performance through quality assurance programs to find ways to make your care even better quickly.
  • Work towards zero harm by using best practices and making safety our top priority.

We are committed to working hard to ensure every patient receives the best possible care in a safe environment. We appreciate our team’s dedication and the trust our patients have in us.

On behalf of the UNC Health Appalachian Governing Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team, we thank you for your continued support in this important mission.

Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda for October
Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda for December