December 16, 2022 — Lee Health’s Annual Statement of Community Benefit for fiscal year 2021 was recently published, revealing $242.9 million in community benefits by the health system.
The report is a national standard of measurement that determines a monetary value for the health system’s community commitment and the financial investments it makes to help strengthen health and human services.
Each year, Lee Health invests a significant amount of time, talent, monetary funds and other resources on its community benefit initiative, specific programs or activities that provide treatment and/or promote health and healing as a response to identified community needs.
2020 and 2021 were unprecedented years marked with significant challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Lee Health was able to contribute more than $209.3 million in community benefit in 2020 and $242.9 million in 2021.
“As one of the largest public health systems in the country, Lee Health continues to provide health care services without any direct community tax support,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lee Health. “Our presence also goes well beyond medical care. We contribute greatly through educational programs and local partnerships with a variety of organizations for the betterment of the entire community.”
Key highlights of the 2021 report include:
- Establishing a mobile pediatric vaccination clinic that – from the start of the program in May through September (the end of Lee Health’s fiscal year) – visited 79 locations and vaccinated 1,828 people
- Drive-through testing sites and vaccination clinics were set up at various locations in Fort Myers and Cape Coral and they delivered 167,947 COVID tests and vaccinated 32,950 people
- 3,921 patients were served virtually. Lee Health eliminated the costs of our 24/7 Lee TeleHealth platform to encourage telemedicine usage during COVID-19 surges
- Lee Community Healthcare, which provides primary medical care to medically uninsured and economically distressed communities, added eight pediatric and two specialty care practices, conducted 175,775 office visits and served 53,382 patients
Programs or activities must meet at least one of the following criteria to qualify as community benefit: Improve access to health care services, enhance the health of the community, advance medical or health knowledge, or relieve or reduce the burden of government or other community efforts.
The full 2021 Community Benefit Report can be found by visiting www.leehealth.org/about-us/community-affairs/community-benefits. Reports can be accessed dating as far back as 2011.
About Lee Health
Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Staffed by caring people, inspiring health, services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.
