January 13, 2023 — Lee Health has earned national recognitions from U.S. News & World Report.
For its 2022-2023 list, the teams at Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit, HealthPark Care Center and Lee Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit have been recognized as Best Nursing Homes, and the team at Cape Coral Hospital has earned the distinction as one of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit, HealthPark Care Center and Lee Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit were selected from over 15,000 nursing homes across the country that were rated in two different areas: Short-term rehabilitation and long-term care.
Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit and Lee Memorial Skilled Nursing Unit teams both won the short-term designation and the HealthPark Care Center team was awarded the short and long-term accolade.
Short-term rehabilitation ratings for the Best Nursing Home distinction evaluate care for patients in need of skilled nursing or rehabilitation services following hospitalization for surgery, heart attack, stroke, injury or other conditions. It includes metrics on nurse staffing, patient outcomes, facility complaints, patient safety and rehabilitation therapy.
Long-term care ratings focus on patients in need of daily assistance with medical and nonmedical needs. It includes metrics on nurse staffing, best practices in preventive care and resident safety, and minimizing the need for and use of hypnotic medications.
In addition to that distinction, Cape Coral Hospital has been recognized as one of the Best Maternity Hospitals for 2022-2023.
This designation for a Best Maternity Hospital was given to the Cape Coral Hospital team for its dedication to high-quality care and uncomplicated pregnancies. It also looked at five different factors: Scheduled early deliveries, C-section rates in low-risk women, newborn complications, rate of exclusive breast milk feeding and option for vaginal births after a cesarean.
“These recognitions from the U.S. News & World Report show that we’re committed to continuously providing high quality, collaborative, patient-centered care for our short and long-term rehabilitation patients, babies and expecting mothers,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lee Health. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team members for their hard work, compassion and dedication to their patients.”
Several months ago, U.S. News also gave Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital High Performing ratings in five medical procedures and conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. Additionally, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital earned High Performing ratings in heart attack, hip replacement and knee replacement. Gulf Coast Medical Center also earned a High Performing rating in colon cancer surgery, and HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital are rated as High Performing in heart bypass surgery and lung cancer surgery.
Scores are based on several factors, including patient safety, survival, nurse staffing and more. Hospitals are ranked nationally and regionally within states and major metro areas. According to U.S. News, each hospital’s performance is evaluated using a variety of measures, including data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and information from the American Hospital Association and professional organizations.
