Each year, Lee Health invests significant time, talent and resources for community benefit, which are programs or activities that provide treatment and/or promote health and healing as a response to identified community needs. To qualify as community benefit, the program or activity must improve access to healthcare services, enhance the health of the community, advance medical or health knowledge, and relieve or reduce the burden of government or other community efforts. As I shared earlier this spring, the net value of our community benefit in 2023 was $178,795,934.
The efforts of the Lee Health Trauma Center injury prevention team show our community benefit in action. This team provides community-based services, education and training on the prevention of violence, bullying, substance abuse, vehicle crashes, sports injuries, falls, mentor programs and support groups. In 2023, the team contributed 673 staff hours and served 7,832 people for a total community benefit value of $75,213.
Golisano Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy team is another prime example of community benefit in action as they focus on injury prevention and children’s health and safety. The team conducts courses on mental health awareness, equipping children and teachers with valuable tools and resources. They also advocate for child passenger safety. They provide education and distribute car seats. The Golisano Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy team contributed 6,065 staff hours and served 51,849 people for a total community benefit value of $179,532.
Lee Community Healthcare offers adult and pediatric primary care. Beyond that, Lee Community Healthcare also offers specialty care services including obstetrics/gynecology, behavioral health and adult and pediatric neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology and more. The offices use sliding fee scales based on household size and income so people can receive high-quality medical care for a fraction of the price. In 2023, Lee Community Healthcare accounted for $16,056,121 of community benefit.
There are many more examples of our community benefit in action, and I encourage you to look at the 2023 Community Benefit Report to learn more. You can find that report, as well as past years’ reports, on our website, LeeHealth.org (type “community benefit” in the search bar).
Lee Health is dedicated to serving, caring for and impacting the health and well-being of our community. Our Community Benefit Reports help us illustrate that dedication.
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Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA is the president & CEO of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s major destination for health care offering acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, health and wellness education, and community outreach and advocacy programs. Visit LeeHealth.org to learn more.