As southwest Florida’s primary destination for healthcare, and with a nearly 110-year legacy of service, Lee Health’s decision to convert from a public entity to a private nonprofit health system was a critical step toward ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.
After a multi-year process, Lee Health completed this historic conversion in 2024. Last November, we proudly celebrated the first anniversary of becoming a private, community-focused health system.
This first-year milestone marked a successful transition grounded in our promise to preserve local healthcare, strengthen access and continue serving all residents of southwest Florida, particularly Lee County.
At the time of conversion, we made clear commitments to our patients, neighbors and partners: to preserve safety-net care, maintain critical community programs and expand access to high-quality services. One year later, those commitments were not only met — they were strengthened.
In 2025, Lee Health provided approximately $168 million in charity care, continuing its long-standing legacy of serving patients most in need. We also launched and expanded initiatives to improve health outcomes across the region, including community paramedicine, Hospital at Home, and enhanced cancer and orthopedic services. To improve quality, care coordination and physician partnerships, we established a physician advisory board that includes both independent and employed physicians, and we achieved all-time high engagement scores among employed physicians.
Lee Health has also experienced significant growth since the conversion. With the ability to establish clinics and practices beyond Lee County, we acquired Prime MD Naples — now Lee Health Family Medicine North Naples — in late 2025. In Cape Coral, southwest Florida’s fastest-growing community, we expanded access through the opening of Lee Health at Bimini Square, bringing together comprehensive adult and pediatric physician and outpatient services, Convenient Care in South Cape Coral, Fla., and an expanded emergency department. Additional growth is underway across the region to ensure patients receive high-quality, compassionate care closer to home.
Finally, we promised to maintain local control and ownership — and we have. Lee Health remains proudly independent and locally governed, with an expanded board of directors bringing deep expertise in healthcare and governance. Together, we remain committed to caring for everyone in our community, investing in innovation and strengthening the health of southwest Florida for generations to come.
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