All Lee Health Skilled Nursing Facilities Garner Highest CMS Star Ratings

Each of Lee Health’s Skilled Nursing Facilities Earn Five Stars from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 8, 2020) --- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their 2020 Five-Star Quality Ratings, awarding Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing, HealthPark Care & Rehabilitation Center and Lee Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing with five stars. The scores reflect recent improvements undertaken by the health system to continue improving its quality of care for the Southwest Florida community.

“With nursing homes under scrutiny during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s good to have this recognition from CMS. Their star rankings are a gold standard of nursing home quality and safety and we are honored to be recognized for the level of care we provide patients throughout Southwest Florida,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, Lee Health president & CEO. “Thank you to all of the doctors, advanced providers, nurses and support staff for their commitment to providing compassionate, high quality and safe care in our nursing facilities.”

CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. The scores are based on previously reported quality and safety data points including, patient satisfaction, value and outcomes, among others.

“The 5-Star Rating program has been a catalyst to further strengthen the quality of care offered at Lee Health. We are committed to being a national leader in the advancement of health and healing and will continue to use the CMS report to identify opportunities to build on our success. We are grateful for the tireless work of our team and the exceptional care they provide patients every day,” said David Cato, chief administrative officer outpatient services for Lee Health.

The updated CMS rankings follow recent recognitions Lee Health has received for quality and safety. Last month, all four Lee Health adult acute care hospitals earned “A” ratings for safety from the Leapfrog Group for the third straight reporting period. The non-profit Leapfrog Group releases its hospital safety grades twice a year, rating hospitals on 27 measures of safety data. Only 33 percent of the approximately 2,600 acute care hospitals Leapfrog graded received an “A.”

Visit https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/About/Hospital-Info.html to learn more about CMS’ star ratings.

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.