Estero 5/14/20 Village of Estero Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Updates

Later this week, Lee Health will begin serology testing, which is a test that shows the presence of coronavirus antibodies in a patient’s blood. While helpful in showing us how the virus has spread in our community, it is important to note that the presence of antibodies does not equate to immunity. There is much we still don’t know about COVID-19, and more research needs to be done to know how the presence of antibodies impacts a person’s overall immunity. Serology tests can be drawn in physician offices or at Lee Health Labs. Anyone curious if they have been exposed to the virus can request a test from their doctor.

Whether you pursue serology testing and find out you have antibodies or not, we all must continue the habits that have helped us fight COVID-19 so far—physical distancing, wearing a mask while in public and practicing good hand hygiene. For the sake of yourself and others, especially those most vulnerable in our community, please do not become complacent, instead continue doing your part to slow the spread.

Over the last few months, Lee Health has provided thousands of free Lee TeleHealth visits to support our community during a global pandemic. We made this service free because it was the right thing to do, and it allowed patients to be virtually evaluated for symptoms of COVID-19. On Monday, May 18, this service will return to its regular price of $49.99. Lee TeleHealth is a convenient alternative to urgent care or a walk-in clinic for ailments such as rashes, fever, pink eye, cold-like symptoms and many other non-emergency medical conditions.

This week is National Hospital Week, which highlights every hospital, health system and health care worker involved in keeping communities safe and healthy across the country. We thank all our health care teams for their dedication to safety, hope and healing, especially during this unprecedented time.

Our health care heroes’ efforts and commitment to safety every day and night led to our adult acute care hospitals once again earning the highest national marks for safety from The Leapfrog Group. For the third straight report card, Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital each received “A” grades.

Join us in celebrating our health care heroes by printing this selfie sign and posting your pictures on social media using #LeeHealthStrong #ExceptionalLee and #HospitalWeek2020.

Lee Health Skilled Nursing Facilities Earn Highest CMS Star Ratings

This week also is National Skilled Nursing Care Week, which recognizes the teams who care for seniors and people with disabilities every day and night in facilities across the country. As we celebrate our dedicated skilled nursing teams, we are proud to announce that Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing, HealthPark Care & Rehabilitation Center and Lee Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing have been awarded five stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in their 2020 Five-Star Quality Ratings.

“With nursing homes under scrutiny during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s good to have this recognition from CMS,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, Lee Health president & CEO. “The CMS 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. We appreciate the doctors, advanced providers, nurses and support staff for their commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality, safe care in our nursing facilities.”

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, a long-time benefactor of both Lee Health and NCH Healthcare System, donated $40,000 to the SWFL Stronger Together campaign. This gift will be used to support our doctors, nurses and health care workers through the purchase of additional, necessary equipment and supplies, such as ventilators, masks and gowns. For more information or to make an online donation to SWFL Stronger Together, visit SWFLtogether.org.