The Lee Health Board of Directors has approved plans to move forward in planning a new hospital campus in the City of Fort Myers.
The Board of Directors approved proceeding with issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural services, construction management and commissioning authorities as a first step in developing the hospital campus. The RFQ process identifies well-qualified firms that wish to work with Lee Health to undertake this project.
Lee Health, according to a press release, anticipates the facility, planned for construction on a 52-acre campus, will include an acute care hospital with 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, an emergency department with 30 emergency room bays, and a 16-bed observation unit. An observation unit allows a patient to stay in the hospital while their care team determines whether they need to be admitted or discharged. The campus will also house a complement of ancillary and social services and will include a Medical Office Building. Lee Health’s data center will move to the new campus.
Lee Health is evaluating its services and the needs of the community, Lee Memorial Hospital will continue to offer clinical services, including an emergency department, inpatient beds, and surgical services for the Fort Myers community.
This project is the latest in a long line of investments intended to expand access to healthcare throughout Southwest Florida, one of the fastest-growing region in the country.
The permitting process for the new campus is expected to take about two years. After that portion of the project is complete, the build timeline is estimated to take an additional three years. The anticipated opening date of the campus is 2027.
