Giving the gift of health
There are people, such as doctors and nurses, who devote their entire lives to protecting our community’s health and well-being. But did you know, anyone can give the gift of health?
Charitable donations made to Lee Health help provide good health to thousands of Southwest Florida residents, including tiny babies, people coping with Alzheimer’s disease, cancer patients, those with life-threatening heart conditions -- the list of those receiving care thanks to generosity goes on and on.
What’s more, a healthy community impacts everyone. Healthy employees equal a healthy economy, and research shows that giving can boost your own physical and mental health!
One of the benefits of philanthropy is helping to provide state-of-the-art, lifesaving care for people who cannot afford it. According to the U.S. Census, 8% of the U.S. population did not have health insurance in 2021, with a negative result on overall health. Uninsured adults are less likely to seek preventive services or treatment. At Golisano Children’s Hospital, about 70% of patients are uninsured or underinsured. Lee Health is a safety net hospital, which means no one is denied care. That makes financial support especially critical to make programs and services possible sooner.
When you are sick, you do not want to travel for care, which can take people away from their jobs and families for extended periods. In 2023, philanthropy helped fund the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic in Bonita Springs, allowing residents from southern Lee County and northern Collier County to receive their cancer treatments closer to home. A new pediatric neurosurgery program, a collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, allows Southwest Florida children to receive a high level of care without having to travel to larger cities.
In the future, community financial support will help build the new Golisano Children’s Hospital Surgery Center, expand primary and specialty care in Cape Coral, and more. Women’s heart health has been enhanced by opening a Women’s Cardiac Surgery Center, designed to address disparities in heart treatment between men and women, including heart attack risk.
Community financial support enhances care by adding the latest technology for diagnosis and treatment, reducing recovery time and resulting in better diagnoses. For example, Lee Health was the first hospital system in Florida to provide specific non-invasive, AI-powered imaging to rapidly detect plaque buildup, predict potential heart problems and better help prevent heart disease. The cardiologists and radiologists at Lee Health have the most experience utilizing this technology of anyone in the region.
In addition, Lee Health has acquired the Siemens ARTIS Icono Ceiling Angio System, making it the first health system in the Southern United States and the second in the country to have this technology. The system, which is now available at Cape Coral Hospital, gives physicians the ability to perform more complex procedures, helps them provide more specialized and targeted care, and improves outcomes for patients.
Philanthropy helps with doctor recruitment and staff training, adding world-renowned providers and services, and expanding availability of specialized treatment close to home. For example, Lee Health recently added Dr. Kevin Cao as a Cardio-Oncologist, one of the most rapidly growing specialties nationally and internationally
Financial support provides care and support beyond treatment for patients, such as pre- and post-operative garments, wigs, food and gas for treatment, and medication assistance.
Donors have even focused on making hospital experiences better by supporting holiday gifts, end-of-chemo parties and Child Life services, such as hospital dogs, music therapy and toys and games. Philanthropy helps provide parenting classes and mental health training for the community.
While the area’s health needs are complex and growing, it is easy to make an investment in the wellness of our entire community. During this season of giving, by making a gift to Lee Health, you can further health care innovation, access and growth, helping your friends, loved ones, family members and neighbors receive the finest possible care.
Make an investment that will impact thousands of lives. Gift the gift of health!
Chris Simoneau is chief development, marketing and communications officer for Lee Health Foundation. To give the gift of health, visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/Donate.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Giving the gift of health
