Engage Estero Safety Council is made of volunteers serving as a voice for the citizens of greater Estero on safety and transportation priorities and issues. We advocate for related solutions to Village, County, and State Government organizations.
Road Safety in Greater Estero By Contributing Author, Mark Novitski, and Engage Estero Consultant. Everyone has their definition of what determines road safety or, conversely, what makes our roads unsafe. In writing extensively about Corkscrew Road, I have...
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comprtroller Kevin Karnes is now offering an alert notification system for Lee County property owners to reduce fraud. When you sign-up, if a deed, mortgage, or other non-Court official record is recorded in your name, you will be...
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
During the weekend of April 6th, Engage Estero’s team of volunteers, organized by Julie Yellig, collected 360 pounds of bagged litter. A total of 2.2 tons of litter has been collected since the end of April 2023 (the end of last season), and an astonishing 10 tons...
by Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage Estero. Mia McCormick, Advocate, Environment Florida, identifies why we need wildlife crossings: “Each year, animals at risk of extinction die when cars and creatures collide on Florida roadways. It is the number one cause of...
Engage Estero Community Health Council comprises health* and safety-minded volunteers who think about community health comprehensively with a common desire to improve the overall health of the citizens of greater Estero.
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The facts Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 300,000 lives annually. Approximately 95 percent of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or receive medical attention. How Can We Help Reduce This...
Engage Estero mobilizes volunteers in our schools, sponsors scholarships, and promotes the involvement of the community through announcements and public forums.
By Mike Wasson, Director, Engage Estero The Village of Estero Council issued a Proclamation its Meeting on Wednesday, March 6th honoring 39 Estero High School Students who were presented the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. In his remarks, Jon McLain, Village of...
The Future Plans for our Schools and Students' Education in Greater EsteroBrought to you by the Engage Estero Education Councilby Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage EsteroPrincipal Leslie Gunderson in her office at Pinewoods Elementary School behind a table full of...
Engage Estero believes the best way to get a community involved is to make sure they are aware of the issues impacting their future, and know how to impact those decisions before they are made. We conduct and publish original research and articles aimed at getting residents Engaged.
Lee Health will buy out NCH Healthcare System’s 50% stake in the Bonita Community Health Center for $14.3 million, a deal that ends a long-tumultuous business partnership between the rival hospital systems in south Lee County.
The acquisition will not affect patient services or staffing at the 100,000 square-foot outpatient health center located just south of the Coconut Point Mall, Lee Health officials said. And NCH’s wound-care center will remain. The center adjoins Lee Health’s newly built 30-acre Lee Health – Coconut Point medical campus.
“We feel, strategically, this makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot of synergy with our current project there at Coconut Point,” said Dave Cato, chief administrative officer of outpatient services for Lee Health.
The publicly operated Lee Health will pay $5 million in cash to NCH and assume its $9.3 million shares of the debt the health center has incurred over the years.
The Bonita Community Health Center has been losing $2 million a year, a financial liability the two hospital systems have shared. Lee Health officials have not said how they plan to stop the fiscal bleeding. But Lee Health spokesperson Mary Briggs said, “We see a lot of potential in Bonita Community Health Center. By strategically coordinating its services with Coconut Point and other facilities we have in the area, we believe we can make it profitable.”
“In working with NCH, they’ve been nothing but absolutely collaborative in coming to a resolution,” said Lee Health’s president and CEO, Larry Antonucci. “And I firmly believe this will be the beginning of a very different relationship — a very collaborative relationship.”
Originally reported in a News-Press article published November 2, 2019.
