Healthcare in Fort Myers
Fort Myers' healthcare identity is anchored by Lee Health, a large public, not-for-profit regional system founded in 1916 that is genuinely central to the area's retiree-heavy population -- not an incidental amenity. Its hospitals carry real, current (2026-2027) national recognition, and Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida gives the region a dedicated, nationally ranked pediatric facility as well.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreLee Health: Four Acute-Care Hospitals
Lee Health operates four acute-care hospitals across Lee County: Lee Memorial Hospital (336 beds, downtown Fort Myers, the system's founding 1916 campus), HealthPark Medical Center (326 beds, built 1991), Gulf Coast Medical Center (699 beds, south Fort Myers, acquired 2006 and expanded through 2021), and Cape Coral Hospital (303 beds, acquired 1996, across the river in Cape Coral). It also operates two specialty hospitals -- Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and The Rehabilitation Hospital.
U.S. News 2026-2027 Rankings
In U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings, Lee Memorial Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center both ranked No. 13 in Florida, while Gulf Coast Medical Center (south Fort Myers) ranked No. 21 in the state. That year's methodology, evaluating nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide on patient outcomes, preventable complications, and patient experience, is the same cycle in which Naples' NCH and Sarasota's SMH also placed in the teens statewide -- Lee Health's showing is consistent with, not clearly ahead of or behind, those regional peers.
Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida
Golisano, a 135-bed dedicated pediatric hospital that opened its current building in May 2017, offers a 24-hour pediatric emergency department, a hematology-oncology unit, a Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, and Level II and Level III NICUs with 70 private rooms. It has been named a Top Children's Hospital by The Leapfrog Group six times and ranks among the top 100 children's hospitals nationwide per U.S. News; in January 2026 it achieved Magnet with Distinction designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center -- the nation's highest recognition for nursing excellence. For a region with Lee County's retiree-and-family demographic mix, a dedicated, nationally recognized pediatric hospital is a genuine, not incidental, piece of local healthcare infrastructure.
Lee Health as an Employer
Lee Health is the largest employer in Lee County and across the broader five-county Southwest Florida region. Its cited staffing figures vary somewhat by source and date -- one figure puts it at 16,506 employees, while another describes it as employing more than 14,000 people plus about 4,500 volunteers -- a gap likely reflecting different snapshot dates rather than a genuine disagreement, but disclosed here rather than picking one number silently. Either way, it is a substantial regional institution well beyond its clinical role.
What Wasn't Confirmed
This research pass did not turn up a specific, current independent patient-safety letter grade (e.g., a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade) or CMS star rating for Lee Health's adult acute-care hospitals with a precise, sourced figure -- rather than estimate one, that gap is disclosed here. Insurance-network participation, wait times, and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan and should be confirmed directly with Lee Health or a chosen insurer before relying on them for a relocation decision.
Key takeaways
- Lee Health runs four acute-care hospitals in Lee County -- Lee Memorial Hospital (336 beds, downtown), HealthPark Medical Center (326 beds), Gulf Coast Medical Center (699 beds, south Fort Myers), and Cape Coral Hospital (303 beds) -- plus two specialty hospitals.
- In U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings, Lee Memorial Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center tied for No. 13 in Florida; Gulf Coast Medical Center ranked No. 21 statewide.
- Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida (135 beds, opened 2017) is a six-time Leapfrog Top Children's Hospital, ranks among the U.S. News top 100 children's hospitals nationally, and earned Magnet with Distinction nursing recognition in January 2026.
- Lee Health is Lee County's and the broader Southwest Florida region's largest employer -- cited staffing figures vary by source (16,506 vs. more than 14,000 plus 4,500 volunteers), a gap disclosed rather than resolved with false precision.
- A specific independent patient-safety letter grade or CMS star rating for Lee Health's adult hospitals wasn't confirmed with a precise figure in this research pass -- a genuine gap, not a filled-in guess.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Fort Myers overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert