Lee Memorial expands locally

FORT MYERS — Lee Memorial Health System will soon expand by acquiring Jennings Behavioral Health System, a mental health care provider based in Fort Myers.

Lee Memorial will pay $250,000 to acquire Jennings, as well as assume the lease on Jennings' office space, located at 12550 New Brittany Blvd. When the transaction is complete, the facility will drop “Jennings” from its name, operating as The Behavioral Health System.

“This is an example of providing the right care in the right setting for our behavioral health patients,” says Lisa Sgarlata, chief administrative officer for Lee Memorial. “It provides a benefit to the community by continuing a needed service, and it frees up hospital beds by placing the patients into an appropriate, and less costly, care setting.”

Lee Memorial Health System has more than 10,000 local employees on its payroll, and is the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida.