NCH

At the last minute, NCH and Florida Blue reached an agreement that will allow the hospital to stay in-network.

At the eleventh hour, Florida Blue and NCH were able to come to a multi-year agreement that will keep NCH’s doctors, hospitals, and practices in-network for Florida Blue members.

Florida Blue health insurance and NCH Healthcare System are coming dangerously close to being unable to reach a contractual agreement. NCH may be considered out of network at the end of September if the two parties can’t come to an agreement.

One of the largest health-care systems in Southwest Florida may become an out-of-network provider if two parties can’t reach an agreement

There are severe blood shortages throughout Florida and that has prompted a call for Southwest Floridians to donate platelets or whole blood.Laura Rosen, community relations manager for the NCH Community Blood Center in Collier County, says the call to donate is to ensure local blood inventories remain optimal for patients in area hospitals.

The entire cardiac program across NCH Healthcare System will be now called “The Rooney Heart Institute" after a $20 million naming gift from the Rooney Foundation to benefit comprehensive cardiovascular services at the hospital.

COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the Lee Health System have more than doubled over the past month amid a nationwide surge in coronavirus infections. Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System (NCH) and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) report experiencing a similar uptick, although the number of COVID patients requiring ICU-level care remains low.

The Hospital for Special Surgery is the world’s largest academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal health. Thousands of Florida residents are among patients from more than 100 countries and all 50 states who have travelled to New York City for treatment at the HSS main campus. As part of the collaborative agreement, NCH will build a state-of-the-art facility offering outpatient and inpatient services, including a jointly owned and operated ambulatory surgery center, and imaging and rehabilitation services, all under the guidance of HSS to provide residents with the highest-quality musculoskeletal care closer to home. The new facility will be on the campus of the NCH North Naples Hospital with construction scheduled to start on the two-year project after the holidays.

Amid an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks, predictions of a surge in new infections across the South and the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, Southwest Florida hospital officials are raising awareness about taking precautions and getting vaccinated.

Lee Health and NCH Healthcare System officials commemorated the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest Florida during a media conference Tuesday.