FORT MYERS — Lee Health’s HealthPark Care & Rehabilitation Center has earned the prestigious 2023 Gold Seal Award from the Florida Governor’s Office. It is one of fewer than 15 in the state of Florida, which has nearly 700 skilled nursing facilities, to receive the distinction.

Established in 2002, the Gold Seal Program is implemented by the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care, which is comprised of selected appointees by the Governor’s Office, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Department of Health, Department of Elder Affairs, Florida Health Care Association, Florida Life Care Residents Association, LeadingAge Florida, and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman.

The program awards and recognizes nursing home facilities that promote the stability of the industry, facilitates the physical, social, and emotional well-being of nursing home facility residents, and demonstrates excellence in long-term care over a sustained period.

Skilled nursing centers must achieve a quality-of-care scoring and ranking that places them in the top-10 percent in their region or top-15 percent in the state and they must be a Five Star center in the AHCA Nursing Home Guide. Gold Seal recipients must also be in operation for a minimum of 30 months prior to the date of application.

They should additionally meet other requirements, such as providing evidence of financial soundness and stability, participating in a consumer satisfaction process involving residents, family members and guardians, having a stable workforce and involving families and members of the community in the facility on a regular basis.

“We are pleased and honored to earn this recognition. It highlights the commitment to high-quality care our team members provide every day,” said president and chief executive officer of Lee Health, Dr. Larry Antonucci. “By providing high-level, patient-centered care, we are helping patients make strides toward a healthy recovery so they may return home to their loved ones as soon as possible.”

Whether patients are recovering from joint surgery, stroke, heart surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any other medical condition, the goal at HealthPark Care and Rehabilitation Center is to assist patients with their rehabilitation and prepare them to return home as quickly as possible.

The care team is made up of an on-site medical director, team of advanced medical providers, registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), dietitians, an activity coordinator, social workers, clinical coordinators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. Some areas of focus may include balance management, joint rehabilitation, and stroke and cardiac rehabilitation.

Located adjacent to HealthPark Medical Center, HealthPark Care and Rehabilitation Center is a 112-bed skilled nursing facility that combines the latest rehabilitative treatments with compassionate, patient-centered care.