Lee Memorial Health Systems Board of Directors voted Thursday to buy Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center and Gulf Coast Hospital from H-C-A. Board Chair Linda Brown says the 250-million-dollar purchase will benefit Southwest Floridians by improving the quality of health care and keeping costs down. The acquisition gives Lee Memorial a virtual monopoly on hospital care in the county. But Smith says in the health-care industry competition DOES NOT necessarily benefit consumers.

“ It does in most areas but in health care it’s proven to increase the cost the cost of health care because when each hospital buys the same piece of equipment to be competitive and that equipment costs millions of dollars its not more affordable – its more expensive. that equipment then has to be paid for by charging patients.”

The purchase will be finalized by the end of October. Lee Memorial will extend job offers to all employees at Southwest Florida Regional and Gulf Coast.