A letter of intent has been submitted to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration to initiate the process.
The existing hospital, which currently has over 300 employees, would be converted into a freestanding emergency room and primary care service center. Meanwhile, negotions are already underway with several landowners, including one site in the Alico Road area for the new hospital which could open as early as 2016.
In 2010, Lehigh Regional reported a loss of $941,000. About 15 percent of the hospital's patients are uninsured or on Medicaid.
A detailed application with financial and patient projections must be submitted by April 10, with the state issuing its decision in June.
