Beebe Healthcare announces $180 million expansion
Beebe Healthcare's Board of Directors has approved a $180 million expansion that will upgrade the hospital campus in Lewes and a specialty surgical center in Rehoboth Beach, officials said Friday.
In total, the expansion will include both new facilities and new services on three campuses and construction on the first phase is expected to begin as early as the fall of 2018, according to a press release.
The growing region was motivation for the nonprofit to make this decision.
“Our community is an attractive place to live and keeps growing. Beebe remains committed to expanding with it and to meeting the health care needs of the people who live in and visit the area,” said Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare. “As we acquire the latest technology and equipment, hire more physicians and improve our systems, patient and physician demand for Beebe services has increased. We think our plan is an innovative response to growth of the population, to expectations of health care customers for excellent service provided in convenient locations, and the insurance companies’ requirements that we be as efficient and cost-effective as possible."
The plan calls for an expansion on the hospital campus in Lewes that will create all private rooms for complex medical and surgical inpatients, according to the release.
The expansion will include a new labor and delivery wing. The Lewes campus will remain the site of heart and vascular care, and the plans include creation of a dedicated Heart, Stroke and Vascular Center of Excellence, the release stated.
“By focusing the Lewes hospital campus on complex inpatients, we can improve the care they receive as well as become more efficient,” said Rick Schaffner, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
In Rehoboth Beach, Beebe proposes to develop a Specialty Surgical Center for inpatient and outpatient procedures. Surgical procedures will be focused on less complex cases for patients requiring a shorter inpatient stay. Beebe plans to establish a Minimally Invasive Surgical Center of Excellence at the site.
“We know that we can create a better experience for these patients by developing a site just for them and not mixing them with trauma, emergency, and intensive care,” Fried said.
Residents to the south will see development of a Beebe Health Campus in Millville on Route 17 that will include a new year-round freestanding emergency department, according to the release.
In addition, a comprehensive satellite facility of Beebe’s Tunnell Cancer Center will be developed that will include radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The development of these two services will augment the full diagnostic imaging, physical rehabilitation services, laboratory, and walk-in care that is currently offered in Millville on Route 26.
Beebe is expected to invest about $180 million in this expansion, with a portion of that expected to come from charitable contributions being sought in a major capital campaign led by the Beebe Medical Foundation, the release stated.
“We have so many grateful patients in this community, many who have given back to Beebe in one form or another. With our advanced thanks, the community’s philanthropic support will be critical to bring this vision to life,” stated Judy Aliquo, president of Beebe Medical Foundation.
Beebe will unveil more details of its plans during the next several months as building designs are completed. Community meetings, events and publications are planned to keep the community informed of the expansion of health care services.