ChristianaCare Plans $65 Million Health Campus to Expand Services in Sussex County

ChristianaCare plans a $65.1 million health campus in Georgetown to expand outpatient, emergency, and inpatient care in Sussex County, expected to open in late 2028. (Photo courtesy of ChristianaCare.)

ChristianaCare has submitted plans to state regulators to build a new health campus in Georgetown, a project aimed at expanding access to outpatient, emergency and inpatient care in Sussex County.

The health system filed a Notice of Intent with the Delaware Health Resources Board on Feb. 11 as part of a broader $865 million investment in Delaware announced last year. If approved, the 42,000-square-foot campus would be built at 20769 DuPont Boulevard and is expected to open in late 2028. The estimated cost of the project is $65.1 million.

ChristianaCare officials said the proposed campus is intended to address growing demand for services in Sussex County, which has experienced steady population growth and longstanding gaps in access to care. The county has been designated a Medically Underserved Area by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration.

“Sussex county is home to a growing and aging population and is designated by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) as a Medically Underserved Area,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “This new campus will help close gaps in access by bringing high-quality, equitable and more convenient care directly into the community that needs it most. Our goal is simple: ensure that every Delawarean can access the care they need, in the right place at the right time.”

Plans call for a health center offering primary care, specialty care, behavioral health and other outpatient services, along with a small “neighborhood hospital” that would include eight emergency department beds and eight inpatient beds. ChristianaCare said the model is similar to campuses it has developed or planned in Pennsylvania.

The health system is partnering with Emerus Holdings, Inc. on the neighborhood hospital component. Emerus operates more than 45 acute care facilities nationwide in partnership with health systems.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with ChristianaCare to bring sustainable, compassionate and high-quality health care to the residents of Sussex County,” said Vic Schmerbeck, CEO of Emerus Holdings Inc. “Together, we are building a next-generation model of care designed around the needs of the community—today and for the future.”

ChristianaCare currently provides primary and specialty care, virtual care, and home health and hospice services in Sussex County. According to projections cited by the health system, Sussex and Kent counties are expected to see an 8% population increase by 2030, including a significant rise in residents age 65 and older.

The Georgetown project now enters the state review process. ChristianaCare officials said they will continue exploring additional opportunities to expand access to care in other parts of Delaware, including Kent County.