ChristianaCare to build health complex on Middletown campus

The 87,000-square-foot ChristianaCare Health Center at Middletown is being planned on undeveloped land surrounding ChristianaCare’s freestanding Emergency Department on Middletown-Odessa Road.

Construction of the health center is slated to begin in 2025, and the new facility is expected to open for patients in early 2027.

“Middletown, Delaware, is among the fastest-growing communities in the region, and with that growth comes increased needs for health care,” said Janice Nevin, M.D., CEO of ChristianaCare. “We are incredibly excited to bring this new level of service to the Middletown community, with the high-quality care and exceptional experience that are the hallmarks of ChristianaCare.”

Planned services include primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, oncology, cardiovascular care, imaging and laboratory services.

“We’re excited to be taking an innovative approach with this new facility on our Middletown campus that will be focused on convenience and making the health care experience easy and positive for the people of Middletown,” said Vinay Maheshwari, M.D., Hugh R. Sharp Jr. chair of Medicine and physician executive for the ChristianaCare Medical Group. “Our ChristianaCare Health Center at Middletown will give residents something they currently lack in the area – an integrated location where they can access primary and specialty care, along with other important modalities such as diagnostics and infusions."

The design of the facility is expected to include a common check-in area and registration team that will coordinate among the practices throughout the facility.

The building’s design will reflect the natural landscape of the property. Walking paths are also planned.

ChristianaCare has been a part of the Middletown community since 2009, when the organization purchased 108 acres.

That led to the opening of the ChristianaCare Middletown Freestanding Emergency Department in 2012. Last year, the Middletown ED had more than 32,000 visits – more than twice what was expected for this facility when it was constructed.

“ChristianaCare has been a great partner to the Middletown community, and we are excited to see the expansion of this campus in support of our growing population,” Middletown Mayor Ken Branner said. "The expansion is also projected to create a positive impact to the community with the expected addition of more than 70 full-time jobs."

The Delaware Health Resources Board approved a Certificate of Public Review for the health center expansion at its meeting on Sept. 26.

ChristianaCare has stopped  short of adding a hospital at the  site, which has room for expansion.

The healthcare system is planning to open a "micro-hospital in Jennersville, north of its Newark campus and is a partner in a venture that could add two other neighborhood hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania.