ChristianaCare, partner to build a mini-hospital and health center in Aston PA.

It's one of two sites  that ChristianaCare plans to open in Delaware County as noted in an announcement earlier this year.

The hospital will be built in partnership with Emerus Holdings, Inc., a national  developer of neighborhood hospitals based in Texas

The ChristianaCare Aston Campus, located at 700 Turner Industrial Way, is expected to open in the second half of 2026.

According to a release, the site was chosen based on a market assessment of historical and projected demographic data and health care service availability as well as a consumer survey, community input and feedback from elected officials and business leaders.

The study identified gaps in health care accessibility and determined  that Aston would be an ideal location for a health campus.

The announcement comes after ChristianaCare exited a preliminary agreement to acquire financially troubled Crozier, Delco's largest hospital system. 

“We are thrilled to be bringing high quality health care services to our neighbors in Aston in Delaware County,” said Jennifer Schwartz, chief strategy officer at ChristianaCare. “Our goal is to make access to health care easy, convenient and close to home in a way that is sustainable and right-sized to meet the needs of the local community.”

The neighborhood hospital will operate around the clock  with about  10 inpatient beds and an emergency department.

The emergency department will treat common emergency care needs such as falls, injuries, heart attacks and strokes. The hospital will also provide diagnostic capabilities, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), X-ray and laboratory services.

ChristianaCare will add a health center on the second floor of the hospital that will offer outpatient services.

In addition to on-site staff, the hospital will benefit from access  virtual consultations — such as neurology and cardiology.

The outpatient  services will be developed based on community needs and are expected to include primary and specialty care practices plus  other clinical services.

Today’s announcement comes as construction continues on  ChristianaCare’s first Pennsylvania neighborhood hospital, in West Grove,  in southern Chester County. That facility is projected to open mid-2025. 

ChristianaCare offers primary care in three Chester County practices that are located in Jennersville, West Grove and Kennett Square.

In addition, Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, provides services, including primary care, women’s health, sports medicine and  behavioral health and more. 

ChristianaCare recently announced an expansion of its Middletown campus, but stopped short of adding a neighborhood hospital in the largest town in Delaware without a nearby hospital.

The expansion into Pennsylvania and before that Cecil County, drew scrutiny from Delaware lawmakers who passed legislation authorizing state regulation of hospital costs.

After the hospital  trade group that includes ChristianaCare dropped opposition to the bill, which was signed by Gov. John Carney, the state's largest health care system opted to challenge the legislation in court.