TidalHealth breaks ground on Millsboro healthcare center

The  groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction on the first of three planned buildings. Once completed in 18 to 24 months, the first structure will house a new TidalHealth Primary and Specialty Care office, diagnostic imaging, TidalHealth HomeScripts pharmacy, a TidalHealth FamilyLab, and  additional outpatient services.

“The TidalHealth Millsboro North Campus is a game-changer for healthcare in Sussex County,” said Steve Leonard CEO of TidalHealth. “We’re bringing the full strength and support of our health system to this growing community, delivering the convenience of comprehensive care with the clinical excellence TidalHealth is known for.”

Positioned to complement the existing TidalHealth Millsboro Delmarva Health Pavilion just south on Route 113, the Millsboro North campus is part of TidalHealth’s   vision to bring outpatient medical services closer to where people live and work, a release stated.

Sussex County is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state of Delaware — and on the East Coast. Over the past decade, the county’s population has grown by nearly 20%, with some estimates projecting over 250,000 residents by the end of the decade. Much of that growth is concentrated in and around Millsboro,.

With that growth comes increasing demand for healthcare services.

The design of the new campus enables it to function much like a hospital—without inpatient beds. Patients in need of more advanced, acute or inpatient care will be  referred to TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford or TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.

The grounds will feature a reflecting pond and  walking trails. When fully operational, the North Campus is expected to employ between 350 and 500 people.

“Millsboro is proud to partner with TidalHealth on this exciting new chapter in our town’s growth,” said Jamie Burk, town manager, town of Millsboro. “As one of the fastest-growing areas in Delaware, our residents — from young families to retirees — need and deserve convenient access to high-quality healthcare. The TidalHealth Millsboro North Campus will help meet that growing demand, right here in our own backyard. This project is more than just a healthcare facility — it’s an investment in the long-term health, vitality, and resilience of our community.”

Construction on the second building—an f ambulatory surgery center—is scheduled to begin within the next 8 to 12 months. A third building is currently in the planning phase and will be programmed to meet future needs, a release stated.

Over time, the campus will host a lineup of outpatient specialties, including primary care, general surgery, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurology, cardiology and diagnostic cardiology, rheumatology, infusion services, pain management and orthopedics.

Sussex County is seeing rapid growth in healthcare with TidalHealth moving into fast-growing areas outside the western part of the county,  with Beebe Healthcare expanding beyond its coastal stronghold and Dover-based Bayhealth expanding from northern Sussex into coastal areas.