Christiana Care dedicated the first phase of a $210 million expansion project at Wilmington Hospital.
When completed, the project will feature s an expanded emergency room, office building, joint replacement center, cafe and other services.
The project includes a nine-story tower that was named in honor of Carol Ammon. Ammon is a former board member and major donor at Christiana Care. The ceremony included the unveiling of a sign at the tower bearing her name.
Christiana Care President Dr. Robert Lazkowski, said the project aims to improve efficiency and the quality of care. He also cited the “Christiana Way,” which is described as a promise to the community that also emphasizes the service and nonprofit focus of the state’s largest health care system.
The emergency room also reflects the realities of operating a hospital that serves a large number of people living in poverty or not accessing health care services.
The emergency room includes a delivery room. It’s a a reflection of the fact that the hospital delivers a number of babies to mothers who come to the hospital, sometimes due to a lack of prenatal care. Christiana’s maternity department is at Christiana Hospital.
Speakers at the event that included all members of the state’s congressional delegation noted that the expansion put to the rest the question of the future of Wilmington Hospital, following the completion of Christiana Hospital decades ago.
The expansion also reflects the aging of the population in its market area that includes the Brandywine Hundred area north of Wilmington A key center at the hospital complex is an expanded joint replacement center.
Earlier in the spring, Christiana Care dedicated an emergency center in Middletown in southern New Castle County.
Absent from the dedication was Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams and City Council members, who are battling over the city budget. That night, the council overturned the mayor’s veto of the council’s budget in a brief meeting.
Christiana officials noted that the council members and mayor were supportive of the project. The mayor sent a member of his administration to read an except from the mayor’s proclamation in praise of the project.
Contractor for the hospital project is the U.S. unit of Skanska, a Swedish company.
A full story will be published in the Wednesday edition of The Business Bulletin.
