The ChristianaCare West Grove campus received a $2.5 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for renovations and the development of outpatient services. The grant consists of $1.5 million from the federal American Rescue Fund Plan Act and $1 million from the Commonwealth.
ChristianaCare completed the purchase of its West Grove campus (formerly Jennersville Hospital) from Tower Health in June. The hospital has been closed since Dec. 31, 2021.
The closing led to concerns over the long distanace needed to receive emergency services. The area has a high percentage of retired residents, many of whom worked at Delaware employers.
The purchase came without equipment needed for a quicker reopening of outpatient services, labs and emergency services at the site.
“We are deeply grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for these generous grants,” said Bettina Tweardy Riveros, senior vice president of Government Affairs and Community Engagement at ChristianaCare. “These funds will help ensure that the West Grove facility can deliver affordable, effective and equitable systems of care to our neighbors in southern Chester County for many years to come.”
The funding was secured through the collaborative efforts of Chester County’s bipartisan state legislative delegation.
“Securing this funding was a team effort and it represents another important step forward in returning vital emergency, preventive and wellness services to Southern Chester County,” said Pennsylvania state Sen. Carolyn Comitta. “By bringing in a trusted partner like ChristianaCare and investing in the future of the West Grove campus, we’re working to expand better health outcomes for all, as well as the potential for economic opportunity, increased employment and community investment that come with it.”
“It’s hard to believe Jennersville Hospital closed its doors one year ago this month. Since then, vital services have been lacking across the board in our community, impacting everyone from seniors to college students at Lincoln University and all ages in between. So much work has been done since then to restore health care services to southern Chester County, but there’s still more to do,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. “ChristianaCare is working tirelessly to begin to serve patients at the West Grove campus, and these additional federal and state funds will expedite those efforts. Our collaboration with local officials, state officials and health care partners made this possible, and our entire community should find comfort knowing we are all working together to ensure their health and well-being needs are met.”
The first phase of the project will be to reestablish emergency services. Planning for the new campus is ongoing, and ChristianaCare hopes to announce final plans within the next few months. ChristianaCare has been meeting with community leaders and groups .
ChristianaCare’s assessment and inventory of the facility indicates that the site requires considerable renovation in key areas, such as information technology and laboratory space. Due to these needs, ChristianaCare currently anticipates that it will take a year or more to build out and open the facility.
ChristianaCare’s West Grove campus also received a $2.5 million grant from the Chester County Government in October 2022.
Since 2020, ChristianaCare has added three primary care practices located in West Grove and Kennett Square an area with 22,000 residents.
