ChristianaCare has proposed a new health campus in Camden, part of a broader statewide effort to expand access to care in central Delaware. (Photo courtesy of ChristianaCare.)
A new health campus is being proposed for central Delaware, as ChristianaCare moves forward with plans aimed at expanding access to medical services in the region.
The health system recently submitted a Notice of Intent to the Delaware Health Resources Board to develop a campus in Camden that would include both a health center and a neighborhood hospital. The proposal is part of a broader $865 million statewide investment announced last year.
“For many people in central Delaware, getting timely emergency or specialty care can still mean long drives or long waits,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “We are investing in facilities that bring care closer to where people live. This campus reflects our commitment to ensuring every Delawarean, no matter their ZIP code, can count on timely, compassionate, high-quality care close to home.”
Plans call for a roughly 38,000-square-foot facility to be built along Route 13, south of Lochmeath Way. If approved, the campus is expected to open in late 2028 or early 2029 and would offer primary and specialty care, outpatient services, and a small-scale hospital with eight emergency department beds and eight inpatient beds.
Officials say the project could create 83 jobs, including positions at both the health center and hospital.
Kent and Sussex counties are currently designated as medically underserved areas by federal health officials, while population growth in central and southern Delaware is expected to increase demand for services in the coming years. Health care providers have noted ongoing shortages in primary care, behavioral health and specialty services, often requiring residents to travel outside the area for treatment.
The Camden project represents an estimated $58.1 million investment and is intended to expand on existing services already offered by ChristianaCare in Kent County, including primary care, rehabilitation, home health and virtual care.
The neighborhood hospital component would be developed in partnership with Emerus Holdings, Inc., which operates similar facilities across the country.
“Communities are stronger when people can depend on care close to home,” said Vic Schmerbeck, CEO of Emerus Holdings, Inc. “We are proud to partner with ChristianaCare to deliver a neighborhood hospital that provides high quality care in a setting designed around the needs of the community.”
The Camden proposal follows similar plans announced earlier this year for a ChristianaCare campus in Georgetown. Additional projects are also underway outside Delaware, including a neighborhood hospital that opened in 2025 in southern Pennsylvania, with more locations planned.
Sara Uzer is a journalist from Sussex County with more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and community advocate. She started her career in Washington, DC and has lived in Sussex County for the past five years.