As we begin a new year, the outlook for healthcare in Sussex County and across the nation is both promising and uncertain. Delaware recently secured a historic investment through the Rural Health Transformation Fund – more than $157 million per year for five years – positioning our state to make lasting improvements. At the same time, changes to the Affordable Care Act and other federal policies create unknowns for coverage and affordability, especially in rural communities.

At Beebe, we are ready to lead through this moment of transformation, and it calls for readiness.

We have spent years preparing for what comes next. We have strategically expanded our facilities across Sussex County to open access points for the community, and doubled down on medical education and recruitment of top clinicians to our area. But we also know that health is more than bricks and mortar and a doctor’s visit. It is about meeting people where they are and connecting care to the realities of daily life.

We unveiled our full Mobile Health Fleet of four distinct vehicles in December, designed to bring care directly to neighborhoods, farms, shelters and community centers. Since the Community Mobile Health Clinic, the flagship RV, launched in February 2023, the team has coordinated 376 community engagements and made more than 7,000 individual contacts with community members. More than 1,000 clinician visits and 2,000 nurse visits have been delivered in nontraditional settings.

Supported by federal funding from our state delegation, these mobile units deliver a multidisciplinary, integrated model of care: behavioral health, primary care, screenings, risk mitigation, social care and education across Sussex County’s 950 square miles. They represent our commitment to access beyond traditional walls and reflect how deeply engrained we are in this community. This approach aligns directly with Delaware’s Rural Health Transformation Plan, which prioritizes community health hubs and mobile outreach as key strategies for improving access.

For more than a century, Beebe has partnered with schools, faith organizations and local leaders to address the social factors that shape health. Our peer support programs and outreach teams work alongside clinicians to provide resources for recovery, wellness and prevention, because care must extend beyond the stethoscope. These efforts mirror statewide initiatives such as School-Based Health Centers and Food Is Medicine hubs, which aim to integrate health and social services for rural families.

Technology is another cornerstone of readiness. In November, Beebe implemented Epic and MyChart, creating a single, connected health record across more than 50 locations. This digital infrastructure strengthens coordination, empowers patients, and ensures that data follows the individual, not the other way around.

Delaware’s plan calls for major technology investments, including a Tech Catalyst Fund and a statewide Prior Authorization IT system. Beebe’s recent implementation of Epic and MyChart ensures we have the digital foundation to align with these modernization goals and support our community’s efforts to increase statewide and national interoperability.

As Delaware moves forward with its rural health initiatives, Beebe is already positioned to support the governor’s vision. We know where Sussex County needs it most, and we are preparing plans that will turn investment into impact.

Because readiness means being present for every neighbor we serve and leading the way to a healthier Sussex County.