Ground broken for Beebe specialty surgical hospital
With ground broken on the new Beebe Healthcare Specialty Surgical Hospital Campus along Warrington Road between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, all the pieces of Beebe’s $200 million capital campaign are in place.
Work is already underway at the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus on Savannah Road, and ground has been broken for the new South Coastal Health Campus near Millville.
Officials gathered at the site of the new facility May 15 to pick up shovels and toss dirt in a ceremonial ground breaking.
The new $125 million, 4-story, 135,000-square-foot hospital, one of the largest projects in Beebe's 103-year history, includes four operating rooms and anesthesia rooms with space for expansion, and 12 private inpatient rooms with space for another 12 rooms.
The third floor will be left vacant until additional funds can be raised to open a women's pavilion at the site. The floor will also be home to a robotics center.
Construction at the 10-acre site is expected to be completed in summer or late 2020.
The hospital will offer mostly outpatient services with some short-stay elective surgery, said Rick Schaffner, interim Beebe Healthcare CEO and executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Dr. Wilson Choy, who came to Beebe in 1996 from New York City, said the current hospital is busting at the seams because of growth in the area.
He thanked the foundation for making the project possible. “We have worked hard to gain the people's trust, and we have a great reputation. This new hospital will propel us into the 21st century,” he said.
Dave Herbert, chairman of the Beebe Healthcare board of directors, said the new building will facilitate less-invasive procedures, offer procedures to reduce pain and discomfort for patients, offer shorter patient stays and faster recovery. “Our commitment is to provide the best healthcare on the East Coast and provide the best healthcare experience possible,” he said.
Judy Aliquo, president and CEO of Beebe's medical foundation, said community support for Beebe would never happen without an incredible staff. “The reason why people are making an investment is that they believe in Beebe,” she said.
Mike and Kelli Meoli and Terry and Vanessa Megee serve as foundation campaign chairs.
In addition, state transportation officials have a plan to construct a traffic circle at the entrance to the hospital on Warrington Road. Also, a connector road must be in place between the new facility and the existing Beebe Route 24 campus.
South Coastal: Free-standing emergency room, completion in spring 2020, and a second cancer center, completion in summer 2020. Cost is $48 million.
Lewes campus: Renovations to main entrance; additional parking, now completed; remodeling to create all private rooms; new operating rooms and an additional cath lab. Cost is $30 million, which comes with a $10 million donation from the Ma-Ran Foundation, the largest donation in Beebe's history.
