Featured Post from ChristianaCare

West Grove Campus Awarded $2.5M Grant from Chester County for Capital Improvement Projects

Oct 27, 2022

3 min

Funds earmarked for information technology, medical equipment and facility upgrades


The ChristianaCare West Grove campus has received a $2.5 million American Rescue Fund Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the Chester County Government for capital improvement projects related to information technology, medical equipment and facility renovation.


ChristianaCare finalized the purchase of its West Grove campus (formerly Jennersville Hospital) from Tower Health in June 2022. The hospital has been closed since Dec. 31, 2021.



“We are enormously grateful to the Chester County Commissioners for this generous grant,” said Douglas Azar, MHA, ChristianaCare senior vice president, Strategic Clinical Integration.


“Our assessment and inventory of the facility indicate that while it contains some usable equipment, including hospital beds and some imaging and diagnostic equipment, there is a lot of work to be done in many key areas. For example, the building currently contains no information technology infrastructure and no laboratory equipment. This funding will provide much-needed help as we build out these critical areas,” he said.


“This grant is a tremendous resource as we plan next steps for the West Grove campus,” said Heather Farley, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP, ChristianaCare’s co-lead for the campus development strategy. “Ensuring that the facility has the very best technology and medical equipment will enable us to provide expert care to our neighbors in southern Chester County for many years to come.”


The Chester County Commissioners approved ARPA grants to 73 groups and organizations totaling close to $40 million last month, following recommendations by six independent review teams. The teams, comprised of county residents and county government staff, developed a system that followed ARPA guidelines to review proposals and address priorities for funding.


“These funds represent a substantial investment in much-needed local programs and services including support for public health,” said County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz. “Being able to financially assist ChristianaCare as they work toward bringing hospital services back to southern Chester County firmly met ARPA guidelines and was very important to us.”


(From left) Bettina Tweardy Riveros, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Community Engagement at ChristianaCare, Marian Moskowitz, Chair of the Board of Commissioners of Chester County, Michelle Kichline, Chester County Commissioner, Heather Farley, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP, ChristianaCare’s co-lead for the campus development strategy and Douglas Azar, MHA, ChristianaCare senior vice president, Strategic Clinical Integration



Commissioner Josh Maxwell added that “when ChristianaCare stepped up to take over Jennersville Hospital and bring health care services back to the county, we pledged to support them in those efforts in ways that we, as county government, can. The ARPA program has provided us with the opportunity to fulfill that pledge, with funding that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive.”


ChristianaCare is reimagining health care at the West Grove campus and is taking a phased approach to the opening of services. The first phase will be to re-establish emergency services. Subsequent phases are still under consideration. Due to required facility upgrades and plan development, it is unlikely that any services will open within the next 12 months.


Since June, Azar, Farley and others at ChristianaCare have participated in meetings and listening sessions with community leaders and small groups to gain input into planning for services at the campus. They have met with local and state government officials, school officials, chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations, emergency responders, faith leaders and employers in the area.


Commissioner Michelle Kichline noted the correlation between ChristianaCare’s focus on meeting community needs and the county’s focus on community involvement in the ARPA grant review process.


“Having county residents involved in reviewing and recommending our ARPA applications has been exciting and rewarding,” she said. “They know their local communities best and evaluated and selected projects that address needs across the county.


“We know that ChristianaCare is doing the same and see the $2.5 million ARPA grant as a smart investment in restoring crucial health care services to our residents.”


The West Grove campus represents a significant expansion and commitment of ChristianaCare to provide health services to communities in southern Chester County. Since 2020, ChristianaCare has added three primary care practices located in Jennersville, West Grove and Kennett Square. Combined, these three practices are now the “medical home” for 22,000 residents in these communities.


Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from ChristianaCare

ChristianaCare Advances New Health Campus in Camden, Delaware to Close Care Gaps featured image

3 min

ChristianaCare Advances New Health Campus in Camden, Delaware to Close Care Gaps

ChristianaCare has taken another major step to expand access to high quality care across Delaware by submitting a Notice of Intent to the Delaware Health Resources Board to develop a new health campus in Camden. Like the Georgetown campus announced in February, the proposed campus will include a health center and a neighborhood hospital and is part of the $865 million statewide commitment announced last July. “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.” Closing Care Gaps in Central and Southern Delaware The approximately 38,000‑square‑foot Camden campus will be located on the west side of Route 13, just south of Lochmeath Way. It is expected to open in late 2028 or early 2029 and will bring primary care, specialty care and outpatient services together in one location, supported by eight emergency department beds and eight inpatient beds. The project will create 83 new jobs for the community, including 60 positions at the neighborhood hospital and 23 at the health center. Kent and Sussex counties are both designated as Medically Underserved Areas by the Health Resources and Services Administration. At the same time, the region is growing quickly. By 2030, the population in central and southern Delaware is expected to increase by 8 percent, with residents aged 65 and older growing even faster, by 22 percent. Shortages in primary care, behavioral health and specialty services have forced many residents to travel long distances for care. The Camden campus will help change that by bringing essential services closer to home. Expanding Capacity on a Strong Foundation The Camden campus represents a $58.1 million investment and reflects ChristianaCare’s focus on access, coordination and community need. ChristianaCare already provides a broad range of services in Kent County, including primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, home health, hospice and virtual care. The Camden campus will build on this foundation by increasing capacity and making care more convenient as demand grows. Partnering to Deliver Care Close to Home ChristianaCare is partnering with Emerus Holdings, Inc. on the neighborhood hospital component. Emerus is the nation’s leading developer of this model, with 49 acute care 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.” Growing Access Across the Region The ChristianaCare Georgetown campus is planned for 20769 DuPont Boulevard at an estimated cost of $65.1 million. ChristianaCare is also expanding this innovative care model beyond Delaware. In July 2025, the system opened a neighborhood hospital at its West Grove Campus in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. Additional campuses are planned in Springfield and Aston in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

ChristianaCare Forms Joint Venture For Cardiovascular Ambulatory Surgery Center featured image

4 min

ChristianaCare Forms Joint Venture For Cardiovascular Ambulatory Surgery Center

ChristianaCare, Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware and its partner organization, US Health Partners, have formed a joint venture to establish a new cardiovascular ambulatory surgery center in Newark. This new facility will be launched through the ChristianaCare Atlas ASC partnership. This is a pivotal moment showcasing the power of a local health system, strength of a national ASC management company, and expert community-based physicians working together to deliver a lower cost, easy-to-access model of care to our community. “The ChristianaCare Cardiovascular Surgery Center at Newark represents a deep partnership between ChristianaCare and community cardiovascular experts who are truly committed to caring for this region,” said Kert F. Anzilotti, M.D., MBA, chief physician executive and president of The Medical Group at ChristianaCare. “By working side by side with trusted community physicians, we are aligning expertise and decision making to strengthen heart care across the region and ensure it continues to evolve with the needs of the people we serve.” “By expanding access to outpatient heart care, we can reduce wait times, improve the patient experience and lower the overall cost of care—while using our hospital resources more wisely and preserving capacity for patients who need complex or urgent cardiac services,” Anzilotti added. “With over 30 years of providing cardiac care to Delaware residents, we are proud to collaborate on this center,” said Brian Sarter, M.D., president of Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware. For patients, this is about getting the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Patients will receive specialized heart care in a focused setting designed for same day procedures, with a smoother experience, faster recovery and seamless coordination with hospital care if it’s ever needed.” “This joint venture brings together ChristianaCare and Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware’s strong clinical leadership and a proven outpatient care model,” said Aaron Snyder, M.D., chief executive officer of US Health Partners. “Our aim is to build and run a center that is efficient, reliable and patient-focused from day one, so physicians can focus on care and patients can count on a high-quality same-day experience close to home.” Reducing the Cost of Heart Care Ambulatory surgery centers lower the cost of heart care by safely moving appropriate procedures out of the hospital and into a more efficient outpatient setting. Most patients return home the same day, while hospitals preserve capacity for complex and urgent cases. As reported in Ambulatory Surgery Center News, outpatient procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers cost 30 to 40 percent less than the same care delivered in hospitals, improving access and efficiency as demand for heart care continues to grow. The move also frees up limited hospital resources to better care for people with more complex or urgent cardiovascular needs. Meeting a Growing Need for Heart Care Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Delaware, and demand for cardiovascular care is rising. According to the Delaware Population Consortium, the number of New Castle County residents age 65 and older is projected to increase by 23 percent by 2035, increasing pressure on cardiovascular services. Forecasts show outpatient heart and vascular procedures could reach nearly 10,800 annually for New Castle County residents by 2029 and more than 24,000 across the broader region, according to health care analytics firm Sg2. At the same time, hospital operating room capacity remains limited. Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware’s many decades of experience in Newark and across the state positioned the group as a natural fit for the collaboration. Focused on Same Day Cardiovascular Care Expected to open in late 2027, the nearly 9,000 square foot center will be located on the second floor of the HealthCare Center at Christiana, across from Christiana Hospital. The center will focus exclusively on outpatient heart and vascular procedures. Services will include diagnostic heart catheterizations, coronary and peripheral vascular interventions, ablation procedures, pacemaker/ implantable defibrillator implantations and other minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. Hospital based cardiac care will continue to be available for patients who need inpatient treatment, emergency care or more complex services. Other Details The project will cost an estimated $9.3 million and is expected to create 14 full time jobs across clinical, administrative, leadership and support roles. The facility represents an additional investment beyond ChristianaCare’s previously announced $865 million commitment to Delaware, reinforcing the organization’s focus on expanding services and improving health outcomes statewide. Key features of the surgery center include two new cardiac catheterization/ electrophysiology labs, dedicated pre operative and post anesthesia care space and on site sterile processing and administrative areas. Atlas Healthcare Partners will manage and operate the center, while Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware will provide clinical oversight and perform outpatient surgical cases. ChristianaCare and Atlas Healthcare Partners formed the joint venture in 2024 to build an ambulatory surgery center network across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Union Hospital Earns Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award for Second Consecutive Year featured image

1 min

Union Hospital Earns Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award for Second Consecutive Year

Union Hospital has once again been ranked among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide, earning the 2026 Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for the second year in a row. In a landscape where many hospitals struggle to maintain consistency, Union Hospital is delivering a sustained streak of high reliability, driven by disciplined safety practices and a culture that puts patient protection first. Campus president Joan Pirrung captures it well: “Our caregivers are relentless about safety. Achieving this honor two years in a row shows the unwavering commitment they bring to every patient, every day.” At the heart of this repeat achievement is a team of caregivers who’ve built a culture where safety isn’t a program—it’s a daily practice. If you’re interested in the story behind these results, I can connect you with campus president Joan Pirrung for additional insight or interviews.

View all posts
Powered by