WILMINGTON, DE — ChristianaCare has received approval from the Delaware Health Resources Board to build a freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Newark, expanding capacity to treat patients with complex recovery needs.
The 92,000-square-foot facility will include 73 beds and represents a $75 million investment, with plans to serve about 1,000 additional patients annually.
The hospital will be located at 140 Red Mill Road, about 2.5 miles from ChristianaCare’s Newark campus, and will be developed in partnership with the Onix Group, a Delaware-based post-acute care developer and operator.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the facility projected to open in summer 2028.
The project is part of ChristianaCare’s broader $865 million investment in Delaware over the next three years.
The new hospital will provide inpatient rehabilitation services including physical, occupational and speech therapy, along with specialized care for conditions such as brain injuries and complex medical cases.
On-site imaging and diagnostic services, including X-ray and ultrasound, will be available, along with advanced rehabilitation technologies such as electrical stimulation systems and exoskeleton devices.
The facility will replace and expand ChristianaCare’s current inpatient rehabilitation program at Wilmington Hospital, transferring 40 licensed beds and adding 33 new beds.
Space vacated at Wilmington Hospital will be converted into a step-down unit to improve patient flow and increase bed availability.
ChristianaCare said the expansion is intended to address growing demand for rehabilitation services, particularly as Delaware’s population ages.
The state’s population over age 65 is projected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade, including a 33 percent increase in New Castle County.
Bradley Sandella, clinical leader of ChristianaCare’s medical subspecialties service line, said the new facility will address capacity constraints at Wilmington Hospital.
“This new facility will enable us to expand access to care,” Sandella said.
The project is expected to create approximately 122 jobs.
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