Nationwide Healthcare completes purchase of Bayhealth Hospital site

By Delaware Business Now -June 12, 2019

The Milford Wellness Village is one large step closer to opening for business this fall. Nationwide Healthcare Services has completed the purchase of the former (Milford Memorial) hospital property on Clarke Avenue from Bayhealth, clearing the way for renovations to begin.

Bayhealth opened a new campus earlier this year.

“I’m ecstatic to be able to get started on converting the site and preparing to take the delivery of care in Milford to the next level,” said Nationwide CEO Meir Gelley. “The Milford region is growing rapidly and we want to be in position to provide the latest services the population is demanding.”

Almost half the space in the Wellness Village is already committed. Polaris Health Care and Rehabilitation Center (a skilled nursing facility) will occupy space on the first and second floors of the main building. La Red Health Center (a Federally Qualified Health Center) will move into the former Bayhealth cancer center to serve as a medical home. Kidz Ink Child Care Center with 160 slots will move into the medical arts building, and the former hospital gym will be expanded into an elaborate outpatient rehab gym to be operated by Aquacare Physical Therapy.The openings of the businesses will take place on different dates throughout the fall.

Although the Wellness Village is not part of the Bayhealth system, it will provide pre- and post-acute care needs for the hospital’s patients.

A goal of the company is to discharge short-term patients healthy and active so they don’t have to return to a nursing home. Those discharged patients and Sussex County residents will be able to avail themselves of the “one stop” opportunities at the Milford Wellness Village, a release stated.