Christiana Care unveils The Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center

Joined by his wife Mary, children and grandchildren, and Christiana Care leaders including President and CEO Robert J. Laskowski, M.D., MBA, Rocco Abessinio cuts the ribbon on the Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center.

September 23, 2014

Christiana Care Health System unveiled The Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center at Wilmington Hospital, Sept. 22. Christiana Care trustee Rocco A. Abessinio and his family are supporting the Wilmington Hospital Transformation Project, designed to advance patient- and family-centered care, with a $1 million gift.

The redesigned and renovated health center was renamed in honor of the Abessinio family: Rocco A. Abessinio, his wife Mary and adult children Mardee, Peter, Vincent, Joanne and their families. The transformed facility sets the stage for collaboration and coordination among primary-care providers and specialists, all in one location, so that patients can make more informed decisions to better manage their health.

Rocco Abessinio joins physicians, nurses and staff of the newly opened Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center to celebrate the transformation of Christiana Care's primary care and outpatient specialty practices at Wilmington Hospital. — Rocco Abessinio joins physicians, nurses and staff of the newly opened Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center to celebrate the transformation of Christiana Care’s primary care and outpatient specialty practices at Wilmington Hospital.

“The Abessinio family’s generous gift enables us to reimagine the health center in ways that will advance the well-being of our neighbors and our community for generations to come,” said Robert J. Laskowski, M.D., MBA, president and CEO of Christiana Care. “We are grateful to Mr. Abessinio for his long-standing dedication to Christiana Care and for the Abessinio family’s partnership in improving the health of the neighbors we are privileged to serve.”

The Wilmington Health Center has long provided high-quality health care to patients, regardless of income or ability to pay, offering health education, illness-prevention and health services including primary care, surgery, podiatry, ophthalmology, dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery in nearly 67,500 patient visits each year.

“All families and communities deserve the excellence in health care that Wilmington Hospital and Christiana Care provide,” Abessinio said. “It is an honor for our family to support the expansion of this historic, community-focused hospital and health system.”

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, more than 100 doctors, nurses and staff joined Christiana Care leaders and the Abessinio family to mark the official opening of the Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center.

Edmondo Robinson, M.D., MBA, physician-in-chief of Wilmington Hospital and associate chief medical officer of Christiana Care, said the Abessinio family’s gift supports “the vision for this campus — the vision of what we could be and what we will be. We are not just taking care of patients when they are ill, but keeping them healthy when they are well.”

The Rocco A. Abessinio Family Wilmington Health Center continues the transformation of Christiana Care’s Wilmington campus. “We are providing state-of-the-art care in a healing atmosphere,” said Sharon Kurfuerst, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, senior vice president of administration.

The redesign and transformation of Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital began with construction in 2009. Improvements to Wilmington Hospital include:

A new main lobby that provides an accessible, welcoming entrance for patients and visitors.
An expanded Emergency Department with state-of-the-science treatment rooms to handle complex patient needs.
An upgraded 30-bed unit for the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement.
A new intensive-care unit.
13 larger, technologically advanced operating rooms in the new surgical suite.

Throughout the construction, Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital campus has remained completely operational, providing full services and care to patients and their loved ones.

Patients and families truly appreciate the efforts and the results of the renovations, said Julie Silverstein, M.D., FACP, medical director of Wilmington Health Center. “Patients tell me, ‘It’s so beautiful! I love what they did for us!’”

Upon completion of the transformation project next spring, the redesigned Wilmington Hospital will have expanded by 337,000 square feet, with a 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-science facility including a nine-story tower, an Emergency Department double its current size and the Blue Granite Cafe, operated by Au Bon Pain, opening in October.

The Wilmington Hospital campus has served the community since 1888, meeting the diverse medical needs of the city and surrounding region.