ChristianaCare to Open Medical Practices in Milford and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Serving Residents Age 65 and Older

To increase access to high-quality health care services in the Milford, Delaware, area, ChristianaCare will open a new primary care practice for families and a separate practice for members of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware Medicare Advantage plans developed last year in collaboration with ChristianaCare and Bayhealth. The two practices are slated to open in October 2022 in the same location at Teal Creek Plaza, 701 N. DuPont Blvd, Milford.

“ChristianaCare is on a mission to provide the right care, at the right place for everyone we are privileged to serve,” said Christine Donohue Henry, M.D., ChristianaCare’s chief population health officer.

“This includes identifying communities that need primary and specialty care services as well as services for those 65 and older, ensuring they have access to high-quality, convenient health care. We are excited to open this dual practice site and offer families and seniors truly exceptional care.”

The approximately 10,000-square-foot practice site in Milford will house both the traditional primary care practice and an innovative model of care for the members of the Highmark Medicare Advantage plans. Patients will be able to have in-person visits with providers as well as the opportunity to connect virtually with expert specialists throughout ChristianaCare’s network of services.

Innovative care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries

The 65-and-older practice will be for members of Highmark Medicare Advantage plans. Patients 65 and older who are not members will be able to join the traditional primary care practice at the location. Medicare-eligible beneficiaries who decide to join or switch to the Highmark Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment in the fall can transition seamlessly into the 65 and older practice.

“This new care model will serve the unique needs of the Highmark Medicare Advantage members,” said Ina Li, M.D., ChristianaCare’s clinical director of Advanced Primary Care. “To support healthy aging, we will address acute and chronic health conditions, maintenance of mobility and functional status, nutrition, behavioral health and medication needs.”

Individuals under age 65 will be able to join the traditional primary care practice, which will provide a wide range of health care services including physical examinations, preventive health screenings and immunizations, chronic disease management, care for acute illnesses and more.

“If you live in the Milford area and are looking for primary care services or are a member of one of the Highmark Medicare Advantage plans, we look forward to meeting you,” Dr. Li said.

There is an increasing need for primary and specialty care services in communities of southern Kent and northern Sussex counties in Delaware. According to state projections, the population of Milford is expected to grow by 14% by 2040. The  population of people 65 and older is expected to grow by 23% over the same period.

In addition, residents in these communities have higher rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions than the state average, according to 2019 data from the Delaware Health Tracker.

Similar dual practice site in Rehoboth, Delaware

To help alleviate the mounting demand for health care services in Sussex County, ChristianaCare has announced plans to open a similar dual practice site for families and seniors in Rehoboth, Delaware, in fall 2022. That site will also feature the same model of care for people age 65 and over who are members of the Highmark Medicare Advantage plans.

In 2021, ChristianaCare collaborated with Bayhealth and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in a first-of-its-kind association in the First State to create the two new Medicare Advantage plans to keep Delaware seniors healthy and well.

CareVio®, ChristianaCare’s award-winning care management platform, manages the chronic health conditions of plan participants. This unique collaboration offers an enhanced experience for Medicare beneficiaries, better care coordination, rich benefits and low costs.

Patients who choose a ChristianaCare medical practice benefit from the advantages of being connected to Delaware’s largest, most advanced health care system, including electronic medical records, virtual access to care on their personal electronic devices and access to a secure patient portal, all designed to help them to actively engage with their providers in their health.

The new Milford location will offer a beautiful, easy-to-access, state-of-the-art space where patients can build a lasting relationship with their health care provider and seek medical advice.