ChristianaCare expands services in Sussex County
ChristianaCare has identified Sussex County as a place in need of primary care for seniors.
Sussex is federally designated as a medically underserved area for primary care. The county is projected to have 256,000 residents by 2025, with an estimated 30% of them 65 and older – the national average is 17%. Hoping to help address the emerging need, ChristianaCare has opened a new primary care facility housing two separate practices.
People 18 and up can visit Dr. Dana L. Newswanger and Dr. Priyal Desai at ChristianaCare Primary Care at Rehoboth, while Dr. David Trinkley will be catering to seniors at ChristianaCare My65+ at Rehoboth. The medical provider will also offer mobile health services the last Friday of each month in Laurel.
Trinkley led a Jan. 27 tour of the new facility, located in the old Pier 1 building on Route 1. One of the differences from a traditional doctor’s appointment is that each session after the initial hour will run 30 to 40 minutes. Trinkley said he believes it's important to extend the time patients are seen so they feel comfortable having a conversation with the medical team.
“This gives us time to be in a more relaxed setting because sometimes people are anxious about coming to the doctor's office,” Trinkley said. “It gives us time to ask more in-depth questions. It gives us time to do a more thorough exam, and it also gives the patients time to ask their questions.”
Two medical professionals not normally seen at primary care offices are part of the on-site care team: a clinical pharmacist and a behavioral health specialist. Trinkley said he has had tremendous success, through the extended appointments, in identifying patients struggling with behavioral health, so having a specialist on site is a major advantage. Where he once had a 10% rate in successful referrals, Trinkley is now noticing a 90% success rate thanks to the new approach.
Dr. Precious Ohagwu, the on-site clinical pharmacist, said seniors often come in with a long list of conditions and an even longer list of medications.
“I work with the patients, and the providers as well, to help them make sure that they are on their right medications, help to reduce the number of medications they are on and also help them reduce their side effects,” Ohagwu said.
Ohagwu also teaches patients about proper administration of drugs and how to use medical devices.
There is a physical therapy room on site to give providers a chance to simulate real-life situations and observe the behaviors of patients. Trinkley said he can identify potential risk factors or conditions a person may not know they have when climbing stairs or simply walking in a straight line. Trinkley said they plan to eventually add a physical therapist to the medical team.
Anyone interested in obtaining care at ChristianaCare Primary Care at Rehoboth may call 302-703-3850. For those interested in ChristianaCare My 65+ at Rehoboth, call 302-703-3980. Both practices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
