Beebe breaks ground for residency clinic

Beebe Healthcare broke ground March 21 for the future site of its Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Long Neck. 

With the new facility, the Family Medicine Residency Program can continue to expand to serve one of the fastest-growing areas of Sussex County. With the full complement of residents, the doctors will be able to provide about 7,000 primary care appointments.

The two-story, 32,000-square-foot building is located off Long Neck Road and will be built adjacent to Beebe’s Long Neck Health Center. The second story will be available for expansion in the future. Phase 1 will comprise 20,000 square feet. The land was donated by the Blanche family 30 years ago and is the location of a former turkey farm.

“Access to primary care is one of our strategic pillars for the future of healthcare in Sussex County,” said Dr. Paul Sierzenski, Beebe’s senior vice president and chief physician executive. “It is significant that Beebe is training our own physicians who could possibly stay in Sussex County. It’s just one more way Beebe is addressing the community’s need for primary care.”

Beebe’s first four family medicine resident physicians started in July 2023, and have been seeing patients at the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus and at Beebe Primary Care Long Neck, which currently serves as the residency’s outpatient clinic. On March 15, the residency matched with four more physicians, who will join Beebe this summer.

The office functions as a full-service primary care office, including seeing discharged patients, performing minor procedures and offering women’s health services. The resident physicians accept patients of all ages.

“The new clinic seals Beebe’s residency program as a special offering for prospective residents and a victory for access for Sussex Countians,” said Dr. Joyce Robert, program director of Beebe’s Family Medicine Residency. “A recently renovated Shaw Building, which houses the R. Randall Rollins Center for Medical Education – in combination with this new outpatient location – pairs Beebe’s clinical excellence with its 108-year legacy in an area that is rapidly growing and in need of primary care services.”

This would not be possible without the support of the philanthropy in the community, and a $1 million grant from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s donor-advised fund, BluePrints for the Community.

Beebe Medical Foundation President Tom Protack said raising money for projects like this occurs thanks to community support, the strong brand Beebe has and great leadership. He said while many health organizations are cutting back and not advancing, Beebe is doing the exact opposite.

“The 19966 ZIP code is the fastest-growing area in population for us to serve,” he added.

Beebe Board President Mike Meoli said, “The board is very much part of this community. We are connected, and we hear people’s needs and are reacting in real time. We are attracting and retaining top talented physicians.”

He said the board understands the challenges to accessibility that residents in the Long Neck have.

Besides its Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus, Rehoboth Health Campus and South Coastal Campus, Beebe has offices throughout mid- and eastern Sussex County including Milton, Millsboro, Millville, Long Neck, Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown, Milford, Frankford and Selbyville

For more information, go to beebehealthcare.org.