Grateful Patient Helps Spread the Word in Millville
After receiving excellent care at Beebe Healthcare’s Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus during an episode of chest pain, Louis Melton, who lives in the Millville area, knew he wanted to give back. Most importantly, he wanted to spread the word about Beebe to his friends and community members.
The question was how.
During follow-up appointments with his cardiologist, Dr. Alberto Rosa, Louis says they often spoke about the healthcare delivery system in Sussex County and its challenges.
To meet the ever-expanding demand for healthcare services in the area, Beebe is thoughtfully investing in growing its presence throughout Sussex County, including the development of a new South Coastal Health Campus on Route 17 in Millville. The campus will feature a new freestanding Emergency Department and a second location for Beebe’s comprehensive cancer center.
Dr. Rosa encouraged Louis to get involved with Beebe. At his suggestion, Louis reached out to the Beebe Medical Foundation and began working with David Szumski to set up a speaker series for his neighbors and community members at Bay Forest, located in the Millville area.
“I wanted to be able to educate my friends and neighbors on the care provided by Beebe and the future plans to bring quality healthcare to our community,” Louis says.
Residents of Bay Forest, like those at so many other South Coastal communities, have a vested interest in Beebe’s planned expansion in the area.
“Anytime Bay Forest residents gather, the subject inevitably turns to local healthcare,” Louis says. “Many newcomers are struggling to maintain their healthcare relationships from wherever they came, knowing full well that it’s not a satisfactory solution for the long term.”
Bay Forest is a growing community of approximately 840 homes; soon, there will be 944. Although the community is not age restricted, many members are retirees who have relocated from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
“Due to community demographics, our residents are key stakeholders in the success of the Beebe Healthcare system and the high-grading of healthcare in general in Sussex County,” Louis says.
The speaker series began with a presentation from Jeffrey Fried, President and CEO, and will continue with presentations from Dr. Rosa and Dr. Wilson Choy, orthopaedic surgeon, in the fall.
Physicians and executives at Beebe have been giving presentations like these throughout Sussex County, and specifically in Millville, as Beebe looks to expand its presence in the region. Many of the presentations have been to neighborhood communities, while others have been to local organizations and clubs. Presentations are available on a variety of topics related to Beebe’s services.
For more information or to schedule a presentation for your own community or group, please contact David Szumski, Beebe Medical Foundation, at (302) 644-2900 or [email protected].