Bayhealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kyle Benoit, MHA, FACHE, shared exciting updates on Bayhealth’s continued growth and innovation during the Georgetown Chamber Economic Development Luncheon, held at the Georgetown Library. Invited by the Bayhealth Foundation, Benoit addressed local business and community leaders about the organization’s ongoing investments to expand healthcare access across central and southern Delaware.
The expansion, called “The Next Wave,” will be completed in two phases with completion expected in 2029 on both the Kent and Sussex campuses. The cost for the first phase is estimated at $250 million. The majority of the upgrades are planned for the Kent campus with six floors added to the patient tower, moving toward 100 percent private rooms and changing that campus to a more vertical layout.
During his remarks, Benoit reflected on the six-year anniversary of the Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus, noting key milestones that demonstrate Bayhealth’s commitment to meeting regional healthcare needs.
“We’ve seen tremendous progress since opening the Sussex Campus,” Benoit said. “From expanding our inpatient capacity to introducing new specialized services, every step we take is designed to bring high-quality care closer to home.”
Benoit highlighted several recent achievements, including the increase in inpatient beds from 128 to 157, the addition of five new labor and delivery beds, and the October 2024 opening of PAM Health Rehabilitation’s standalone hospital located on the Bayhealth, Sussex Campus.
He also spotlighted Bayhealth Total Care in Milton—a unique care model that blends the convenience of urgent care with the capabilities of an emergency department.
“Bayhealth Total Care represents the future of accessible, patient-centered care,” Benoit explained. “We’re proud to expand services like lab, imaging, and patient care offices so patients can receive more comprehensive treatment in one location.”
Looking ahead, Benoit outlined several major projects beginning soon at the Sussex Campus, including a new Bayhealth Childcare Center for team members, a new medical office building to accommodate growing specialty care, and an Interventional Suite featuring four advanced labs and 16 pre- and post-procedure bays. The suite will support minimally invasive procedures in radiology, interventional neurology, electrophysiology, and cardiac catheterization.
The childcare center is proposed to hold up to 102 children when it opens and could expand to 204 in the future. The original plan was for the childcare center to open in 2025, but the project has been pushed to 2026.
“Bayhealth is proud to be a driving force in both healthcare excellence and economic growth in our community,” Benoit said. “These projects are not only investments in our facilities, but in the health, well-being, and future of the people we serve.”
The Georgetown Chamber Economic Development Luncheon brings together regional leaders to discuss innovation, growth, and opportunities that strengthen Delaware’s local economy.
For more information about Bayhealth’s expansion projects and services, visit Bayhealth.org/Give or contact the Bayhealth Foundation at [email protected].
