Beebe Healthcare outlines expansion, residency growth at Georgetown Chamber event

October 1, 2025 40

GEORGETOWN — Growth is the name of the game for Dr. David Tam, the president and CEO of Beebe Healthcare.

He outlined the health system’s growth strategy during a presentation to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce at the Georgetown Public Library on Wednesday, citing new residency programs, expanded facilities and technology investments designed to keep pace with Sussex County’s rapid growth.

Tam, who joined Beebe in 2020, described the system’s work as a continuation of its legacy, founded in 1916 by local physicians James and Richard Beebe.

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“What got us here yesterday is what gets us here today,” he told attendees, emphasizing that Beebe’s focus remains on delivering care tailored to the needs of southern Delaware.

One of Beebe’s key initiatives is its graduate medical education program which recently celebrated its first class of family medicine graduates.

“Our residents are trained to focus on rural healthcare, and this year we had four graduates join Beebe as full-time physicians,” Tam said, adding that the health system is currently waiting for accreditation for its internal medicine residency program with residents expected to arrive next year.

Facility expansions also continue to move forward for the organization. Beebe recently opened its new Family Medicine Residency Clinic on Long Neck Road, expected to serve 20,000 new patients annually, and a medical office building in Milton with plans for additional services in the near future, including neurosurgery in partnership with Jefferson Health and a pharmacy.

Construction is also slated to begin in Millsboro, where Beebe will build a new emergency department, complete with a pediatric emergency room operated in collaboration with Nemours Children’s Health.

“Millsboro was one of the fastest-growing communities in Sussex County even three years ago,” Tam said. “We want every resident to be within 20 minutes of a Beebe facility.”

But Beebe’s expansion is not limited to its residency programs or new sites in Milton and Millsboro. In the years prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the nonprofit health system’s board signed off on a nearly $180 million capital plan which worked to expand its Lewes Campus and build the Specialty Surgical Hospital in Rehoboth Beach and South Coastal Health Campus in Millville. This supported added inpatient beds and outpatient capacity to meet what leaders say has been a record population growth across Sussex County in the years to follow.

Meanwhile, a partnership with national group purchasing and advisory firm Premier has helped the group shave about $15 million in costs last fiscal year. Leaders say the savings stem from workforce deployment changes, supply chain reforms, and pharmacy optimization.

Tam also explained another shift for Beebe as his staff completes a long-anticipated roll out with the single electronic health record system powered by Epic. The new platform, branded locally as MyChart, will help patients and medical providers stay connected, along with billing management, all in one place.

“This investment allows patients to access their records anywhere, whether they were seen at Beebe, Bayhealth, TidalHealth or even Johns Hopkins,” Tam said. “It’s about breaking down barriers, so people get the care they need.”

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Tam also outlined Beebe’s four clinical priorities: cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, and behavioral health. He pointed to the launch of the Beebe Cardiovascular Institute as an example of how the system is building integrated care.

Addressing workforce challenges was another point of interest for Beebe Healthcare. Tam said Sussex County remains a federally designated provider shortage area.

“To simply meet demand, we estimate the county needs 150 to 200 new providers across specialties,” he said, adding that each new physician also requires nurses, medical assistants, and support staff — creating ripple effects in housing and workforce development.

Longtime Chamber member Joe Conaway thanked Tam for his leadership in supporting Beebe’s move toward reshaping perceptions of healthcare in Sussex.

“There was a time when people avoided Beebe,” he recalled. “That’s not the case anymore. What you’re doing is making other hospitals raise their game and that benefits everyone.”

Editor’s Note: This article was updated for accuracy.