Page 28 - Delaware Medical Journal - October 2016
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HISTORY OF MEDICINE
Many patients also needed radiation treatments, which necessitated a road trip to New Castle County. For the patients who suffered nausea from chemotherapy, the trip was a nightmare, even with volunteer drivers. Farmers balked at million from Robert W. and Eolyne Tunnell, Beebe opened the Tunnell Cancer Center in the Clinical Building, which debuted that year.
Radiation oncologist Dr. Andrejs Strauss, previously the medical director of radiation at a Maryland hospital, joined Beebe full time. Before opening the new cancer center, the team estimated that they would treat eight to 10 patients a day. They had nearly 50. “We were working 7 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. just to carry the load,” Bartell said.
linear accelerator was not enough. To accommodate another machine, the cancer center in 2007 moved to the Beebe Health Campus on Route 24, which had opened in 2003. The Tunnell family donated $1.5 million toward the program.
While Beebe was breaking ground on new buildings – including the Rollins Wing, dedicated in 1988, and the Hudson Wing, dedicated in 2008 – it was breaking ground in other respects. In 1990, Beebe hired Dr. Mayer Katz to organize a abdominal aortic repair. In 2011, the Joint Commission
Not all of the advances at Beebe involved conventional medical procedures. In the fall of 1997, the medical center was among with chiropractic services, acupuncture, massage therapy, and the services of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists to inpatients.
Beebe HealthyBack, which began in 2014, is a 10-week solution for patients with chronic back and neck pain that does not involve drugs, needles, or surgery. Also that year, Beebe became to encourage breastfeeding.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT CENTENNIAL
While undergoing extraordinary growth, Beebe has also faced distinct challenges that set it apart from Delaware’s other health
systems. Many of Sussex County’s new residents are retirees
on Medicare with chronic health conditions. In the past, new communities popped up east of Route 1. Today they’re clustered farther inland, away from the Lewes campus, toward Millsboro and Millville. Thousands of vacationers add to the service area population’s ranks beginning in May, and the tourist season now extends well into fall.
Beebe’s $200 million expansion has a goal of adding 112 private rooms and space for state-of-the-art operating rooms and cardiology electrophysiology and interventional rooms. The project may also include the enlargement of the Tunnell Cancer Center and services in the Bethany Beach area. Meanwhile, Beebe will continue to increase and augment its outpatient facilities and services in the community, particularly west of Route 1, and to integrate its population health program across Beebe’s spectrum of care.
“Philanthropy and giving have always been a constant thread
in the fabric of Beebe Healthcare for 100 years,” said Tom Protack, Vice President of Development for Beebe Medical
to the Beebe brothers to build a modern hospital to serve the community set the standard to connect the needs for health care and the needs of our community. Their gift made it possible and once again, Beebe will need to rely on the gifts and help from our community to once again expand our services. We have a strong partnership with so many individuals and companies that generously respond whenever Beebe asks for their help.
“Giving to Beebe is part of our community’s gratitude that Beebe is always there for them. As Beebe has reached out and brought health care to Sussex County in seven locations and at the Health Campus, Beebe will need to reach out to ask for support of this new expansion project. No doubt, having a new beautiful wing with private rooms and more space for their families and visitors will be welcomed by everyone.”
If someone had described Beebe in 2016 to Dr. Palekar in 1976,
it. “It’s a phenomenal progress,” said Dr. Palekar, who has been the chairman of the physician recruiting committee. “Beebe Hospital became Beebe Medical Center. Beebe Medical Center became Beebe Healthcare. It’s tremendous progress in a positive way.”
Dr. Mansouri Saberi would agree. “The service that Beebe offers to the community is excellent,” he said. “If I get sick, this is where I will come.”
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Del Med J | October 2016 | Vol. 88 | No. 10
