Investing in Delaware's Future

Addressing the health care needs of an aging population

CONTRIBUTED BY HIGHMARK BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF DELAWARE

AS PRESIDENT of Highmark Delaware, I see firsthand the significant impact of our state’s rapidly aging population on health care. This demographic shift presents both considerable challenges and exciting opportunities for our community. The increasing number of older adults requires us to think innovatively about elder care, bolster our health care workforce, and expand access to a wider range of essential services. At Highmark, we’re committed to collaborating with Delaware businesses and nonprofit organizations to ensure our state’s health care system is prepared for the future.

A Collaborative Approach to Elder Care

Beebe Healthcare’s Family Medicine Residency Continuity Clinic exemplifies the kind of transformative initiatives we strive to support. Our $1 million investment through the BluePrints for the Community program is not merely financial assistance; it is the power of strategic collaborations and community-based care. Beebe’s expansion into this new facility demonstrates a keen understanding of where the needs are greatest, directly responding to the rising demand for high-quality, easily accessible primary care, particularly in Sussex County’s rapidly growing areas.

Addressing the Health Care Workforce Crisis

The expansion of services necessitated by an aging population highlights the health care workforce shortage experienced by our state. Securing the capacity to deliver quality health care is contingent on attracting, training, and retaining talent. Last year, Delaware Technical Community College opened the Highmark Healthcare Center for Excellence, located at their Terry Campus. This building houses state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces for allied health short-term certification programs.

Our BluePrints for the Community investments have supported broader development programs that extend the workforces within ChristianaCare, Nemours Children’s Health, and St. Francis, each working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve: ChristianaCare through its IMPACT Community Health Worker (CHW) program, embedded in high-need Medicare practices; Nemours supporting children with asthma to improve outcomes; and St. Francis creating a financially stable, purposefully designed campus to care for the whole person. These initiatives ensure health care needs are not just met, but that patients feel secure with people they trust.

Beyond Bricks and Mortar

Highmark’s support extends beyond bricks and mortar as we work to realize our vision of a world where everyone embraces health. Through our community health engagement initiatives, we facilitate and support collaborative efforts among diverse partners to achieve our mission of creating remarkable health care experiences for Delaware’s older adults and their families. This approach, coupled with investments in modern technology and expanded facility access—such as at the Bayhealth simulation lab or the Da Vinci Surgeon Console at TidalHealth—provides Delawareans with enhanced primary and specialist care.

A Shared Commitment to a Healthier Delaware

Highmark remains fully committed to innovative projects and programs like those mentioned above. Through collaborations like these, and the dedication of health care systems statewide, we are collectively laying a strong foundation for all Delawareans at every stage of life.