Blindsight Delaware Enterprises (BSDE) has selected Wilmington, Delaware, as the site for a new regional medical scheduling hub. Valued at $2.3 million, this hub will provide training and employment opportunities to over 225 economically vulnerable individuals in Delaware. The enterprise will also address staffing shortages that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CSC Station co-working space will host the new scheduling hub, conveniently located near the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station in downtown Wilmington. It will offer both on-site and fully remote employment opportunities to individuals in Delaware who face physical and socioeconomic challenges. The center will serve healthcare providers not only within Delaware, extending its services beyond state borders. Moreover, local social service programs will utilize the revenue generated from this venture.
Governor John Carney expressed his enthusiasm. He stated, “The BlindSight Delaware Enterprises medical scheduling hub will not only create more than 200 good jobs for economically vulnerable Delawareans but also will help solve a healthcare staffing problem to support services for our state’s blind and visually impaired residents. This project builds on Delaware’s strong healthcare foundation.”
By the end of 2025, BSDE plans to hire 227 individuals from Delaware. They intend to offer employment to those who are blind or visually impaired, have disabilities, are military veterans, or reside in economically disadvantaged Promise Communities across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. Most of these individuals will be full-time medical schedulers. They will be responsible for tasks like appointment scheduling and confirmation, providing reminders, and helping patients of Beebe Healthcare.
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki expressed his delight, stating, “We couldn’t be happier to welcome BlindSight Delaware Enterprises to Wilmington. Having a locally based scheduling center in Wilmington will not only improve the experience of individuals looking to schedule medical appointments but will also provide good jobs to hundreds of Delawareans in need of just such an opportunity. The City stands ready to support this effort in any way that we can.”
The COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for medical schedulers across the nation due to high turnover rates in hospital staffing. BSDE’s call center aims to address this issue in Delaware while also tackling underemployment among economically vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the center will generate income to support social service programs for local residents who are blind or visually impaired.
Over the past few months, Delaware Prosperity Partnership has collaborated with BSDE to explore programs that enable the realization of these plans. DPP has supported BSDE’s application to the Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant, which could provide up to $608,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is contingent on the company fulfilling the commitments outlined to the CDF, which granted BSDE’s request.
John Baker, the Executive Director and CEO of BSDE, expressed his gratitude, stating, “As a former commercial banker and a 30-year Delaware not-for-profit leader providing direct services to those in need along with employment throughout Delaware, I have been honored to lead this social business enterprise to both employ and serve Delawareans and our high-priority industries while drawing contracts from Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, Baltimore, and Chicago to make Delaware the call center hub of our region. We could not do this without the support and vision of DPP, the CDF, and other visionary Delaware leaders.”
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