TidalHealth and Atlantic General Join Forces to Strengthen Healthcare on Delmarva

In a landmark move for regional healthcare, Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) and TidalHealth have officially signed a definitive agreement to partner, bringing AGH under the TidalHealth system. This partnership is set to enhance healthcare services across Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Sussex and surrounding counties, ensuring more comprehensive, coordinated and innovative patient care.

The integration will allow AGH to benefit from TidalHealth’s extensive resources, including access to Epic, a leading electronic medical records (EMR) system. This transition will improve communication among healthcare providers, streamline patient referrals and enhance care coordination. "Providers will be able to communicate seamlessly with one another when co-managing the care of their patients," said TidalHealth President/CEO Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE.

The agreement ensures that AGH’s services, medical practices and outpatient facilities will now be part of the TidalHealth family, which includes TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford and TidalHealth McCready Pavilion in Crisfield. Despite the coming together of healthcare teams, AGH will retain its name and branding for the near future, with no immediate staffing changes or disruptions to patient care expected.

AGH President Donald Owrey, MBA, emphasized that the partnership will maintain AGH’s community-focused approach while leveraging TidalHealth’s resources.

"This affiliation ensures that patients across Worcester and Sussex Counties continue to receive the personalized care they expect from their local hospital and providers, backed by the strength and added capability of TidalHealth," Owrey said.

With the transition to Epic and an expanded healthcare network, patients will experience smoother access to specialty care, increased service options, and improved coordination of medical services. TidalHealth is also committed to capital funding for AGH, supporting service expansion and workforce retention efforts.

Leonard highlighted the structured integration plan, noting that the partnership will unfold at a measured pace.

“When we onboarded Nanticoke Memorial Hospital (now TidalHealth Nanticoke) in 2020, it was during a pandemic, requiring us to move quickly. Now, we can take a more structured approach to ensure a seamless transition," he said.

Looking ahead, TidalHealth and AGH remain dedicated to enhancing care across the Delmarva Peninsula.

“This partnership will help us be more efficient, innovative and effective in delivering the best possible care,” Leonard stated. “We are excited to welcome AGH into the TidalHealth family and look forward to the positive impact this will have on our patients and communities.”

For ongoing updates, visit our Better Together page.

Steve Leonard, President/CEO of TidalHealth, and Donald Owrey, President of Atlantic
General Hospital (AGH), sign the definitive agreement that officially brings AGH into
the TidalHealth family of healthcare services.