Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children

Main entrance of the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children

With the words, “It has been my firm conviction throughout life that it is the duty of everyone in the world to do what is within his power to alleviate human suffering,” Alfred I. du Pont bestowed an estate valued at $40 million for the creation of a charitable corporation devoted primarily to providing health care services to children. The resulting Nemours Foundation was charged with the preservation and public enjoyment of the Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington, the care and treatment of disabled children and the care of low-income seniors throughout the state of Delaware. Nemours has grown to be one of the nation's largest children's health systems in the country caring for more than a quarter of a million children each year. The hospital is part of the DuPont legacy.

Through his last will and testament, Alfred I. DuPont established a trust composed of his holdings in E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company which provided for the formation of The Nemours Foundation, named for the duPont family's home in France.[4][5] The Nemours Foundation was incorporated in Florida in 1936. In 1940, the original Alfred I. duPont Institute was opened in Wilmington, and it quickly became world-renowned for its clinical and research excellence in the field of pediatric orthopedics. It wasn't until 1976 that the Nemours Board of Directors expanded the institute's mission to encompass more pediatric diseases. The first phase of the new Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children was completed in 1979. Outpatient and ambulatory care was provided at the adjacent Nemours Children's Clinic. The current hospital was completed in 1984. It was named one of the nation's best children's hospitals by Parents Magazine in 2009.[6] The institute is academically affiliated with both the University of Delaware in Newark and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and the residency program is handled through Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

The Nemours Foundation is the sole beneficiary of the A.I. duPont Testamentary Trust which was valued at $3.4 billion in 2009.[7] The trusts supporting the Nemours Foundation (the A.I. duPont Testamentary Trust and the Edward Ball Trust) were valued at a combined $5.5 billion in 2015.[8]

On May 12, 2021, the hospital announced that its name will be changed to "Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware", in the summer of 2021.[9]

The medical campus is located directly east of the DuPont Experimental Station and the site also houses the Nemours Mansion and Gardens. The facility provides Delaware's only Pediatric Trauma Center, advanced inpatient and outpatient pediatric care in more than 30 specialties, intensive and acute pediatric care, as well as pediatric research.[10] The Ronald McDonald House of Delaware located adjacent to the hospital provides sleep rooms and showers for the parents and families of children receiving treatment.

In 2011, the Nemours Foundation announced a $212 million expansion that would increase the size of the Emergency Department and number of inpatient beds.[11][12] The construction was completed in 2014 and the doors opened to patients in October 2014.[13][14]

The hospital offers intensive and acute inpatient and outpatient services in more than 30 disciplines.[15] It is internationally recognized in blood and bone marrow transplantation, acondroplasia, cancer, cardiology and cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and solid organ transplantation.[16]

The administration of Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware under the leadership of CEO Dr. Larry Moss has become the subject of recent controversy. Some employees and patient families have become concerned about the perceived deviation from the original mission laid out by Alfred I. duPont. Political activism including race based activities, meetings and agendas have caused some employees to feel divided by race rather than united around a cause. Proponents of the new political focus claim it is a necessary step in order to right historical injustices committed by others while opponents of the measures state it divides staff, sees everyone through the lens of race, refocuses time and resources away from the original mission of providing a high level of medical care to all children regardless of ability to pay.

The hospital hosted a meeting on "Confronting White Fragility" September, 30th, 2020. The hospital announced the approval of wearing Black Lives Matter political attire in the work place without explicit approval of other political attire. The Hospital declared itself an Antiracist Organization to combat racism and it's D.R.I.V.E. campaign announced it's intent to identify the demographic of hospital suppliers. Some find this troubling as giving preference to one demographic over another may be considered discrimination. In 2021, Chocolate Milk, the Documentary was presented in Wilmington with recommended pricing for tickets that varied by race. The publicity materials reportedly shared that the movie showing was done in partnership with Nemours Children's Health System. The price difference was reportedly because non-black people, especially white people often come into black spaces and drain the community of knowledge and resources.[17] The CEO of Nemours sent an email out after the Georgia massage parlor shooting condemning the racism towards Asians despite reports of the motivation behind the attack being the defendant's sex addiction. Recently, Nemours has also begun to offer a gender affirmative approach towards transgender children and is offering hormone therapy amongst other services. While some applaud Nemours' leadership in supporting transgender affirmation and support, others in the field have expressed concern about hormones or surgery for minors and encourage counseling until they reach the age of majority where one can fully consent to a life altering process.