When moving to another city in the U.S., hospitals are just as important as housing prices and school districts.

When you're young, you might think, "If I get sick, I can just go to the hospital," but as you raise children and get older, you realize how reassuring it is to have a hospital nearby.

In that regard, Newark, Delaware has a fairly good healthcare environment for its size. At the center is ChristianaCare, a nonprofit healthcare system. It is a large medical network in northern Delaware, providing a range of services from general care to emergency medicine, cancer treatment, heart disease, and neurological disorders.

The most important hospital for Newark residents is Christiana Hospital. Despite its name, which might suggest it's in a different city, it is located in Newark and is easily accessible from I-95.

With over 1,000 beds, it serves as a major emergency and specialty medical facility in Delaware. It has specialized departments for cardiology, oncology, neurology, and orthopedics, which alleviates some concerns about having to travel to Philadelphia for serious medical issues.

However, just because the emergency room is large doesn't mean you'll be seen quickly. Since it is a busy emergency room in the area, if your condition is not life-threatening, you may have to wait a long time. In U.S. emergency rooms, patients are prioritized based on the severity of their condition, not just on a first-come, first-served basis.

So, if you have a severe cold, a small cut on your hand, or a sprained ankle, you don't necessarily need to rush to the emergency room. In these cases, Urgent Care is a much more practical option. There are several urgent care facilities around Newark, including those affiliated with ChristianaCare, where you can go for simple tests, wound care, cold or infection symptoms, and X-rays.

Importantly, the costs are often lower than those of an emergency room. Many people know the experience of going to the ER without a second thought, only to receive a bill later that raises their blood pressure. Of course, if you have emergency symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, you shouldn't think about costs and should go directly to the emergency room.

For families with children, having Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware nearby is a significant advantage. This children's specialty hospital is located in Wilmington, within driving distance from Newark. While routine colds and vaccinations can be handled by local pediatricians, having a children's specialty hospital nearby is reassuring for parents when complex pediatric conditions or specialized treatments are needed.

Students at the University of Delaware can also utilize the campus's Student Health Services. They provide essential medical services such as basic care and vaccinations, ensuring that the college town has a solid healthcare infrastructure.

One downside for the Korean community is the challenge of finding doctors who can provide care in Korean. Unlike areas like LA or New York, where you can easily find a list of Korean-speaking internists, Newark does not have many options. In some cases, you may need to expand your search to the Philadelphia area.

Additionally, in the U.S., having a good hospital nearby is not the end of the story. It's crucial to first check whether your insurance covers that hospital and its doctors within its network.

Ultimately, Newark may be a small college town, but it offers surprisingly robust healthcare options.

For routine care, you can see a local doctor; for urgent issues, go to Urgent Care; for serious matters, head to Christiana Hospital; and for specialized care for children, there's Nemours.

Having these options nearby is a significant advantage for those raising children and growing older.