Hershey Medical Center

Hershey Medical Center is a major academic medical center located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Penn State College of Medicine, and situated near the Hersheypark Arena and the ChocolateTown USA region. It functions as a tertiary referral center serving patients from across Pennsylvania, the Delaware Valley, and neighboring states, and collaborates with institutions such as the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Foundation, Penn State Health, and regional hospitals including Lehigh Valley Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center. The center participates in consortia and programs connected to entities like the National Institutes of Health, the American Medical Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and state health initiatives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

History

The medical center's origins trace to philanthropic efforts by Milton S. Hershey and the establishment of the Milton Hershey School and associated health facilities, leading to formal founding in the early 1960s alongside the creation of the Penn State College of Medicine. Early milestones included accreditation by organizations such as the Joint Commission and expansion during periods when institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mayo Clinic influenced national standards. During the late 20th century, leaders from the center engaged with initiatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and educational projects linked with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Cancer Institute. Capital campaigns and bond measures paralleled projects at other academic centers such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, enabling growth in clinical capacity and specialty services.

Campus and Facilities

The campus comprises inpatient towers, ambulatory clinics, research buildings, and support services sited near landmarks like Hersheypark and the Hershey Theatre. Facilities include a pediatric hospital co-located with the main complex, intensive care units akin to those at Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai Hospital, and a dedicated cancer center modeled after standards from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Advanced imaging suites, surgical suites, and a Level I trauma center reflect protocols influenced by the American College of Surgeons and accreditation frameworks comparable to U.S. News & World Report-ranked centers. The campus integrates with transportation nodes serving visitors from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the I-76 corridor, and includes partnerships with research parks and entities like Penn State University Park.

Clinical Services and Specialties

Clinical offerings encompass adult and pediatric services across specialties such as cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, transplant surgery, and obstetrics, paralleling programs at Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital divisions. Subspecialty clinics include stroke care certified through protocols from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, trauma services aligned with the American College of Surgeons verification, and transplant programs collaborating with networks like the United Network for Organ Sharing. Multidisciplinary teams draw on expertise in hematology linked to the American Society of Hematology, endocrinology aligned with the Endocrine Society, and infectious disease practices influenced by Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Diagnostic and interventional services employ technologies comparable to those at Stanford Health Care and UCLA Medical Center.

Research and Education

As the academic partner of the Penn State College of Medicine, the center supports graduate medical education with residency and fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and participates in clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and cooperative groups like the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Research spans basic science laboratories, translational research, and population health projects with collaborations involving institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and University of Pittsburgh. Training programs include medical student clerkships, PhD programs, and allied health education connected to professional societies like the American Association of Medical Colleges and the American Physical Therapy Association. Grants and peer-reviewed publications arise from partnerships with the National Science Foundation and disease-focused organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and the American Cancer Society.

Patient Care and Community Programs

Patient care emphasizes comprehensive services integrated with community outreach in collaboration with local governments in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and regional nonprofits. Community health initiatives include screening programs, mobile clinics, and public health campaigns coordinated with agencies like the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The center supports charitable programs associated with the Milton Hershey School and philanthropic partners including foundations similar to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Kaiser Family Foundation. Patient advocacy, interpreter services, and social work teams coordinate with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and March of Dimes to address disparities and maternal-child health needs.

Category:Hospitals in Pennsylvania Category:Penn State Health Category:Teaching hospitals in the United States