Penn State Hershey Medical Center: Doctors, Hours & MyChart

Penn State Hershey Medical Center: Quick Patient Overview

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is the main academic medical center for Penn State Health in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Patients often search for it as Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, or Penn State Health Hershey. The official campus address is 500 University Dr, Hershey, PA 17033.

This guide focuses on the practical details that patients and families usually need first: how to find a doctor, how to use the My Health patient portal, what the hospital hours and visitor rules are, how to plan for the emergency department, where to park, how to request medical records, and who to call for billing or financial assistance. It avoids unsupported claims and points you back to official Penn State Health resources when details can change.

Penn State Hershey Medical Center Doctors & Appointments

If you need a Penn State Hershey doctor, the safest route is the official Penn State Health Find a Doctor page. That tool helps you look for providers by specialty, condition, location, or provider name. This is especially useful for cardiology, oncology, surgery, neurology, orthopedics, primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, transplant-related care, digestive health, and other specialty services.

For a new patient, “doctor search” is only one part of the process. You should also check whether the doctor is accepting new patients, whether your insurance is accepted, whether a referral is required, whether the visit is at the main Hershey campus or another Penn State Health location, and whether your appointment is in person or virtual. The same specialist group may see patients at multiple locations, so do not assume every appointment is inside the main hospital building.

Before choosing a doctor, check these details

• Specialty match: Make sure the doctor or clinic treats your exact condition, not just a broad category.
• Location: Confirm whether the appointment is at 500 University Dr, a Hope Drive building, University Physician Center, East Health Campus, or another Penn State Health office.
• Referral need: Some specialists require a referral or prior medical records before scheduling.
• Insurance: Confirm network status directly with your insurer and the clinic if the visit may be expensive.
• Records: Bring imaging reports, medication lists, previous test results, and referral notes when relevant.

MyChart / My Health Patient Portal at Penn State Hershey

Penn State Health’s patient portal is officially described as a secure way to manage health information, communicate with physicians, pay bills, and make appointments. Patients commonly use it to view parts of their medical record, send non-urgent messages, track appointments, request medication renewals, and handle billing tasks.

The portal is most helpful when you use it before and after a visit. Before an appointment, it can help you confirm appointment details, update information, and prepare questions. After a visit, it can help you review visit summaries, test results, follow-up instructions, and communication from your care team. For patients managing chronic conditions or specialist care, this can reduce confusion and help keep all messages in one secure place.

Use the portal for these practical tasks

• Viewing health information related to Penn State Health visits.
• Sending secure, non-urgent messages to participating physicians or care teams.
• Making or managing appointments when the feature is available.
• Paying bills through Penn State Health’s online payment tools.
• Keeping a record of communication with the care team.

Penn State Hershey ER & Level I Trauma Care

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is an academic teaching hospital with emergency and trauma services. Penn State College of Medicine describes the Hershey Medical Center emergency department as part of a large academic teaching hospital and says it is the only combined Level I adult and pediatric trauma center in the state. The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation also describes it as the only Level I trauma center for both adult and pediatric populations in south Central Pennsylvania.

For patients, the key point is triage. Emergency departments do not see everyone in arrival order. A patient with chest pain, stroke symptoms, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, severe breathing trouble, or an unstable child will be prioritized over a patient with a stable, less urgent issue. That can make the waiting room feel unfair, but it is how emergency departments protect the sickest and most time-sensitive patients.

What to bring to the emergency department

• Photo ID and insurance card if available.
• Current medication list with dose and timing.
• Allergy list, pharmacy name, and major medical history.
• Recent discharge papers, test results, imaging reports, or specialist notes if relevant.
• Caregiver paperwork, guardianship documents, or medical power of attorney if you manage care for someone else.
• Phone charger and emergency contact information.

Penn State Hershey Visiting Hours, Check-In & Visitor Rules

Penn State Health’s official visit-a-patient information lists visiting hours for Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors must check in and show photo identification at the main hospital desk, and visitors should wear their visitor badge during the visit.

These details matter because large hospitals may have different rules by unit. Intensive care, labor and delivery, pediatric areas, oncology, surgical recovery, emergency department, and infection-control units may use stricter rules than standard inpatient rooms. A patient’s condition, privacy preference, isolation status, procedure schedule, or unit workflow can also affect whether visitors can stay.

Visitor checklist before leaving home

• Call the patient or hospital operator to confirm the room number and direct phone number.
• Bring photo identification for visitor check-in.
• Do not visit if you have fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, flu-like symptoms, or a contagious illness.
• Ask before bringing flowers, plants, latex balloons, food, or large gifts.
• Confirm whether children are allowed on the unit you plan to visit.
• Respect staff requests to step out during procedures, private care, shift change, or emergency activity.

Parking, Valet, Shuttle & Map for Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Penn State Health states that parking is free for patients and visitors at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The official directions and parking page also notes free shuttles around campus, valet parking at the main entrance for a nominal fee per vehicle, and electric vehicle charging stations.

Free parking is helpful, but the campus is still large. A patient going to the main hospital, Children’s Hospital, University Physician Center, Cancer Institute, Hope Drive buildings, or outpatient surgery area may need different entrances. Use your appointment instructions first, then use the official campus map or directions page to confirm the best parking area and entrance.

Practical parking and arrival plan

• Use the exact clinic or entrance instructions from your appointment notice.
• Arrive early enough for Hershey traffic, parking, walking, shuttle use, registration, and elevators.
• Take a phone photo of your parking area, row, and entrance before going inside.
• Ask the front desk or clinic whether valet or shuttle help is better for your appointment location.
• Use valet if mobility, weather, surgery timing, or caregiver responsibilities make walking difficult.
• For children’s hospital visits, check whether the Children’s Hospital entrance is open at your arrival time or whether the main Medical Center entrance is required.

Medical Records at Penn State Hershey Medical Center

If you need official medical records from Penn State Health, use the official Request Medical Records page. Penn State Health states that patients can call 833-477-4446 for information about physically picking up records at a location near them. Medical records requests may be needed for second opinions, new doctors, insurance, school, legal needs, disability paperwork, or personal files.

Medical records are protected health information, so requests normally require proper authorization. Do not expect a full chart to be released instantly at a front desk. If another doctor needs your records, ask whether the receiving office can request them directly or whether you must submit a signed release form yourself.

Records request checklist

1. Open Penn State Health’s official Request Medical Records page.
2. Identify exactly what you need: visit note, discharge summary, lab results, imaging report, operative note, ER note, immunization record, or billing-related record.
3. Use the patient’s legal name, date of birth, phone number, and treatment dates.
4. Specify where records should be sent and whether they are for personal use, a new doctor, insurance, legal use, school, or another purpose.
5. Start early if the records are needed before a specialist appointment, court deadline, school deadline, or insurance review.

Billing, Insurance & Financial Assistance

Penn State Health billing can include facility charges, professional fees, lab work, imaging, anesthesia, emergency services, outpatient hospital-based billing, and other separate line items depending on the type of care. Penn State Health states that insurance claims are submitted as a courtesy and that patients are billed for remaining balances after insurance processes the claim.

For bill questions, Penn State Health lists Billing Customer Service at 717-531-6842 or 844-774-6842, Monday through Friday. Penn State Health also lists Patient Financial Services and financial assistance resources. For Hershey Medical Center financial counseling, Penn State Health states the office is located in the main hospital building behind the surgical outpatient waiting area in rooms H1005 and H1006, and lists financial counseling for “all other affiliations” at 717-531-1740, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Before paying a large bill, check these items

• Has your insurance processed the claim yet?
• Is this a hospital facility bill, physician bill, anesthesia bill, lab bill, imaging bill, or emergency-related bill?
• Do you need an itemized statement?
• Are you eligible for financial assistance or a payment plan?
• Was the service hospital-based outpatient care, which may affect out-of-pocket costs?
• Do you need a price estimate before a scheduled procedure?

Dining, Cafeteria, Starbucks & Family Support

Penn State Health lists multiple dining options on the Hershey campus. The main cafeteria, Rotunda Café, is near the rotunda on the first floor of the Medical Center’s main building. Official Penn State Health dining pages list Rotunda Café hours as Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to midnight, with weekend hours shown on other Penn State Health dining pages. Families should confirm current dining hours before relying on them during long surgery days or overnight stays.

Other listed campus options include Tree House Café in the Children’s Hospital and Starbucks between the Medical Center and Children’s Hospital. These can be helpful for families waiting through surgery, emergency care, testing, or long inpatient visits. Exact hours can change, so use the official dining page or ask the Information Desk when you arrive.

Family waiting-day checklist

• Bring a phone charger, medication list, patient’s insurance card, and notebook.
• Ask the unit where families should wait during procedures or shift changes.
• Write down surgeon updates, discharge instructions, medication changes, and follow-up timing.
• Confirm whether outside food is allowed before bringing meals to the bedside.
• Ask about social work, case management, chaplain services, language assistance, or lodging resources if the stay becomes longer than expected.

Official Penn State Hershey Medical Center Links

Use official Penn State Health pages for current details. Hospital information can change, especially visitor rules, portal features, parking routes, dining hours, billing contacts, and medical records procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions