Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

I'm coming back to write this review because, frankly, it's been a busy adjustment and I finally feel like I know what I'm doing. My teenage son was transferred here via life lion last February for DKA. We had no idea he was diabetic; the symptoms came on so quick! We really blamed ourselves believing we somehow should have known. The staff was amazing every step of the way, from the pilot/medical transport, to the ICU nurses, security, doctors, everyone! They were patient with us. They educated us on the condition and let us calculate and administer insulin under their watchful eye. They put educational videos on the television for us to understand living with type 1 diabetes. They made sure we were comfortable sleeping in the ICU and even brought us drinks and games to play with our son. One nurse showed us her insulin pump and explained that this wasn't the end of anything, just a new normal. After 4 days he was discharged to the "maintenance" facility where we learned how to calculate carb to insulin ratio, dexcom use, finger sticking and nutritional needs going forward. I'm so grateful to this hospital and staff. As parents we were a wreck. Your kindness, patience and compassion helped us to navigate a terrifying change in circumstance giving us the confidence and tools to take care of our son. We came so close to losing him. Thank you for saving his life!

Nobody likes hospitals, especially myself. I had a relatively good experience with this hospital that I wanted to share. I went in on Monday around 9:30 am for pain in the lower right abdomen. I received my diagnosis of a large gallstone by around 1pm. From there, I had an additional ultrasound for improved imaging, and then I was checked in to an observation room. The only frustrating part of the experience was the several hours that passed between the ultrasound and actually checking my into the room, but I understand that there are often long lines and others with higher priority needs. Just would have liked a little more communication there. A huge shout out to the ultrasound tech (I'm sorry, I can't remember your name!!), but she was fantastic and her voice was SO COMFORTING. I had several nurses in the observation room. I particularly liked Willow and Heather, but CC was great as well. The anesthesiologist (David) as well as his boss (even better, but can't remember his name) were FANTASTIC about both explaining the procedure to me and allowing me an opioid-free procedure and recovery. I knew it wouldn't be feasible in all circumstances, but they did a great job explaining my options and hearing my concerns. The pre-op nursing team was also fantastic!! The post-op team was great as well - I was quite sick afterwards, but they were extremely calm and gentle about the entire thing. The surgery was smooth, and the pain is manageable. Really - I want to thank the nursing team that made my experience exceptional. I can't imagine what it's like to deal with people all day, all night, etc. Every single nurse that cared for me was fantastic. They were re-assuring professionals that made me feel comfortable in one of my more difficult times. I wish that I could remember everybody's name, but I was pretty out of it. Regardless, I didn't have a single negative experience related to the nursing staff, just really impressed by you all.

Whenever my daughter is sick, I bring her to the Pediatric ER at Penn State Hershey, and every experience has been outstanding. The facility is spotless and welcoming, which brings comfort during stressful times. We’re always seen quickly, and the doctors and staff are not only skilled but also incredibly compassionate. They take the time to listen, explain, and treat us with kindness. Knowing my daughter is cared for by such a dedicated team gives me peace of mind, and I’m truly grateful for the level of care Penn State Hershey provides.