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Two Penn State Health hospitals have been named to Healthgrades’ America’s Best Hospitals list for 2025. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for the second year in a row, placing it among the top 1% in the nation for providing the highest clinical quality year over year. Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center was recognized as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, placing it in the top 5% nationwide for consistently delivering clinical quality. To determine the top hospitals for 2025, Healthgrades evaluated mortality and complication rates for more than 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Their findings highlight a significant gap in performance between the nation’s highest- and lowest-performing hospitals—underscoring the importance of seeking care at top-rated facilities.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has been designated as the third National Guard Training Center in the United States and the only East Coast program offering specialized trauma and deployment skills training through the Hershey Trauma, Readiness, Education and Training Program. Designed to prepare National Guard members for deployment by immersing them in real-world medical scenarios, the program enhances their ability to provide critical care under pressure. Participants will train alongside staff in Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center, gaining hands-on experience in advanced medical techniques and procedures. “We are honored to play a role in equipping National Guard members with the skills they need to respond effectively in emergencies and combat zones,” said Don McKenna, president of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Our expertise in trauma care, combined with a shared commitment to community service, makes this partnership a perfect fit to support the readiness and effectiveness of the National Guard.” The first cohort begins on Jan. 27 with three participants. It will conclude on Feb. 7. Classes are open to National Guard members nationwide serving as medics or nurses and can accommodate up to 10 participants. The two-week course includes rotations in clinical trauma, surgical intensive care, neurological intensive care, and emergency medical services through Penn State Health
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has been recognized by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Surgical Quality Partner through participation in the organization’s Commission on Cancer. The ACS Commission on Cancer is a group of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer by setting high standards of care standards. “We are proud to have earned this distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner,” said Dr. Michael Reed, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Cancer Committee chair at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine. “It reflects the highest level of comprehensive and multidisciplinary cancer care we provide to all our patients. This accreditation is also an endorsement of the dedication and expertise of our health professionals at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.” The Commission on Cancer awards accreditation to programs that meet its high standards for cancer care. Accredited programs undergo a thorough review every three years to ensure continued compliance. These standards ensure that patients receive a full range of diagnostic, treatment and supportive services, either on-site or through referrals, including access to community resources.
Penn State Health’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation presented a custom adaptive bike to 9-year-old Laykin Ryan of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA. Ryan was paralyzed from the waist down in a tragic automobile accident in February 2024. Ryan has been receiving treatment at Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture with Select Medical, as part of her recovery. The adaptive bike, generously funded by an anonymous donor foundation, is designed to enhance independence and mobility, allowing Ryan to enjoy one of her favorite activities despite her physical challenges. The custom adaptive bike, specifically designed to meet Laykin’s unique needs, features a recumbent design that provides stability and comfort. It is equipped with specialized pedals and handlebars, allowing Ryan to operate the bike using her upper body strength.
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center has been named a Top General Hospital by the Leapfrog Group, just one of three hospitals in Pennsylvania to earn that designation and the only “Top Hospital” in Lancaster County. The award from Leapfrog, a national nonprofit organization focused on advancing patient safety, recognizes the quality of patient care, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and Lancaster Medical Center’s capacity to prevent medication errors. “Providing exceptional, safe emergency care, specialty services and surgeries supported by the latest technology is at the heart of our mission at Lancaster Medical Center,” said Joseph Frank, president of Penn State Health’s Lancaster and St. Joseph medical centers. “This prestigious distinction from Leapfrog reflects the dedicated efforts of our entire team to keeping patient safety the top priority in everything we do.” To qualify for the Top Hospital distinction, hospitals must rank first among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety. They must then achieve top performance in their category—Children’s, General, Rural, or Teaching Hospital. Of the nearly 2,400 hospitals considered for Leapfrog’s Top Hospital Awards this year, 134 were selected nationwide, including 36 for Top General Hospital.
Every December, Penn State Health's Child Life Program coordinates Santa’s visit to the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. It's a special day to create normalcy, comfort and special memories that patients and families can cherish long after their stays at the hospital. “Kids who aren’t hospitalized might be going to a holiday parade or a shop to visit Santa, so we try to make those things possible here,” Kane said. “Families will sometimes tell us that they have never seen their child so excited to see Santa. Maybe they were on the verge of thinking Santa isn’t real, but we can bring the Santa magic back.” The Child Life team worked like secret elves to ensure Santa was ready to discuss things he should know, like each patient’s favorite book, sport, or school subject. For the hospital’s youngest patients—babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)—their first visit with Santa is a priceless memory for their families. Samantha Houtz, a benefits specialist at Penn State Health, was excited to capture a photo of her 4-week-old son, Parker, with Santa. This event was a bright spot during a difficult season for Houtz. “Someone once told me that when you’re in the NICU, it’s a roller coaster, and it is – it’s ups and downs,” said Houtz. “Everything the Child Life specialists, and everyone, does, is so appreciated. It means the world.”
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine employees touched more than one million lives through community health programs in fiscal year 2024. "The care we provide doesn’t stop within the walls of our hospitals and medical practices,” said Deborah Addo, Penn State Health interim CEO, president and chief operating officer. “Our employees partner with schools, faith-based organizations, shelters, food pantries and more to help allow every adult and child to live a healthy life.” The health system also contributed $165,936,729 in community benefits and financial assistance during fiscal year 2023, the highest amount in its history. This “total community benefit,” required by the IRS for hospitals to maintain their nonprofit status, includes effective programs, charity care, unreimbursed Medicaid costs, and supplemental medical, dental and pharmaceutical services.
For the third time in four years, Penn State Health has been recognized as one of the country's top employers for military veterans. Military Times named Penn State Health to its Best for Vets 2024 list. This annual recognition recognizes organizations that excel in creating supportive programs and policies for veterans transitioning to civilian careers In the 2024 rankings, Penn State Health placed ninth among all organizations in Pennsylvania that participated. "Our workplace culture is driven by our core values of respect, integrity, teamwork and excellence. Our military and veteran team members help us do our best to serve and support each other and our patients," said Wesley Payne McClendon, vice president, chief learning organization development officer and chief diversity officer. “
Penn State Health Life Lion LLC members were honored at an Oct. 29 event for their crucial role in a cardiac arrest save that tested Cumberland County’s innovative Avive 4-Minute City initiative, a program designed to improve response times for cardiac emergencies. In July, Life Lion LLC team members responded to an emergency call for a man experiencing cardiac arrest in Upper Allen Township. Simultaneously, a CARE (Cardiac Arrest Rapid Engagement) Team member—a local volunteer trained through the 4-Minute City initiative—was alerted and arrived promptly on the scene. Equipped with the program's automated external defibrillator (AED), the volunteer delivered a lifesaving shock, marking the first successful AED intervention by a 4-Minute City volunteer in the United States. Life Lion LLC then took over patient care and transported him to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center for further treatment.
Keith Littlewood has served in the military for 43 years, first joining the Army National Guard at age 17. He worked as a civilian paramedic/emergency medical technician and eventually returned to school to earn his nursing degree. In 2001, Littlewood accepted a full-time administrative position with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing and is currently a logistics readiness squadron commander, supervising 140 employees. In his military position, Littlewood makes sure people and equipment are where they are supposed to be, whether it’s locally or overseas. He brings those same organizational skills to the emergency room at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. Littlewood is one of hundreds of veterans employed by Penn State Health, which has received myriad honors for its support of military service personnel, including Vets Indexes Recognized Employer distinctions in 2023 and 2024. “A lot of veterans work here, but you probably wouldn’t know half of them were veterans because they’re very quiet about it,” Littlewood said. “I walk the halls, and I know who they are because there’s something about military service that you can identify in people without even having to ask." Read more.
