Hershey

Penn State Hershey helps advance health care into the digital age

Patient-Centered Medical Homes can increase connectivity in health care.  Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

It’s getting easier to manage your health care these days, thanks to new technology-fueled Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH). Instead of driving to the doctor’s office, patients can now virtually visit their physician over Skype, refill prescriptions and view test results with just the click of a mouse.

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a recent adopter of the new health care model, which contrary to its name, is not a physical place at all. Rather, it’s an innovative, patient-centered care system that combines a team-based approach with modern technologies. Features include online patient portals and electronic health records, as well as a cohesive team made up of doctors, pharmacists, social workers and other medical professionals.

The Penn State Hershey Medical Center has one of the largest PCMH programs in the state, boasting more than 100 designated doctors. All 13 of Penn State Hershey Medical Groups’s adult primary care sites have been officially recognized as having PCMH designation.

“At the core, we in health care work in an information-rich environment,” said Christopher DeFlitch, chief medical information officer at the Medical Center. “Whether it’s a laptop, desktop computer or wireless network that supports how people go about accessing health information, technology is one of those enablers in the middle of it all.”

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Last Updated April 26, 2013

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