Impact

Holy Spirit patients to have greater access to Hershey Medical Center surgeons

Arrangement provides West Shore residents with high-level care from central Pennsylvania's premier teaching and research hospital

Dr. J. Nathaniel Ruhala is among the surgeons who will provide care at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center — and once it opens, Hampden Medical Center — expanding access to advanced surgical care for more residents of the West Shore. Credit: Penn State Health / Penn StateCreative Commons

HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health is further expanding the surgical capabilities of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to Holy Spirit Medical Center. The move will provide more residents of the West Shore with access to advanced surgical care closer to home.

These physicians also will provide surgical care services at Hampden Medical Center when it opens in October to better serve residents of Cumberland and Perry counties, as well as the broader Harrisburg region. The arrangement will provide yet another option for convenient access to the high-quality services of Penn State Health without having to drive to Hershey.

Since 2019, neurosurgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons from Hershey Medical Center have provided care at Holy Spirit Medical Center. Effective Wednesday, Aug. 18, expert physicians trained in minimally invasive and robotic techniques for general, breast, colorectal and cancer surgeries will care for patients at Holy Spirit Medical Center. They also will see patients at the adjacent Medical Arts Building.

“Having Hershey Medical Center surgeons working side-by-side with Holy Spirit Medical Center’s surgeons and nurses allows us to elevate the already high level of surgical care that patients expect from Holy Spirit and Penn State Health,” said Dr. J. Bret DeLone, vice president of medical affairs at Holy Spirit Medical Center.

The surgical team at Hershey Medical Center has been recognized nationally for outstanding care, quality and outcomes. The expansion of surgical services at Holy Spirit Medical Center offers patients additional options for receiving care from Penn State Health’s teaching and research hospital, close to where they live.

Holy Spirit Medical Center patients also continue to benefit from access to more solutions to advanced medical problems through clinical research at Penn State College of Medicine.

“When Penn State Health welcomed Holy Spirit Medical Center into the health system, we vowed to take steps to reinforce and grow the health care services provided by this long-trusted community hospital,” said Dr. Peter Dillon, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Penn State Health. “Today’s announcement advances our commitment to providing high-quality, cost-effective surgical care throughout central Pennsylvania.”

Last Updated August 17, 2021

Contact