During your child’s stay at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, you will meet a number of healthcare professionals who make up your care team. As an academic medical center, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center trains new physicians and serves as a teaching site for medical and health professional students. These individuals may participate in your child’s care under the close supervision of appropriate hospital staff.

Medical Team

Physicians and nurses provide medical care for your child. As a teaching hospital, Penn State Health also trains healthcare professionals. Here’s who may participate in your child’s medical care.

Attending doctors

  • Your child’s primary doctors
  • Oversee residents and medical students
  • Communicate with the team taking care of your child
  • Responsible for making final recommendations for the care of your child

If you’d like to talk to the attending on duty, ask your nurse to page him or her.

Residents doctors

  • Have completed medical school and are training to become pediatricians
  • Report to the attending doctor
  • Examine your child daily
  • Provide information about your child’s plan

Medical students

  • College graduates attending medical school
  • Ask questions, perform exams and participate in your child’s care under the supervision of attending doctors, resident doctors and advanced practice providers

Advanced practice providers (NPs/PAs)

  • Have advanced nurse practitioner or physician assistant degrees
  • Function much like resident doctors and work closely with the attending doctors to plan your child’s care

Registered nurse (RN)

  • Work closely with your child and communicate any changes to the doctors
  • Closely monitor your child’s progress
  • Make sure the needs of your child and family are met

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)

  • Work closely with your child’s nurse to provide care
  • Complete your child’s vital signs
  • Assist with meeting the needs of your child and family

Nursing students

  • Training to become registered nurses
  • Under supervision, participate in all aspects of nursing care

Additional staff

Other departments that are also part of your child’s care team, such as Care Coordination; Speech, Occupational, Physical, Respiratory and Music Therapy; Nutrition; Pharmacy; and Child Life

Care-Giving Team

Care coordinators, social workers, Child Life specialists, educators, and family care coordinators have different jobs, but their overall mission is the same - to support your family during your hospital stay.

Care coordinators

A caregiver works with a babyCare coordinators are nurses who help make the transition from hospital to home go as smoothly as possible. Your care coordinator will help prepare your child for discharge and assist your family in providing any necessary medical equipment or services your child might need at home. He or she may partner with a social worker to arrange for services you may need.

To contact your care coordinator, please call 717-531-8306.

Social workers

Social workers play a diverse role in your child’s care, working with several other departments and team members to offer logistical and emotional support. They provide:

  • Orientation of the hospital environment
  • Counseling for emotional, financial, and social issues
  • Assistance with insurance questions
  • Coordination of discharge services to ensure a safe and timely return home

To meet with a social worker, please call 717-531-8306.

Child Life specialists

Child Life specialists work with patients, siblings, and family members to help you manage the challenges of a hospital stay. They offer services such as:

  • Surgery preparation, using medical play, photos, tours, and discussions to help reduce anxiety.
  • Pet therapy , overseeing a visit with a therapy dog to provide comfort and relieve stress.
  • Sibling support through fun, interactive workshops for brothers and sisters of patients.

To meet with a Child Life specialist, please call Child Life at 717-531-8366 or email [email protected].

Educators

Educators, provided by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, are available for all school-age children. Services include direct instruction of academic assignments, assistance for families and schools in recommending accommodations, and modifications in the academic environment. They also serve as a resource for staff.

To meet with an educator, please call 717-531-0003, extension 281731.

Family centered care coordinators

The goal of family centered care coordinators is to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Whether it’s by helping you navigate the hospital, locating a nearby restaurant , or finding activities for your children, they can identify and connect you with the right resources.

Family centered care coordinators also work with families interested in getting involved in the Children's Hospital, such as becoming a family advisor on hospital committees or a family faculty for hospital staff.

To contact your family centered care coordinator, please contact us at [email protected].