Our pharmacists are vital members of your care team, ready to help you and your doctor with expert advice on today’s advanced medicines.
Pharmacy Professionals and Staff
The Department of Pharmacy boasts a quality leadership team, highly skilled and licensed pharmacy professionals, supported by an able staff. All our pharmacists are graduates of accredited pharmacy schools throughout the nation. Many have completed post-graduate general and specialized pharmacy residency programs or have attained certification in a specialized practice area. We require all of our pharmacy technicians to be certified by the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
Medication Specialists Devoted to Patient Care
Our pharmacists don’t just fill prescriptions with care and accuracy. They are experts in modern medicine and the latest research. They serve as specialists in caring for those with complex diseases, and counselors who teach patients the importance of their therapy.
Our Mission
We are committed to enhancing the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others, and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.
Our Vision and Values
Provide optimal pharmacotherapy to patients across the continuum of care through collaboration with and the education of our patients and health care providers. This will be achieved by implementing a patient-focused pharmacy practice model, using innovative technological solutions, conducting ground-breaking research, and fostering a spirit of excellence.
Our Penn State Health values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence provide the basis to achieve our vision and to provide the highest quality care to our patients.
Pharmacy Services for Patients and Staff
The Department of Pharmacy at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center provides numerous services to our patients and staff, including:
Anticoagulation Clinic
The Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Anticoagulation Clinic (ACC) has been established to aid physicians in the management of patients receiving outpatient anticoagulation. The goal of the ACC is to maximize the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of warfarin therapy by focusing on maintaining INR results in the therapeutic range, thereby decreasing the risk of thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events.
Providers
The ACC provides care through a specially trained group of pharmacists and assistants. The role of the pharmacists is to provide patients of the clinic with education regarding the safe and proper use of anticoagulants, care by reviewing test results and a patient interview with subsequent directions under a physician-approved protocol and a resource for questions and concerns.
Patients
Patients must be referred to the ACC through a Hershey Medical Center provider whom has evaluated and will maintain an ongoing relationship with the patient. The pharmacists provide care under the supervision of this provider.
Locations
Penn State Health East Campus
30 Hope Dr.
Suite 1003, Entrance B
Hershey, PA 17033
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 717-531-5312
Penn State Health Medical Group - Nyes Road Heart and Vascular Institute
121 Nyes Road, Suite E
Harrisburg, PA
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: 717-531-5312
Chemotherapy/Infusion Room Pharmacy
The pharmacists in the Chemotherapy/Infusion Room Pharmacy serve as your drug experts in chemotherapeutic care. They can answer your questions about medications, side effects, drug interactions and food-drug interactions.
The pharmacists at the Chemotherapy/Infusion Room Pharmacy:
- Work closely with doctors and nurses throughout Penn State Health to provide high-quality pharmaceutical care
- Ensure patients receive accurate and safe products prescribed for cancer and other chronic conditions
- Manage clinical trial medications for patients
- Educate patients and staff on new medications and therapies
We prepare chemotherapy and other sterile products needed for outpatients as well as inpatients of:
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Penn State Medical Group
Location
Penn State Cancer Institute
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: 717-531-4989
Inpatient Services
During your hospital stay, you will get specialized care and oversight from our vigilant and skillful pharmacists, including:
- Careful preparation and distribution of all your medication needs
- Evaluation of all your medication orders to assure effectiveness and prevent adverse reactions and medication errors
- Personalized teaching on the use of your medications
Some of our pharmacists have specialized training. You will see them working side-by-side with your physicians and nurses in areas such as medicine, surgery, cardiology, critical care, pediatrics, oncology, emergency medicine, infectious diseases and organ transplant. These pharmacists also work with our providers to design and monitor patient treatment plans.
Investigational Drug Services
Pharmacists play a key role in clinical human research trials throughout Penn State Health - scientific investigations to find out how new treatments work in people. The pharmacists in our Investigational Drug Services (IDS) procure, store, blind (hide the knowledge of a particular treatment to remove bias) and dispense medications for over 300 studies per year. They assure that the drug use plan for all clinical trials is safe and effective and meets all regulatory requirements, including the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.
Current practice areas with drug studies include:
- Anesthesiology/Surgery
- Asthma and Allergy
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatric and Adult Hematology/Oncology
- Pulmonology
We also provide pharmacy services for national cooperative investigating groups, including:
- Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group - American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN)
- NRG Oncology
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
IDS pharmacists serve on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Penn State University. The IRB reviews and approves research protocols (sets of rules) for use throughout the system. All drugs used by IDS pharmacists have undergone IRB review and approval. Penn State Health medical professionals who are leading new studies rely on IDS pharmacists for their drug expertise.
Outpatient Pharmacy Retail Services
Penn State Health's two outpatient pharmacy locations provide prescriptions for Cancer Institute patients, the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Emergency Department, the same-day surgery unit, our Penn State Medical Group clinics, patients being discharged and hospital employees.
Locations
Penn State Cancer Institute, located in the main entrance of the Cancer Institute, this pharmacy provides prescriptions for:
- Cancer Institute
- Emergency Department
- Same Day Surgery
- Penn State Medical Group outpatient locations
- Discharge patients and our Meds to Beds (RX2GO) program
Pharmacists at the Cancer Institute Pharmacy skillfully prepare patient-specific, compounded medications (a mix of ingredients in the exact strength and dosage required by the patient) or liquid preparations that may not be commercially available. We will also mix custom-flavored medicine for children, using FLAVORx options.
Cancer Institute pharmacists work with a team of social workers, care coordinators and other health care professionals to help patients with medication counseling, assistance with medication costs and other prescription issues. We accept most insurance plans.
University Physician Center Outpatient Pharmacy fills prescriptions for patients discharged from our Medical Group locations, as well as acute (short-term) prescriptions for hospital employees.
Our pharmacists take part in our Prescription Assistance Program to give patients medication counseling, assistance with medication costs and other prescription needs.
The University Physician Center is the black glass building behind Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. The pharmacy is in Suite 1200, at Entrance 4.
Hours:
- Mon- Wed: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Sat: 8:30 a.m.-12 noon
Phone: 717-531-8094
Prescription Assistance Program
Penn State Health Prescription Assistance Program helps patients with pharmacy prescription benefits review and counseling. We primarily help with preparation of applications for free drug assistance programs, copay assistance and grants.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 717-531-2982 or 717-531-0003, x280660
Specialty Pharmacy
The Specialty Pharmacy Service provides clinical pharmacists to manage and oversee patients who need certain high-cost medications to manage complex or chronic conditions. We cover the following service areas:
- Allergy
- Bone and Joint
- Dermatology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology/Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Working closely with your care team, our pharmacists ensure the best outcome from these therapies. Our staff coordinate patient benefits verification, prior authorization requirements and copay assistance in addition to delivering medications and refills to your home.
Why Choose Penn State Health Specialty Pharmacy
- Direct communication with providers and nursing staff
- Experts in each therapeutic category provide medication education and management to each patient
- Financial assistance referrals available
- Free delivery to your home
- Monthly refill reminders
- Pharmacy staff available 24/7
- Quick starts to therapy initiation
- URAC and The Joint Commission accreditations
URAC Accreditation
Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification, and measurement. URAC is a nonprofit organization developing evidence-based measures and standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. The URAC portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers and physician practices. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.
Location
The Specialty Pharmacy is in the University Physician Center Building, Suite 1200.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 717-531-2045
Fax: 717-531-0860
Email: [email protected]