Penn State Health

What Penn State Health does

Penn State Health is a nonprofit academic health system affiliated with Penn State University, headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Anchored by the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (founded 1963) and operating through six wholly owned acute-care hospitals, the Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, and more than a dozen outpatient locations spanning nine counties, the system delivers tertiary and quaternary care across central Pennsylvania. Service lines include dedicated institutes for cancer, heart and vascular, bone and joint, neuroscience, and congenital heart disease, supplemented by hemophilia treatment, cystic fibrosis, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and rehabilitation programs. The system's clinical platform is paired with the Penn State College of Medicine, enabling translational research, clinical trials, and medical education under one organizational umbrella.

The system's underlying technology stack combines conventional hospital infrastructure with advanced clinical tools: the Heart-in-a-Box organ preservation system (adopted June 2026), Monarch robotic bronchoscopy for lung cancer detection, 3D-printed anatomical models used by pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons for pre-surgical planning, robotic-assisted and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and the Penn State Health OnDemand virtual care platform plus a patient portal. Specialized programs rely on multi-disciplinary accreditation and research infrastructure, including a Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center (one of ~149 nationally), a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited center (one of ~120 nationally), an Adult Congenital Heart Association Comprehensive Care Center, and a Level I Children's Surgery Verification site (the only hospital in Pennsylvania with this designation).

Penn State Health generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service healthcare delivery across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, urgent care, and virtual care settings. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; most major insurance plans (commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) are accepted, and patient acquisition is driven by physician referrals, regional outreach clinics, a Physician Liaison Program, community events, and clinical trial recruitment. Customer segments include adult and pediatric patients across the central Pennsylvania region, with concentrated expertise in complex conditions such as congenital heart disease (6 board-certified ACHD cardiologists), pediatric oncology, joint replacement (1,000+ procedures annually), and inherited bleeding disorders. The competitive positioning rests on the only academic medical center in the region, multi-specialty accreditation, and an integrated research-clinical-education model rather than any single product or technology.

Name

Penn State Health

Legal name

Penn State Health

Website

https://pennstatehealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Penn State Health is a nonprofit academic health system serving central Pennsylvania through six hospitals, a children's hospital, and 13+ outpatient locations across nine counties, anchored by the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and affiliated with Penn State College of Medicine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hershey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Healthcare services delivery: Penn State Health generates revenue through providing comprehensive medical and surgical healthcare services across multiple specialties including cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and pediatrics. Services are delivered through hospitals, outpatient clinics, and virtual care platforms throughout central Pennsylvania.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Penn State Health is a multi-hospital academic health system that delivers comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, surgical, and specialty medical care across central Pennsylvania through flagship facilities such as Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Golisano Children's Hospital, supported by community medical centers, outpatient clinics, and a virtual care platform. Service lines span cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pulmonology, pediatrics, hematology, and rehabilitation, integrated with Penn State College of Medicine's translational research and physician training programs.

Product overview

Penn State Health is a comprehensive health system operating as a platform of hospitals, institutes, and outpatient services. The core system includes Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (academic medical center), Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital, and multiple community medical centers. Key sub-brands include the Penn State Bone and Joint Institute, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, and Penn State Health Congenital Heart Center. Digital products include Penn State Health OnDemand (virtual care/telehealth), Penn State Health Patient Portal, and various clinical service lines spanning orthopaedics, cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, hematology, and pediatric specialties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Penn State Cancer Institute: Comprehensive cancer care center offering medical oncology, radiation oncology, and cancer research
• Penn State Bone and Joint Institute
• Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute
• Penn State Neuroscience Institute
• Penn State Health Congenital Heart Center
• Penn State Health Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
• Penn State Health Children's Heart Group
• Penn State Health Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Carlino Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
• Hemophilia Treatment Center of Central Pennsylvania

Products and services

• Penn State Health OnDemand Virtual care platform enabling on-demand healthcare visits through a mobile app, offering scheduled virtual visits with providers and immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions. For patients across central Pennsylvania seeking convenient access to Penn State Health providers.
• Penn State Health Patient Portal Secure website enabling patients to communicate with physicians, pay bills, and make appointments. For patients of Penn State Health providers across the health system.
• Penn State Bone and Joint Institute Dedicated institute providing multidisciplinary orthopaedic care with state-of-the-art treatments including joint replacement, sports medicine, and arthritis care. Performs over 1,000 joint replacement procedures annually. Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. For patients requiring musculoskeletal care in central Pennsylvania.
• Penn State Cancer Institute Comprehensive cancer care center offering medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and clinical trials. Features robotic bronchoscopy for early lung cancer detection via the Monarch Platform. For patients requiring cancer diagnosis and treatment in central Pennsylvania.
• Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Cardiovascular care institute providing cardiac surgery, catheterization, electrophysiology, and complex imaging including cardiac CT, MRI, and transesophageal echocardiogram. Includes "Heart-in-a-Box" donor heart preservation technology. For adults requiring cardiovascular care.
• Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Specialized program founded in 1991 for adults born with heart defects, providing cardiac surgery, catheterization, electrophysiology, and lifelong specialized care. Accredited as an ACHA Comprehensive Care Center with 6 board-eligible/board-certified ACHD cardiologists. For adults with congenital heart disease across central Pennsylvania.
• Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital Children's hospital providing pediatric specialty care including cardiology, surgery, hematology-oncology, and neonatal-perinatal medicine. The only hospital in Pennsylvania with Level I Children's Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons. For pediatric patients and families requiring complex specialty care.
• Wrist Arthroscopy Minimally invasive surgical procedure using a small camera (arthroscope) inserted through small incisions to evaluate or repair wrist tissues, offering potentially less pain and faster recovery. For patients with wrist conditions requiring surgical evaluation or repair.
• Hip Arthroscopy Minimally invasive hip surgery using an arthroscope inserted through small incisions to diagnose and treat hip conditions including bone fragments, scar tissue, and torn cartilage. For patients with hip conditions requiring surgical evaluation or repair.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation 36-session medically supervised program designed to improve heart health following heart attack, heart surgery, or other heart-related conditions. Includes hybrid option combining in-person and virtual visits via the OnDemand app. Certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. For adults recovering from cardiac events.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation 24- to 36-week medically supervised program to improve pulmonary health related to chronic pulmonary disease, focusing on exercise, nutrition, education, breathing, and oxygen management. For patients with chronic respiratory conditions.
• Hemophilia Treatment Center of Central Pennsylvania Comprehensive hemophilia treatment center established in 1973, one of approximately 149 HTCs in the nation and the only advanced bleeding disorder facility in central Pennsylvania. Part of Penn State Health's Comprehensive Hemophilia and Thrombosis program. For patients with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other inherited bleeding or clotting disorders.
• Penn State Health Congenital Heart Center Comprehensive center treating patients from fetal life to adulthood in one location, including congenital heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, and complex imaging. Pediatric surgical outcomes exceed the national average per Society of Thoracic Surgeons data. For patients with congenital heart disease across the lifespan.
• Children's Heart Group Pediatric cardiology and congenital heart surgery program with a network of 13 locations across 9 counties in central Pennsylvania, providing diagnosis, treatment, and surgery for children with heart disease. For pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart disease.
• Adult Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division offering latest approaches to diagnose and treat digestive health conditions including GI cancers, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, motility disorders, and pancreatic disorders. Ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report in Gastroenterology & GI Surgery for 2025-2026. For adult patients with digestive health conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pediatric congenital heart surgery outcomes exceed national average as reported by Society of Thoracic Surgeons
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA)coreOthersPenn State Health ACHD Program earned ACHA's Comprehensive Care Center accreditation, ensuring patients receive the highest level of ACHD care aligned with national guidelines and standard of care practices.
• Cystic Fibrosis FoundationcoreOthersCystic Fibrosis Care Center at Hershey Medical Center is one of approximately 120 centers nationwide funded and accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, offering expert care for patients of all ages from newborns to adults.
• Society of Thoracic SurgeonscoreOthersPediatric congenital heart surgery outcomes are benchmarked against Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database. Penn State Health patients achieve outcomes that exceed the national average in the most complex cases.
• BlueCross BlueShieldcoreOthersPenn State Bone and Joint Institute is designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, a superior designation recognizing expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care.
• U.S. Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA)coreOthersHemophilia Treatment Centers were established by HRSA based on studies showing exceptional outcomes from comprehensive, multispecialty team approach to care. Penn State Health's HTC is partially funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through grants from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and CDC.
• Penn State College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is the primary teaching hospital of Penn State College of Medicine. The partnership enables translational research bringing discoveries directly to patient care, and provides access to clinical trials.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center): Pennsylvania-based integrated academic health system operating multiple hospitals, specialty institutes, and insurance products. Directly comparable as a Pennsylvania academic medical center with similar tertiary care, research, and community hospital footprint.
• Penn Medicine (University of Pennsylvania Health System): Philadelphia-based academic medical center affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Comparable as a Pennsylvania-based academic health system with a similar specialty-institute model and translational research pipeline.
• Geisinger Health: Integrated health system serving central and northeastern Pennsylvania with a flagship academic medical center, community hospitals, and health plan. Closely comparable given overlapping central Pennsylvania geography and integrated payer-provider model.

Broad incumbents

• Johns Hopkins Medicine: Baltimore-based academic medical system with a research-intensive medical school and multi-hospital platform. Comparable for its academic medical center operating model and translational research emphasis.
• Cleveland Clinic: National nonprofit academic medical center with multi-specialty institutes (heart, cancer, orthopedics) closely mirroring Penn State Health's institute structure. Comparable as a broader incumbent with deeper specialty scale.
• Mayo Clinic: National nonprofit academic medical center with a multi-specialty group practice and research mission. Comparable as a broad incumbent defining the academic medical center model Penn State Health aspires to.
• Mount Sinai Health System: New York City-based academic health system affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine. Comparable for its institute-based specialty structure and academic medical center operating model.
• NYU Langone Health: New York City-based academic medical center with nationally ranked specialty programs and a growing hospital footprint. Comparable for specialty-institute organization and academic medical center scale.

Regional players

• Lehigh Valley Health Network: Eastern Pennsylvania-based nonprofit health system with academic affiliations and a multi-hospital footprint. Comparable as a regional nonprofit system competing for tertiary referrals from the same Pennsylvania patient base.
• WellSpan Health: Central Pennsylvania-based nonprofit health system operating multiple hospitals and outpatient sites across south-central PA. Comparable regional competitor with overlapping service territory in York, Lancaster, and Adams counties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xpennstatehealth.org/about-us/social-media
• YouTubeyoutube.com/pennstatehershey
• Facebookpennstatehealth.org/about-us/social-media
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennstatehealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennstatehershey

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn State Health