Penn State Health To Secure Employee Pay And Benefits During Covid
Credit: Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons
HERSHEY, Pa. Penn State Health is committed to supporting our workforce through our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Penn State Health has implemented a pay and benefits security program to support staff during this public health crisis. The program ensures that all staff will continue to be paid at their current rate for normally scheduled work hours through May 9. This includes staff who are redeployed to alternative duties during their regular hours and those who may be asked to stay home without work as a result of reduced hours. Employees will also maintain their level of benefits in both circumstances.
Our Penn State Health workforce is on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully focused on serving the needs of our patients and communities. I am humbled by their commitment and courage during this unprecedented challenge, said Steve Massini, CEO of Penn State Health. This pay and benefits security program is one way we can honor their commitment and help support our Penn State Health family as we work together to respond to this crisis and the economic ramifications that accompany it.
Additionally, the health system has enabled employees to use CARE pay for up to three shifts of time away from work due to child care and elder care closures related to COVID-19.
Tuitionmanager Improves Operational Efficiency And Saves Time For Penn State Health
Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across central Pennsylvania. The system includes Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, PA, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children’s Hospital, Penn State Cancer Institute, and Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital , based in Hershey, PA. Penn State Health has more than 1,300 physicians and direct care providers at 78 medical office locations.
The system also has jointly owned health care providers, including Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, Hershey Endoscopy Center, Horizon Home Healthcare and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State University’s medical school.
Like other top healthcare organizations, Penn State Health offers a very competitive, generous, widely used tuition reimbursement program. Prior to implementing their TuitionManager system, Penn State Health was managing the program manually by paper. We spoke with Danielle Hricak, Human Resources Benefits Specialists, to learn more about Penn State Health’s tuition reimbursement process prior to implementing TuitionManager and the substantial benefits from replacing their manual process with TuitionManager’s automated software.
The biggest benefit is time saving. Time. Time, time, time the thing that none of us have, but TuitionManager has just saved us.
Dependent Of A Deceased Faculty Or Staff Member
Eligible dependent children or a spouse of a full-time employee who becomes deceased as an active employee, are eligible for the tuition discount according to the years of service outlined below.
- Employee with 0-4 years of full-time, continuous service = 2 semesters
- Employee with 5-9 years of full-time, continuous service = 4 semesters
- Employee with 10 years or more of full-time, continuous service = 8 semesters
- Dependent must be enrolled within the number of years equal to the employee’s years of service
- All other dependent eligibility rules apply
To initiate the tuition discount application in this circumstance, please complete this application or contact HR Services at 814-865-1473.
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Tips For Getting Hired
1. Showcase your passion for healthcareIn your cover letter and during your interview, be sure to highlight your passion for healthcare and your dedication to helping others. This will show Penn State Health that you are committed to the organizations mission and values.
2. Demonstrate your clinical skillsIf you have experience working in a clinical setting, be sure to mention this on your resume and in your interview. Penn State Health is looking for employees who have strong clinical skills and who are able to provide quality patient care.
3. Highlight your teaching experiencePenn State Health is a teaching hospital, so the organization is looking for employees who have experience teaching. If you have experience teaching, be sure to highlight this on your resume and in your interview.
4. Emphasize your commitment to diversityPenn State Health is committed to diversity and inclusion, so it is important to emphasize your own commitment to these values. In your cover letter and during your interview, be sure to highlight your ability to work with people of all backgrounds.
Geisinger: Penn State Health
Posted on October 31, 2019
Geisinger announced that Penn State Health, including Hershey Medical Center, is now a part of Geisinger Health Plans provider network. The new agreement went into effect Sept. 18, 2019.
The contract includes St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Penn State Childrens Hospital and more than 2,000 physicians in 127 locations. It applies to all lines of business with the exception of select self-funded clients. Penn State Health is included in the Premier network and Tier 1 in the Choices network.
Members can find participating providers via our online provider search tool.
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Penn State Health Comments And Reviews
Here’s what people are saying about Penn State Health. Company reviews can provide helpful insights into the company culture, working conditions, benefits, compensation, and training opportunities in Penn State Health. They may also reveal information or provide tips on interviewing skill requirements, and other factors that could help when applying for a position at that company. Reviews may also highlight any negative aspects of a company that will help in evaluating it as a prospective employer.
I started a few months ago! Training was thorough but you learn your trade mostly on the job! I absolutely love my clinic. My coworkers..doctors, managers, nurses, office staff, support staff, etc are all amazing! Everyone has been welcoming and helpful in the transition into my position and I genuinely feel I will stay with this location for the long haul! I love the job, and the patients are really wonderful overall! I find there is something to learn every day and something new to do everyday. If you like a fast paced environment this is definitely a great place to work! Youre never bored! Im overall very pleased that I am working for Penn State!
Management is under qualified, unprofessional, and plays favorites. They do not come in when the unit is sinking. Its all about politics. Work here if youre fine with kissing butt to be liked by management. Otherwise youre dirt.
Penn State Health St Joseph + Alvernia = Success
Through a partnership with Alvernia University, Penn State Health St. Joseph employees can earn the degrees necessary to excel in their careers and meet the ever evolving requirements of the healthcare industry. Penn State Health St. Joseph employees can pursue RN to BSN completion, a Master of Science in Nursing, or a Post Baccalaureate or Post Masters DNP though this unique partnership with Alvernia.
Exclusive Penn State Health St. Joseph Benefits
The Alvernia + Penn State Health St. Joseph partnership allows Penn State Health St. Joseph employees to take advantage of the following benefits
- Preferred pricing on Alvernia University tuition that maximizes Penn State Health St. Josephs tuition reimbursement plan. Contact us for details.
- Nursing scholarships/grants available *
- Access to more than 50 associate degree programs, bachelors degree and degree completion programs, masters degree programs and certificate programs
- Transfer credits already completed
- Get credit for life experience time in the workplace can be considered for credit towards an undergraduate degree
- Assistance in applying and enrolling at Alvernia
- Access to professional development events through our Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
- A vast network of professionals in the Greater Reading business community
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Powerful Reporting & Analytics
Reporting and analytics are critical to understanding information and insights into program benefits. TuitionManager’s reporting tool allows administrators to report on every data field within the system. Access to this information allows administrators to extract meaningful insights regarding their tuition reimbursement program, which can be used to better understand and improve the benefit and participation.
Danielle appreciates being able to build reports as needed to obtain the information that she needs for her leadership team. “My senior leadership team asked for reporting on all of our tuition programs. Because our health system is growing, they were looking to extend the tuition benefits to our new hospitals, and with that they needed the information from our current population, so it was easy for me to find,” recalled Danielle.
Employee Assistance Program Offers Many Benefits
Penn State offers many benefits to its employees, including a robust employee assistance program that provides workers with access to health care and work/life assistance.
Health Advocate is a free, confidential resource available to all benefits-eligible employees, their spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a variety of topics related to health advocacy and EAP+Work/Life.
Health Advocate provides assistance to employees in finding health care providers and second opinions, and even transferring medical records to new providers with an employees written consent. Help resolving medical billing issues with insurance companies and medical providers and tobacco cessation programs also are available. Employees can access estimates for specific procedures and receive assistance in getting the appropriate approvals for covered services.
In addition to assistance with health care needs, Health Advocate also offers an EAP+Work/Life program, which provides services such as short-term counseling and assistance in locating eldercare or in-home care for a family member. The program provides training to advance personal growth and professional developing, all of which can be accessed online through the Health Advocate website.
For more information about the Universitys EAP program, visit .
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Penn State Health Hiring Process
The hiring process at Penn State Health can vary in length depending on the position you are applying for. However, on average, the process takes about two weeks. The first step is to submit an online application, followed by a phone interview. If you are selected to move forward in the process, you will then have an in-person interview with a panel of Penn State Health employees. The difficulty of the interviews varies depending on the position you are applying for. However, overall, the interview process is relatively straightforward. The most important thing is to be prepared and to have a good understanding of your qualifications.
Member Spotlight: Cassandra Kitko Penn State
Cassandra Kitko, manager of Health Initiatives at Penn State was recently interviewed for the NCBHAC members spotlight series. Heres an inside look at the wellness initiative at her university.
As many people across the country know, Penn State is a sizable university, with a total students body of 95,973, including part-time students. Faculty, including adjunct and clinical number at approximately 6300. The total number of full-time staff is 18,925 part time is 8,604. Penn State has 24 commonwealth campuses and a county extension department. This includes an academic medical center, which is about a two-hour drive from its University Park campus.
From an administration perspective, Kitko feels university leaders, such as the president and provost, provide a moderate level of support for Penn States health and wellness initiative. Penn States faculty and staff wellness program, Health Matters, is located in Human Resources on the University Park campus. Kitko, known around campus as the person in charge of wellness initiatives, reports directly to the senior director of Employee Benefits. She works closely with campus partners to accomplish the wellness vision and missionpartners such as Faculty Senate, Presidents Council, Staff Advisory Council, Academic Leadership Council, College of Nursing, Hershey Medical Group, payroll and information systems. Penn States health plan and EAP are considered external partners.
Some of Penn States biggest successes include:
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Penn State Health Hourly Pay Rate
How much do Penn State Health employees Hourly make in the United States?
Penn State Health pays an average hourly rate of $115 and hourly wages range from a low of $101 to a high of $130. Individual pay rates will, of course, vary depending on the job, department, location, as well as the individual skills and education of each employee.
Penn State Health Employment Opportunities
Penn State Health offers a variety of careers for job seekers. You can search for what positions they currently have open from the Penn State Health Careers Page. Here are the descriptions of the three most common jobs Penn State Health hires for.
Medical Resident
Medical residents are doctors who have completed medical school but are still in training. They work under the supervision of senior doctors and learn how to diagnose and treat patients. Medical residents typically work long hours, often more than 80 hours per week.
To become a medical resident, you must first complete four years of medical school and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination .
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families. RNs typically have an associates degree or bachelors degree in nursing, although some RNs may have a diploma in nursing. RNs must be licensed to practice nursing in the state in which they work.
Fellow
A fellow is a medical doctor who has completed their residency and has gone on to complete an additional year or more of training in a specific area of medicine. Fellowships are available in many different medical specialty areas, such as cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics. Fellowships typically involve both clinical work and research.
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Penn State Health Job Openings And Hourly Range
Hourly pay ranges for the same job title may differ based on the location and the responsibilities, skills, experience, and other requirements for a specific job. To search for jobs in other locations, fill in the title and locations to begin your search.
Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center
- Network
- 500 University Dr Hershey, PA 17033
Points
40/40
The Non-Discrimination and Staff Training criteria represents the foundational policies and practices in providing LGBTQ+ inclusive patient centered care. These questions assess whether a facility has LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and whether the facility shares these policies with the public and its patients and staff. In order to most effectively implement these policies, we also require training for staff in LGBTQ+ inclusive care. All questions in this section are scored and must be met in order to receive full credit: up to 40 points.
Supports: Patient Non-Discrimination Policy is LGBTQ+ inclusive
Supports: Patient Non-Discrimination Policy is communicated
Visitation Non-Discrimination
Supports: Visitation Policy is LGBTQ+ inclusive
Supports: Visitation Policy is communicated
Employment Non-Discrimination
Supports: Employment Non-Discrimination Policy is LGBTQ+ inclusive
Supports: Employment Non-Discrimination Policy is communicated
Staff Training
Supports: LGBTQ+ staff training requirement was met
Supports: LGBTQ+ staff training options were communicated
Criteria 2
Points
30/30
Points
20/20
Supports: Employee Policies and Benefits
Transgender Inclusive Health Insurance
Supports: Provides at least one health plan that covers medically necessary services for transgender people, including gender transition-related treatment.
Criteria 4
Points
10/10
Points Deducted
No Penalty
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Important Update On 2022
In light of COVID-19, Penn State Health will be conducting all interviews virtually for the 2022-2023 residency and fellowship application cycles.
Interested applicants should review the To Apply section of the program of interest or contact the program for any additional questions regarding the interview process.
A Penn State Nittany Lion statue is seen in the courtyard of Penn State College of Medicine in Summer 2016. The statue is in focus toward the right side of the image. Out of focus in the background, green plants and trees are visible in the courtyard.
Time Savings & Operational Efficiency
Immediately, Penn State Health experienced a huge time savings in their process. The approval of an application took a fraction of the time it did with the manual paper process. Danielle commented that time saving was the biggest benefit of implementing TuitionManager and just how crucial that was for them. “The biggest benefit is time saving. Time. Time, time, time the thing that none of us have, but TuitionManager has just saved us,” recalled Danielle. This time saving meant that tuition administrators were capable of handling tuition reimbursement and their additional job responsibilities, even during the busy end of semester periods. It was a breath of fresh air for the administrators who were feeling overwhelmed and buried in paperwork.
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Penn State Health Company Overview
- WebSite:pennstatehealth.org
- Revenue:$200M – $500M
- Industry:Edu., Gov’t. & Nonprofit
- Related Companies: jcps adult continuing edu, mobile county public school system, kent state university, robert frost sixth grade academy, kctcs, aerio connect, diocese of pittsburgh, gcswc, universidad de puerto rico, macomb intermediate school district, district of columbia public schools, st michaels rectory
- Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across central Pennsylvania. The system includes Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pa., Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children’s Hospital, Penn State Cancer Institute, and Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital , based in Hershey, Pa., as well as more than 1,300 physicians and direct care providers at 78 medical office locations. The system also has jointly owned health care providers, including Hershey Outpatient Surg … ery Center, Hershey Endoscopy Center, Horizon Home Healthcare and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine, the University’s medical school.More