My first trip to Hershey Medical Center was quite interesting. As many of you probably know, this is now the med school for Penn State University. As a current PSU fan, it is kind of exciting to see every one walking around on Fridays with their PSU attire. I thought that LGH was a big hospital, no way! This is a giant facility with many options for patients and students to learn and study medicine.
The first trip I took, I met my doctor at 30 Hope Drive. It took me close to a half-hour of riding around the campus and the use of two GPS. I am not sure the plural of GPS as it is kind of a new thing. I finally found the building and parked. I walked into the building and suddenly realized that I had no idea where I was supposed to go. I asked for assistance and was on my way. Even though I was on my way, I still did not have any idea of where I was going. I looked down this very long hall and saw all these letters hanging from the ceiling. I had to find X-ray. I quickly learned, with more assistance, that the X-ray department was located under the X hanging in the hall. Everyone was very nice and accommodating, which was good since as usual, I was clueless. The equipment in the X-ray room was all Kodak and looked very new and very modern. I stood in positions I had never stood in for knee X-rays so that they could get some good angles.
When I was finished with X-rays, I had to find my doctor, Dr. Mason. I had to find the M hanging from the ceiling to find Dr. Mason (are you seeing the pattern here?). Dr. Mason’s nurse was a lovely woman and quite funny. She took all my vitals and discovered I was alive. When she concluded the vitals and the history, She told me that Dr. Mason would be in very soon, and then she left the room. Dr. Mason entered the exam room and greeted me with a big smile and a hand-shake. I am guessing that he is probably in his late 30’s early 40’s. Dr. Mason immediately went to look at the X-rays and had all kinds of problems with the computer! It was really funny to watch him really struggling with technology just like the rest of us do from time to tome. But as he looked through the X-ray he started to see things I had never seen in all the other X-rays from before. He recommended some blood work be done and a CT scan and then reconvening once all the facts were in.
When my appointment was finished, I had to negotiate my way out of the building. Eventually I had to ask for help again, because I was walking in circles. Once I had assistance again, I discovered that I was close to exiting the maze. When I walked out of the hallway, I walked right into one of the pediatric sections. This was amazing with all the bright colors and toys, as well as the workers all dressed in brightly colored scrubs. I really understood now why PSU is so involved in pediatric medicine.
Since Dr. Mason prescribed some blood work. I decided that I would get this done on the campus while I was there. Thankfully I found that building with more ease than I had found the other building. Again, the people were so nice and accommodating. It did not take very long to have my blood drawn, and when I was finished I went back to the woman at the check-in desk. She gave me directions on how to exit the campus and my visit was over.
Today I went back to radiology. I felt like a “deer in the headlights” when I drove onto campus. This time I had a map and specific directions and no GPS. I ended up over by the Exercise Center. I had to sit in the parking lot for a while to figure out where I wanted to go. I was relieved that I arrived on campus about 40 minutes a head of time!so that I did not have to hurry. I ended up parking at the top of the parking lot and started wondering how I was going to walk down to where I was supposed to be. I was supposed to look for the Cancer Center as I knew where that was. When i got out of my car, I saw two shuttles and hoped that I could catch a ride down to the Cancer Center. I lucked out, because one of the vans sitting there was able to take me to the Cancer Center. Upon arriving at the Cancer Center I found my way to the long hallway where an elevator was located to take me to Radiology. When I got to the elevators, I kept looking around trying to figure out where I was supposed to go next. I know I had the “deer in the headlights” look again. I had just figured out where I was going when one of the staff members asked if I needed help (figures right?). I found my way down to radiology, checked in and began playing bubble shooter. My appt. was at 10:45 for a CT Scan. A technician came out to get me and lead me back to the scanner. The scanner was donut shaped and was decorated with all kinds of kiddie stickers. Once again, I get how important pediatric medicine is at PSU. I was finished with my scan before 10:45 and was on my way again. I finally saw where the most important things in the entire hospital were located. That would be the Starbucks and the gift shop. I also got to see the kind of merchandise they sell in the gift shop. Of course there were lots of PSU “stuff.” It was probably good that I have little money to spend on “things” because I know I would have gone to Starbucks and then to the gift shop :-) The money they make in the gift shop goes back into the hospital to use for projects in the hospital.
I walked back outside and stood at the wrong bus stop. Thankfully a really nice bus driver said she looked at me standing there with the “deer in the headlights” look and then decided to see if I would figure it out and walk down to the actual bus stop. Yes, I figured that one out! She told me I had parked in the best place because I was steps from the shuttle. We had a great conversation on the way up to my car including what it was like to drive around the campus and how long it takes to figure out where everything is located!
I got in my car and started to head out. Of course it took a while to realize that I was headed towards a dead end road. Yes, I ended up at a dead end so I had to turn around and head back. On the way back I saw a sign that directed me to the highway, and in no time I was back on the main road headed towards home. I have to go back up one more time (at least) next week to see if Dr. Mason has a clue about my knee.
I can tell you that despite the confusion and size of the campus, I have been really impressed with the facility. This was the first time I went to a medical facility where I felt like they could fix just about anything wrong with me and if they couldn’t, they would sure give it a good try.
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