The Infonet Hershey Medical Center serves as the foundational intranet gateway for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center employees, researchers, and clinical staff. It functions as the secure digital hub for internal communications, clinical resources, HR management, and operational workflows.
Understanding the Infonet Hershey Medical Center Ecosystem
The Infonet is built specifically to support the complex infrastructure of a major academic medical center. Unlike public-facing patient portals such as Penn State Health Patient Secure Access, the Infonet is an internal enterprise environment. It consolidates disparate clinical, administrative, and educational systems into a single sign-on (SSO) ecosystem.
For staff members, navigating this network is essential for daily clinical operations, regulatory compliance training, payroll verification, and interdepartmental collaboration. Understanding its architecture ensures that healthcare providers and administrative personnel can retrieve vital policies and patient care directives without unnecessary administrative friction.
Core Functions of the Internal Intranet
Internal portals within academic healthcare institutions generally carry significant structural responsibilities. The Infonet manages several critical categories of operational data:
- Clinical Policies and Procedures: Direct access to up-to-date hospital bylaws, nursing protocols, infection control guidelines, and pharmacy formularies.
- Human Resources Management: Integration with employment records, benefits enrollment tools, time-off requests, and internal job postings.
- Administrative Communications: Real-time leadership announcements, institutional safety alerts, organizational charts, and academic department updates.
- Research and Grant Support: Resources for Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, clinical trial protocols, and compliance documentation.
Technical Prerequisites and Secure Network Access Requirements
Accessing the Infonet Hershey Medical Center portal requires adherence to strict cybersecurity protocols. Because the platform houses sensitive internal data, employee records, and operational policies, Penn State Health enforces multi-factor authentication (MFA) and network boundary controls.
| Access Environment | Connection Requirement | Authentication Protocol | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-Campus Workstation | Direct hospital LAN / Secure Wi-Fi | Active Directory Credentials | Standard daily clinical documentation and floor operations |
| Remote Access (External) | Official Virtual Private Network (VPN) | Credentials + Duo Multi-Factor Authentication | Off-site chart review, remote administration, and telework |
| Mobile Access | Approved Enterprise Mobile Device | MDM Profile + Biometric Verification | Urgent administrative notifications and emergency alerts |
Troubleshooting Common Connection Barriers
When staff members encounter issues loading the Infonet, the root cause is usually tied to authentication timeouts or outdated browser caches. Resolving these challenges quickly prevents workflow disruption.
Network Access Best Practices Always verify that your Duo Mobile application is updated to the latest version before attempting remote login. If the portal displays a certificate warning, clear your browser cache or switch from unsupported legacy browsers to modern enterprise-approved builds like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Avoid accessing the internal network through unverified public Wi-Fi access points without an active VPN tunnel.
Step-by-Step Guide to Logging In and Navigating the Dashboard
For new staff members or clinical rotators, locating the correct entry point and organizing the dashboard requires a structured approach. Follow these procedural steps to establish your workspace.
- Verify Network Status: Ensure you are either connected to the secure internal hospital network or have successfully initiated the enterprise VPN client.
- Navigate to the Gateway: Open your browser and go to the official internal URL designated for the Hershey Medical Center Infonet.
- Enter Credentials: Input your assigned Penn State Health enterprise username and password when prompted by the identity provider screen.
- Complete Multi-Factor Authentication: Approve the login prompt via your registered Duo device (push notification, hardware token, or passcode).
- Customize Your Dashboard: Once the landing page loads, utilize the personalization widgets to pin frequently used clinical links, departmental pages, and HR tools to your primary view.
Maximizing Clinical and Administrative Efficiency on the Infonet
Efficiency within an academic medical center depends on the rapid retrieval of institutional knowledge. The Infonet features a robust internal search engine powered by enterprise indexing, allowing users to locate specific medical directives within seconds.
Staff members should leverage the alphabetical directory and departmental landing pages rather than relying solely on global keyword searches. For example, nursing staff searching for infusion protocols will achieve faster results by navigating directly through the Department of Nursing's pinned resources rather than sorting through generalized search returns. Furthermore, keeping bookmark folders updated within your browser for frequently accessed sub-pages minimizes navigation time during high-acuity shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Infonet Hershey Medical Center
How do I access the Infonet Hershey Medical Center from home?
Remote access requires an active enterprise VPN connection and a verified multi-factor authentication method such as Duo Mobile. You cannot access the internal network through standard public internet browsers without first establishing these secure credentials.
What should I do if my Penn State Health login credentials expire?
Password resets must be managed through the official enterprise identity management portal or by contacting the internal IT Service Desk. Never share your credentials or attempt to bypass security protocols.
Is the Infonet used for patient record management?
No. Patient health records, charting, and direct clinical documentation are managed through the organization's Electronic Health Record (EHR) system rather than the internal administrative Infonet portal.
Who should I contact for technical support regarding broken links or access errors?
Technical inquiries, permission requests, and bug reports should be submitted to the internal IT Help Desk via the ticketing portal or by calling the designated hospital IT support extension.
Can medical students and external researchers access the Infonet?
Access is strictly provisioned based on active institutional affiliation, active role-based credentials, and completion of mandatory compliance training programs overseen by Penn State Health administration.
Practical Recommendation for Enterprise Users
To maintain uninterrupted access to critical operational updates, make it a habit to check the Infonet landing page at the start of every shift. Reviewing institutional announcements and safety alerts ensures full alignment with Penn State Health operational standards, regulatory updates, and clinical guidelines throughout 2026 and beyond.
