Reporting Episodes of Bias
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine do not tolerate nor support any biased, discriminatory or hateful statements, behaviors or interactions toward any individual or group based on their aspect of diversity.
On the rare occasion that an individual treats a member of our Penn State Health/College of Medicine community negatively, such as refusing to interact with that individual, the organization has resources available for support.
Reporting bias: For students and residents
Students who wish to report mistreatment may do so through the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment in the following ways:
- Call Dr. George Blackall, director, at 717-531-6148.
- Email gblackall@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
- Complete the online reporting form - note that this can be done fully anonymously, or students may choose to identify themselves to receive further support.
Reporting bias: For employees
For all employees
Employees may bring any mistreatment concerns to their supervisor, or use one of the following options:
- Penn State Health employees: Contact the HR Solution Center by calling 717-531-8440 or visiting the online Solution Center
- College of Medicine employees: Submit a concern via the WorkLion Inquiry System.
All employees can also raise issues through the Penn State Health Compliance Hotline at 800-560-1637 or pennstatehealth.org/hotline.
For medical care team members
Penn State Health’s values, driven by policy, prohibit bias or discrimination based on any aspect(s) of diversity. (See details here.)
Medical care team members who have received negative treatment from a patient or patient’s family member, including a patient’s request for a different provider based on an aspect of diversity, should bring this to the attention of their office manager, site manager, senior attending nurse or nurse manager.
Reporting bias: For patients
Patients who feel they have experienced negative interactions based on their aspect of diversity should contact the following:
- Related to care at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center or any Penn State Medical Group location, call Patient Relations at 717-531-6311.
- Related to care at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, call patient advocate Diana Santiago-Berry at 610-378-2675 or email her at dsantiagoberry@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
See the health system's full non-discrimination policy here.