Medical Malpractice at
Lebanon VA Medical Center

Lebanon VA Medical Center is a key healthcare provider for veterans in south central Pennsylvania. It offers a full range of medical services with 180 beds and six outpatient clinics. The facility provides comprehensive medical care including surgical services, cardiology, cancer treatment, and mental health services to over 174,000 veterans annually.

Despite Lebanon VAMC's high care standards, medical errors and negligence can harm veterans who depend on these services. If medical malpractice occurs at this facility, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) gives veterans and their families the right to seek compensation for injuries.

The Archuleta Law Firm is led by a licensed attorney and medical doctor, bringing unique expertise to VA malpractice cases. Our deep understanding of both healthcare operations and federal tort law allows us to effectively evaluate and pursue claims against Lebanon VA Medical Center when standards of care are not met.

Lebanon VA Medical Center has been serving veterans for more than 70 years as part of Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (VISN 4). Located at 1700 South Lincoln Avenue in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, this teaching hospital maintains strong affiliations with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and operates with an annual budget exceeding $500 million.

The facility features 49 hospital beds, 76 community living center beds, and 55 beds dedicated to psychosocial residential rehabilitation treatment. In 2024, the medical center performed over 2,300 surgeries and handled nearly 590,000 outpatient visits, demonstrating its vital role in veteran healthcare delivery.

Lebanon VAMC extends its reach across nine Pennsylvania counties through outpatient clinics in Camp Hill, York, Reading, Lancaster, Pottsville, and Frackville. The facility provides comprehensive services including cardiology, oncology, neurology, mental health care, and specialized surgical procedures.

• Surgical Errors: Because the facility performs over 2,300 surgeries each year, errors can occur during pre-operative planning, surgery, or post-operative care. Common issues include wrong-site surgery, retained surgical instruments, and post-surgical infections. Learn more about surgical malpractice claims →

• Emergency Care Mistakes: The emergency department at Lebanon VAMC handles numerous acute cases daily. Errors often involve delayed treatment, misdiagnosis of serious conditions like heart attacks or strokes, or failure to properly triage veterans requiring immediate care. Learn about emergency room error claims →

• Diagnostic Failures: With extensive specialty services including cardiology and oncology, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Delayed or missed diagnoses of cancer, heart conditions, or neurological disorders can have devastating consequences. More about misdiagnosis claims →

• Medication Errors: The complexity of VA pharmacy systems and electronic health records can lead to medication mistakes. These errors include incorrect dosing, drug interactions, and administration mistakes, all of which can seriously harm veterans.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675), veterans must first file an administrative claim before pursuing a lawsuit for medical malpractice at Lebanon VA Medical Center. This involves submitting Standard Form 95 (SF-95) with detailed documentation of the negligent care and resulting damages.

The claim must be filed within two years of when you knew or should have known about the malpractice. Once submitted, the VA has six months to investigate and respond to your claim. If the VA denies your claim or fails to resolve it within six months, you have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For Lebanon VA Medical Center claims, the SF-95 should be submitted to the appropriate VA Regional Counsel office overseeing VISN 4 facilities. An experienced VA medical malpractice attorney will ensure proper filing and documentation of your claim within these strict deadlines.

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our comprehensive guide: How to File a VA Medical Malpractice Claim in Pennsylvania →

While Pennsylvania's Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act governs standard medical malpractice cases, FTCA claims against Lebanon VA Medical Center follow federal law. However, Pennsylvania's substantive medical malpractice laws still influence how negligence and causation are determined in FTCA cases.

For detailed information about how Pennsylvania law affects VA medical malpractice claims, visit our state guide: Military & VA Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania →

We also handle medical malpractice cases at these Pennsylvania facilities:

• Butler VA Medical Center (Butler) →
• Coatesville VA Medical Center (Coatesville) →
• Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (Philadelphia) →
• Erie VA Medical Center (Erie) →
• H. John Heinz III VA Medical Center (Pittsburgh) →

If you've experienced medical malpractice at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, you have the right to pursue a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). However, these cases have strict deadlines and specific requirements that you must follow to protect your rights.

Under the FTCA, you must file your administrative claim within two years from when you knew or should have known about the malpractice. This is done by submitting Standard Form 95 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once filed, the VA has six months to investigate and respond to your claim. If they deny your claim or fail to respond within six months, you then have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For VA medical malpractice cases involving the Lebanon VAMC, working with an attorney who is also a medical doctor can be crucial to your case's success. These doctor-attorneys understand both the complex medical issues and the specific legal requirements of FTCA claims. They can accurately evaluate your medical records, identify deviations from the standard of care, and effectively communicate how the VA's negligence caused your injuries.

Through an FTCA claim, you may be able to recover various types of damages. These can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. For veterans' surviving family members, damages may also include funeral expenses and loss of support. Unlike private medical malpractice cases, FTCA claims have no caps on damages in Pennsylvania.

If you or a family member received substandard care at the Lebanon VA Medical Center, you should have your case evaluated as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss any deadlines. Many attorneys who handle VA medical malpractice cases offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they win your case. During this consultation, they can review your medical records, explain your legal rights, and help you understand the strength of your potential claim against the VA.

Don't wait to seek help, as gathering medical evidence and expert opinions takes time. Contact an experienced FTCA attorney today to learn more about your options for pursuing justice and compensation.

We handle various types of VA and military medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania:

• Pennsylvania Surgical Errors Cases →
• Pennsylvania Emergency Room Errors Cases →
• Pennsylvania Brain Injury Cases →
• Pennsylvania Spinal Cord Injury Cases →
• Pennsylvania Misdiagnosis Cases →
• Pennsylvania Medication Errors Cases →