Lebanon VA Medical Center

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is a time to learn about the support and resources VA has for military sexual trauma (MST) survivors.

Year-round, VA helps MST survivors of all backgrounds.
Learn more: https://mentalhealth.va.gov/SAAPM

04/28/2026

We often think of our bodies and minds as separate, but common statements such as “gut feeling,” “stress headache,” or “butterflies in my stomach” acknowledge the connection. It is helpful to notice the connection between your body and mind so you can use each to support the other. By calming your mind, you can calm your body and allow it to function better. You can notice this by taking calming breaths to decrease feelings of stress or by doing guided meditation to decrease your heart rate. Your Whole Health includes all of you – working together with mindful awareness to guide you to an optimal state.

Mindful Awareness is simple. Not easy, but simple! Jon Kabat-Zinn (founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School) calls it “living your life as if it really matters.”
What do we do when something really matters to us? We pay attention to it. While mindfulness can be practiced in many ways, the goal is to live our day-to-day lives while paying attention and being present. If you are washing the dishes, keep your mind on washing the dishes, if you are talking to someone, stay there. It’s easy to time travel to a conversation this morning or to an activity tonight and to walk your body around the world without your mind. Like driving and texting, it is unlikely to go well.

Be kind to yourself. When you notice that your mind is not with your body, gently bring it back to the present state. Your task in a moment may be processing the past or planning for the future. If your task is washing dishes, notice the water, the soap, the towel. Allow yourself to have the restful experience of doing one thing at a time. You may be surprised at how much more manageable life is one moment at a time, taking things as they come.

Learning to calm your mind takes practice. What is most beneficial for one person may not be the preferred method for another. The series has a variety of short videos you can use to explore and practice power of the mind activities.

04/27/2026

During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, we say “Thank YOU” to the behind the scenes professionals who serve Veterans every day. Visitors to the Lebanon VA Medical Center might be surprised to learn that behind the walls of the 1945 building is a state-of-the-art laboratory humming with robotic analyzers, digital imaging systems and real-time diagnostic tools.

When a decision was made to upgrade the lab, laboratory staff, in keeping with their commitment to Veterans receiving the best possible care, visited other locations across Pennsylvania to find cost-effective ways to improve their testing processes. Their efforts led to upgrades that increased both the accuracy and speed of results.

The new technology works like a charm. Blood specimen tubes, which receive a barcode label as they are collected, are placed on a track. The machine automatically uncaps and tests a specimen using artificial intelligence (AI) assistance. Then, it re-seals the tube and places it in a refrigerator. When the sample reaches its expiration date, the system discards it automatically. This process not only boosts efficiency and accuracy but also reinforces the laboratory’s commitment to preventing the spread of infection.

If the system cannot complete a task, it alerts staff and sends the specimen to an “alert lane” for review. Staff inspects it and reprocesses it as needed. Time-sensitive tests are flagged by their barcodes and processed immediately.
In the tissue sampling area, specimens are converted into digital images so they can be viewed more closely on a screen, analyzed with AI support and stored electronically. These images allow specialized pathologists, either on-site or at another location, to review and diagnose cases more accurately and efficiently. Later this year, additional equipment will allow up to 540 specimens to be viewed at one time for comparison and analysis.

“Our priority is always to provide Veterans with the highest level of service,” said Jeanne Capparell, Laboratory Manager. “The lease for this new equipment includes maintenance and upgrades every five years and ensures we can deliver advanced, reliable care.” The upgrades in the laboratory reflect the VA Lebanon Healthcare System’s ongoing commitment to delivering the high-quality, state-of-the-art services Veterans deserve.

Shown in the photo are Dr. Irene Ibanez-Manlapez, Chief of Pathology, Jeanne Capparell, Laboratory Manager and Dean Balthas, Lead Clinical Lab Scientist.

04/27/2026

As we begin Patient Experience Week, we remind everyone: Veterans, Staff, Families, Caregivers and Survivors, the Veteran is at the heart of everything we do. Veterans deserve their journey to be easy, effective, and emotionally resonant to build trust while providing timely access to world-class health care and earned benefits.

This video shares the journey of a Veteran when she connects with VA. The Veteran is at the heart of everything we do. Veterans deserve their journey to be e...

04/27/2026

Caring and confidential support for Veterans is available 24/7. No matter what you’re going through, you can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by call, chat, or text.

04/27/2026

Add more plants and real food to your plate! Eating more vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, and seeds supports your health and the earth. Let’s grow a greener future together! Talk with your VA dietitian to discover plant-based meal ideas. https://www.nutrition.va.gov/NUTRITION/Recipes.asp

04/24/2026

For 80 years, volunteers have impacted Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors. To join the 27,825 volunteers visit www.volunteer.va.gov.

04/23/2026

Let’s give a thunderous applause to Russell Sattazahn who recently turned 100. The WWII rifleman lost his right hand to an artillery shell near the end of the war. Pvt Sattazahn’s unit was rushing across an open field in Belgium, when they came under a coordinated attack of sniper, machine gun and artillery fire. The Schaefferstown native, who was the only male in his high school graduating class of 17, jumped into an artillery hole with another infantryman. After they caught their breath, they ran into a farmhouse and took refuge in the basement with 8-12 other troops. The house sustained a direct hit causing multiple casualties among the Big Red One Division soldiers. Sattazahn laid there all night pinned beneath the rubble. When he was dug out, he asked the medic to cut off the two remaining fingers on his right hand. The medic refused until a lieutenant ordered him to do it. The ambulances were full, so the life-long Lebanon native was lifted onto the hood of a jeep and driven to a MASH unit where his wounds were treated before being shipped to Paris and then the Valley Forge Military Hospital. Sattazahn spent his 19th birthday in the hospital. Eventually, the decorated soldier made his living working at the RCA plant in Lancaster, first as a mechanic and later as a dispatcher. Looking back more the 80 years, the optimistic and humble gentleman said, “I’m proud I did my duty for my country. I don’t like when people call me a hero. The real heroes never came home. I didn’t realize I could get into the VA. It’s really great! I really like it there. I’ve been blessed. I made up my mind not to worry about what I couldn’t do. I played golf and even hung wall paper,” he says with a chuckle. “I’ve got a good family and don’t want for anything.” Thank you Russ. YOU are an inspiration!
NOTE: Pvt Sattazahn was inducted into the Order of Leopold by the Belgium government for exemplary courage and service. He is being presented a certificate of recognition by VISN 4 Acting Chief Nursing Officer, Ashley Klick.

04/23/2026

Whether you’re looking for clinical care, counseling, or assistance with benefits, the Veterans Crisis Line Resource Locator tool can connect you to local support: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/find-resources/local-resources/

04/22/2026

Thank you to ALL of the volunteers who give of themselves and their time to guarantee the Veterans of South-Central Pennsylvania know they are valued and appreciated. So are the Volunteers!! We can’t post all the photos from our appreciation luncheon last week but here’s a sampling of those with the most hours. If you’re interested in joining the volunteer ranks of those who are serving Veterans, please call 717-228-6123.

04/22/2026

VA’s Million Veteran Program helps researchers study how genes affect health, leading to discoveries that can save lives and improve care. MVP research focuses on areas such as mental health, cancer, tinnitus, and military exposures—and you can help. Join today at http://www.mvp.va.gov?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=share_story&utm_campaign=editorial_apr2026&utm_term=April2026 or call 866-441-6075.