Before going to law school, I served as an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, where my MOS was 67B, health care administration. I was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, where I was the hospital administrator for the Community Medicine Division of the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.
I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to serve our country in the Army. Through that experience I learned firsthand how military hospitals work and saw know the unique challenges to providing health care in a military setting.
I made a list of all of the Army hospitals in the United States below. Each of these U.S. Army hospitals is tasked with the mission of providing health care to soldiers and their family members. At first glance, this seems straightforward enough.
Yet, at an Army, Navy, or Air Force hospital, the doctors and most of the nurses and techs are in uniform. That means that, in addition to the health care part of their jobs, they have extra soldier, sailor, marine or airman duties to fulfill.
For instance, I remember starting my day early or staying late to do PT with some doctors who needed to run off some weight, to get within the Army’s height/weight requirements. The junior officers also rotated acting command position for the enlisted personnel. I know that the noncommissioned officers had numerous duties not directly related to the provision of health care.
Sometimes that divided attention can lead to mistakes, like surgical complications, birth injuries, brain injuries, medication errors, missing a diagnosis and many others. And in a hospital setting, mistakes can lead to brain injury, paralysis or even death.
Another factor that can lead to negligent health care in an Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force hospital is the relative inexperience of the doctors. Many of the doctors enter active duty service to repay a scholarship obligation, which is typically four years.
Some doctors choose to serve 20 years and then retire from the military and move onto the civilian world. But many other doctors go on active duty right after finishing their residency training, serve four years, and then ETS and leave the military. Those doctors are early in their careers and are less experienced that more seasoned physicians.
Medical malpractice cases involving military hospitals are subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and are handled in federal courts, rather than on post or base. Our Texas-based medical malpractice attorneys are available to handle Army, Navy and Air Force hospital negligence cases nationwide.
If you or someone you care for has been injured or has died from care at any Army, Navy or Air Force hospital, call the experience medical malpractice attorneys at Painter Law Firm, at 281-580-8800, for a free, confidential evaluation of your potential case.
Army Hospitals
Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, at Ft. Polk, LA
Brooke Army Medical Center, at Ft. Sam Houston, TX
Carl R. Darnall Army Hospital, at Ft. Hood, TX
Evans Army Community Hospital, at Ft. Carson, CO
Irwin Army Community Hospital, at Ft. Riley, KS
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
Munson Army Health Center, at Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, at Ft. Huachuca, AZ
Reynolds Army Community Hospital, at Ft. Sill, OK
William Beaumont Army Medical Center, at Ft. Bliss, TX
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Ft. Belvoir, VA
Ireland Army Community Hospital, Ft. Knox, KY
Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, NY
McDonald Army Health Center, Ft. Eustis, VA
Womack Army Medical Center, Ft. Bragg, VA
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Ft. Campbell, KY
Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Ft. Gordon, GA
Martin Army Community Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA
Winn Army Community Hospital, Ft. Stewart, GA
Bassett Army Community Hospital, Ft. Wainwright, AK
Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA
Weed Army Community Hospital, Ft. Irwin, CA
