In the wake of a scandal over poor treatment of wounded soldiers, Army officials have announced plans to change the way the Walter Reed Medical Center is managed. As expected, the Army brass have named a physician, Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, to serve as commander of the military hospital. But the Army also plans to put a non-medical general as deputy commander of the hospital to oversee administrative affairs, tasked with making sure the hospital doesn't fail in its obligation to provide good outpatient treatment.
Taking a completely new direction, meanwhile, Army brass are creating a "Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade," a new unit tasked with taking care of outpatients which will be headed by an infantry officer fresh from Iraq. In addition, the Army leaders are refurbishing Building 18, a facility where outpatients stay, responding to complaints that the facility was in disrepair, dingy and dogged by mold and cockroaches.
To learn more about the situation at Walter Reed:
- read this article [1] from the Washington Post
Related Articles:
Walter Reed officials knew about problems. Report [2]
Panel votes to close Walter Reed Medical Center. Report [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/03/AR2007030301414.html
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/walter-reed-officials-knew-about-problems/2007-03-02
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/panel-votes-to-close-walter-reed-medical-center/2005-08-25