Critical Shortcomings at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Create Doubt

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 98; no. 12; pp. 2159 - 2160
• Main Authors: BLUM, Nava, FEE, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Public Health Association 01-12-2008
• Subjects: Advisory Committees - history; Appointments & personnel changes; Armed forces; Biological and medical sciences; Disability; District of Columbia; Health Facility Closure - history; Health Planning Guidelines; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Hospitals; Hospitals, Military - history; Humans; Images of Health; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Iraq War-2003; Medical sciences; Medicine; Military personnel; Miscellaneous; National libraries; Occupational therapy; Post traumatic stress disorder; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Health Care - history; Rehabilitation Centers - history; Veterans; World War II; District of Columbia; Human; Medicine; Army; Center; Military environment; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.127407

The commission's report made six broad recommendations, including the creation of "recovery coordinators" to assist each seriously injured service member in navigating the heath care system, restructuring the disability and compensation systems, and improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.9 An independent review group appointed by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates submitted a report, Rebuilding the Trust, in April 2007 that concluded many elements had combined to create the "perfect storm" of resource mismanagement at Walter Reed.10 These elements included the decision of the BRAC to close Walter Reed, pressure to outsource traditional military service functions through A-76 (an Office of Management and Budget A-76 circular requires competitions with the private sector for many governmental positions), and military-to-civilian personnel conversions.