About Walter Reed Army Medical Center - DCMilitary.com

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100 Years of Warrior Care 1909-2009 Walter Reed Army Medical Center has a significant history and reputation as one of the leading military medical facilities in the world. The story of Walter Reed as an institution began at the turn of the 20th century when Army and medical officials determined that the hospital at Washington Barracks (later Fort Leslie McNair) was unsuitable for medical treatment. The hospital commander, Maj. William C. Borden, envisioned a new medical facility with a hospital, the Army Medical Museum (1862), the Army Medical School (1893) and the Army's medical library located together. In 1905, Borden presented his proposal before the U. S. Congress and one congressman dismissed it as "Borden's Dream." The joke has now become part of the history at Walter Reed. Congress did appropriate the necessary funds for the hospital and the Army formally named it in honor of Maj. Walter Reed, a close friend and colleague of Borden. Forty-three acres were purchased for $100,000 in 1906, and construction on the new hospital and other buildings began in 1908. Borden's dream never fully materialized during his lifetime, but on May 1, 1909, the newly-designated Walter Reed U. S. Army General Hospital opened its doors to patients and began medical care. The original hospital building had 80-bed capacity, administrative offices and several wards, including a prison ward in the basement. In 1911, the nurses' quarters were constructed for a dozen female nurses. In 1917, dozens of wood structures were erected to manage the wounded and sick from World War I. The hospital and its wards had a bed capacity of 2,500. In fact, both World War I and World War II caused major changes, building phases and added more medical functions on the Walter Reed campus. In 1923, the Army moved its medical school to Walter Reed and also established the "Army Medical Center." Brig. Gen. James Glennan became the center's first commander while retaining command of the hospital. The command relationship of the commander overseeing both major entities continued even when on Sept. 13, 1951, the Army redesignated Walter Reed General Hospital as Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Eventually, the campus and garrison property would expand to 113 acres with dozens of buildings, military stores called "post exchanges" along with a theater, sports center and gyms, swimming pools, many wards and barracks for Soldiers. In recent times, outpatient care has become a major aspect especially with two Fishers Houses (1994 and 2004) and the Mologne House (1997) on Walter Reed's main installation that provide lodging for Soldiers and Families. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been treated at Walter Reed over the years. For example, in 1943 alone, 18,000 people were admitted. Some of the prominent patients were U.S. presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. General John Pershing lived on the third floor of the old hospital from 1941 until 1948 when he died. Others who received treatment here were Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Mark Clark and Norman Schwarzkopf just to name a few. Medical services and research were a key element with many important innovations and functions developed at Walter Reed. In 1953, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research was established and located with the Army Medical School. In 1955, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology moved on campus into Bldg. 54, which is one of the few atomic bomb proof structures ever built. Perhaps the most massive construction project was the new hospital complex, later named after Lt. Gen. Leonard Heaton, former Army Surgeon General and commander of Walter Reed from 1951 to 1959. Known today also as the Heaton Pavilion (Bldg. 2), groundbreaking for the main hospital was in 1972, and the dedication occurred Sept. 26, 1977. To clear the way for the new hospital and the park ellipse area that is over the patient parking garage, more than 30 buildings or structures were demolished. Walter Reed has always been an institution of the future, offering patients the latest medical and technological advances in health care. As a result of the Global War on Terrorism, Soldier and Family care have become significant areas of concern, especially with outpatient services and rehabilitation of injured Soldiers who want to remain in the military. In past conflicts such serious wounds would have caused these Soldiers to be discharged, yet now many of them can remain on active duty after training and rehabilitation. In 2007, the Warrior Transition Brigade and the Military Advanced Training Center opened to make this possible. (Walter Reed Army Medical Center History Center) “Home of Warior Care and So Much More” 3
North Atlantic Regional Medical Command The commanding general of Walter Reed Army Medical Center also serves as commander of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, which covers 21 of the northeastern United States plus the District of Columbia. NARMC is one of the Army's six regional medical commands and is responsible for about 25 percent of its patient load in the United States. It provides leadership, planning and support for approximately 40 Army hospitals and clinics, which provide day-to-day health care in its area. The regional headquarters coordinates medical readiness with 200 reserve-component units in the region, working through 22 Army National Guard state area commands and six Army Reserve regional support commands. It also provides health-care services in support of reserve-component training at 12 sites in the region. As leader of NARMC, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center commander is responsible for the regional command as well as for the Walter Reed installation. The commander also represents Walter Reed in the National Capital Area Military Medical Consortium. 4 “Home of Warior Care and So Much More”
Page 2 and 3: CONTENTS Welcome to Walter Reed is
Page 6 and 7: Walter Reed Health Care System The
Page 8 and 9: Principles of shared vision embrace
Page 10 and 11: Walter Reed at War Walter Reed supp
Page 12 and 13: Patient Care, Health Care Military
Page 14 and 15: quent diagnostic procedure is coron
Page 16 and 17: The Perioperative Nursing Section i
Page 18 and 19: The Blood Bank and Blood Donor Cent
Page 20 and 21: irth-month annual review services,
Page 22 and 23: The service’s Center for Refracti
Page 24 and 25: Clinical Education and Research Wal
Page 26 and 27: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Page 28 and 29: are located in California, Florida,
Page 30 and 31: ed fairly and are substantially the
Page 32 and 33: The Department of Ministry and Past
Page 34 and 35: Identification Card Section and DEE
Page 36 and 37: Vehicle Registration Please bring t
Page 38 and 39: nity resources that help individual
Page 40 and 41: to ensure fair treatment for milita
Page 42 and 43: Public Affairs Office The Public Af
Page 44 and 45: Recreational Services Karen Wagner
Page 46 and 47: of Heaton Pavilion, Bldg. 2, (main
Page 48 and 49: PX Hospital Store The PX Hospital S
Page 50 and 51: Surrounding Area The Washington Met
Page 52 and 53: Surrounding Area Take a taste of th
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Telephone Defense Switched Network
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Telephone Name Location Hours of Op
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