Noteboom The Law Firm

How Will Care Look at the New Walter Reed National Military Medical Center?

Walter Reed Army Hospital, open for more than 100 years, will reopen as the Water Reed National Military Medical Center. The new hospital will be located 6 miles away from its present site in Bethesda, Maryland, which is where the Navy's flagship medical campus is located.

There is much more going into this move than just relocating a hospital while continuing to treat veterans disability issues. The new hospital will be a merging of the best from the Army and the Navy cultures in one joint effort to provide the best possible care for soldiers and veterans.

Authorities say the combined effort between the two branches will use the latest technology to provide the finest care. One of the highlights of the new facility is its state-of-the-art operating rooms. All the equipment is attached to booms, which are then attached to the ceiling. This design makes it possible to bring in "more high-tech equipment on a moment's notice," which makes it safer for patients undergoing surgery.

Two years ago, however, the Defense Health Board (DHB), which is a military run office, issued a "scathing report" focusing on the multiple "shortcomings" the National Military Medical Center faced based on the proposed design. At the time, there were issues between the Army and Navy personnel on the smallest and most basic of issues.

The criticisms by the DHB led to many improvements, but not every criticism can be addressed. For instance, there are still fewer of the large operating rooms than were originally planned. Further, private rooms for patients do not exist.

How did this happen? Congress upped its standards while the project was already underway (by requiring such things as private rooms) but did not provide the money with which to meet those new standards.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.