Why is Bethesda expanding and Walter Reed closing?
A. The proposed changes are the result of the BRAC recommendations, which became law on November 8, 2005. Specifically, the Medical Joint Cross-Service Group (JCSG) was chartered to review Department of Defense health care functions and to provide base closure and realignment (BRAC) recommendations based on that review. After review, their recommendation was to realign Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, by relocating all tertiary (sub-specialty and complex care) medical services to National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, establishing it as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD Military health care services in the National Capital Area will no longer operate in an independent fashion in order to maximize efficiency and support the war fighter. The vision for the future is an integrated health care delivery system acting as a network of health care providers and component facilities that provide and arrange coordinated ambulatory and inpatient
