Secure Areas In Walter Reed Hospital: What We Know

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), formerly known as the National Naval Medical Center, is a large and prominent military medical center in Bethesda, Maryland. The center, which was established in 1940, has provided medical care for several US presidents and their families. It is known to have secure areas, such as the Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit (METU) Suite, a secured and autonomous ward within the complex where presidents and vice presidents are routinely treated. The center also includes a presidential office suite controlled by the White House.

The METU Suite is a secure ward for presidents and vice presidents

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is a United States military medical center located in Bethesda, Maryland. It is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the country and has provided medical care for several US presidents since its opening in 1940. The center was formed by the merger of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in 2011.

The METU Suite (Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit) is a secure ward within the WRNMMC complex. The ward is controlled by the White House and provides medical care for presidents and vice presidents. The suite includes a sitting room, kitchen, conference room, hospital bedroom, and an office for the White House Chief of Staff. The METU Suite is a self-contained and secure ward, ensuring the privacy and security of the country's leaders during their medical treatments.

The WRNMMC has undergone extensive renovations and expansions over the years, including the construction of new buildings, inpatient and outpatient facilities, and staff parking garages. The center offers a wide range of services, including addiction treatment, surgery, dental care, and infectious disease treatment. The complex also includes a memorial auditorium and a neonatal ICU. The WRNMMC is committed to maintaining world-class standards and complying with federal criteria and strategies developed by the US government.

The METU Suite, as a secure ward, plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of the country's leaders. It provides specialized medical care and privacy for presidents and vice presidents, allowing them to receive treatment and recover in a secure and autonomous environment. The suite's proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it a convenient and preferred choice for ongoing medical care for the country's leaders and their immediate families.

The security and autonomy of the METU Suite are essential to maintaining the confidentiality of the president's and vice president's medical conditions. The White House maintains control over the ward, ensuring that the medical needs of the country's leaders are met with the utmost discretion and privacy. The suite's design and location within the WRNMMC complex contribute to its secure nature, allowing for the safe passage of patients and staff while also facilitating the necessary operations and treatments.

The White House controls the presidential office suite

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is a United States military medical center located in Bethesda, Maryland. It is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the United States and has provided medical care for several US presidents since its opening in 1940. The center includes a presidential office suite that is controlled by the White House, not the US Department of Defense. The suite includes a sitting room, kitchen, conference room, hospital bedroom, and an office for the White House Chief of Staff.

The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The White House Chief of Staff, who is also the head of the EOP, oversees the political and policy interests of the president and manages the White House staff system. The staff work for and report directly to the president and are chosen by the president. They are based in the West Wing and East Wing of the White House, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and the New Executive Office Building.

The White House Office is organized according to the wishes of each incumbent president, and the president enjoys a great deal of discretion in how it is organized. The staff includes assistants, deputy assistants, and special assistants to the president, with roles such as faith director of the White House Faith Office, senior policy strategist, and senior advisor for policy for economic affairs.

The Executive Residence of the White House includes several rooms on the second floor, such as the Lincoln Bedroom, Lincoln Sitting Room, Queens' Bedroom, Queens' Sitting Room, Treaty Room, and Yellow Oval Room. Some of these rooms are used for official entertaining, while others are reserved for private use. The western half of the second floor contains family rooms, a kitchen, and the President's Dining Room, which the president can redecorate or revise architecturally at their discretion.

The Walter Reed Health Care System provides comprehensive healthcare for over 150,000 soldiers

The Walter Reed Health Care System, officially known as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), provides comprehensive healthcare for over 150,000 soldiers and their families. It is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centres in the United States. The centre is named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who made significant contributions to the understanding of yellow fever.

The history of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center dates back to the late 19th century, when it served as an Army General Hospital and a training ground for military medical personnel. In 1907, construction began on the Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH), which opened its doors to patients in 1909. Over time, the medical centre expanded, and by 1951, it was officially renamed the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

In 2011, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center underwent a significant transformation. It merged with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. This merger was part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, aiming to create a joint-services medical facility under the command of the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical. The combined facility is staffed by Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel, offering a wide range of services, including addiction treatment, surgical support, dental care, and critical care medicine.

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has played a crucial role in providing medical care for U.S. presidents and their families. It includes a presidential office suite, separate from the control of the U.S. Department of Defense, and a secured and autonomous ward, the Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit (METU), dedicated to presidential and vice-presidential care. The centre has treated presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, catering to their specific medical needs.

The Walter Reed Health Care System continues to expand and renovate its facilities to meet the evolving healthcare needs of military personnel and their families. With its rich history, dedicated staff, and commitment to innovation, the system stands as a testament to the nation's dedication to providing comprehensive healthcare for those who serve.

The hospital has a seven-story, 500-bed inpatient facility

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is a large and prominent military medical centre in the US. It was formed in 2011 through the merger of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC). The WRNMMC is located in Bethesda, Maryland, and serves as a medical facility for active and retired military personnel and their families.

The history of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center dates back to the late 19th century when it was used as an Army General Hospital. In 1907, construction began on what would become Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH), and the first patients were admitted in 1909. Over time, the medical care at the facility expanded, and it served as the U.S. Army's flagship medical centre from 1909 to 2011.

In 1975, an extensive renovation of the WRAMC took place, which included the construction of Building 10, a seven-story, 500-bed inpatient facility. This addition contributed to the medical centre's size and capacity, making it one of the largest medical facilities in the nation. The building has a combined area of more than 880,000 square feet, providing a significant amount of space for patient care and related services.

The seven-story inpatient facility is an integral part of the WRNMMC, offering comprehensive healthcare services to military service members, veterans, and their families. The facility's multiple floors allow for efficient patient accommodation and provide a range of specialised services, ensuring that a diverse range of medical needs can be addressed under one roof. The size and capacity of the building contribute to the overall capability of the medical centre to serve a large number of patients and to provide advanced medical care.

The 500 beds available in the inpatient facility enhance the hospital's capacity to admit and treat patients requiring overnight or extended stays. This is particularly crucial for addressing the healthcare needs of the military community, including active-duty personnel, veterans, and their families. The facility's scale enables the efficient management of patient flow, ensuring that individuals receive timely and appropriate care, whether for acute or long-term medical issues.

The White House appoints a physician for the US president's care

The White House physician is the formal title of the physician chosen by the President of the United States to be their personal physician. The position of White House physician is often selected personally by the president, and most White House doctors are active-duty military officers. The White House physician has an office inside the White House and can enter the Oval Office or Executive Residence at any time. The physician is responsible for managing comprehensive medical care for the president, the vice president, the president's immediate family, the vice president's family, and providing medical support to ensure the continuity of the presidency. The White House physician also provides medical care to visitors to the White House, international dignitaries, and other guests of the president.

Presley Marion Rixey, a medical inspector in the United States Navy, was the first individual to serve in a full-time capacity as a physician to the president beginning in 1901. However, the title "White House Physician" was not used until created by an act of Congress in 1928. Since Roosevelt, most presidents have used a military hospital close to Washington, D.C., either Bethesda or Walter Reed AMC, as the primary facility for their medical care and that of their family. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is a United States military medical center located in Bethesda, Maryland, and is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the country. The medical center includes a presidential office suite that is controlled by the White House and includes a sitting room, kitchen, conference room, hospital bedroom, and an office for the White House Chief of Staff. Presidents and vice presidents are routinely treated at the Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit or METU Suite, which is a secured and autonomous ward within the complex.

In recent years, the White House physician has been Kevin C. O'Connor, a retired U.S. Army colonel who served under President Joe Biden. O'Connor was replaced by Sean Barbabella on March 7, 2025. O'Connor's predecessor was Sean Conley, who served as the White House physician under President Donald Trump.

Frequently asked questions