Tessa Quinn
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 until its closure in 2011. The hospital was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. In 2005, the Department of Defense proposed replacing WRAMC with a new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland, combining it with the National Naval Medical Center. The end of operations at WRAMC occurred on 27 August 2011, and the new WRNMMC was inaugurated on 14 September 2011.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed in 2011 |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Years of Operation | 1909-2011 |
| Size | 113 acres, 5,500 rooms |
| Function | U.S. Army's flagship medical center |
| Named After | Walter Reed, U.S. Army physician and Major |
| Reason for Closure | Cost-cutting measure, substandard living conditions for wounded troops |
| Replacement | Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) |
| Location of WRNMMC | Bethesda, Maryland |
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What You'll Learn
Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) closed in 2011
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), formerly known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH), was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 until its closure in 2011. The center was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Over the years, the medical center grew from a bed capacity of 80 patients to approximately 5,500 rooms covering more than 28 acres (11 ha) of floor space. It served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
In 2005, as part of a Base Realignment and Closure announcement, the Department of Defense proposed replacing WRAMC with a new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. This proposal was part of a program to transform medical facilities into joint facilities, with staff including Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel. The transfer of services from WRAMC to the new facilities was gradual to ensure continuity of care for the thousands of service members, retirees, and family members who depended on WRAMC.
On August 27, 2011, WRAMC officially ceased operations, and its services were consolidated with Bethesda Naval Medical Center and a hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The new WRNMMC combines the former WRAMC with the National Naval Medical Center, providing medical care for military personnel, veterans, and their families. The historic buildings of the old WRAMC campus are being redeveloped as The Parks at Walter Reed.
The closure of WRAMC in 2011 marked the end of an era for the renowned military medical center. The hospital had a rich history, serving troops from World War I to the war in Afghanistan. It was also associated with notable figures in military medicine, including Walter Reed himself, who made significant contributions to the understanding of yellow fever. The closure was a result of cost-cutting measures and a plan to consolidate operations, ensuring continued care for those who served and their families.
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WRAMC merged with the National Naval Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and the Bethesda Navy National Medical Center (NNMC) merged under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 2005. The merger was overseen by the Office of Integration (OI), which was formed in November 2005. The goal of the merger was to create a single tri-service medical center, a large tri-service hospital in Northern Virginia, and 20 area clinics. The new, combined facility would be staffed by Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel and become the core of an integrated military medicine system in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The merger was more than just a joining of two medical institutions; it was a melding of two historical rivals. To accomplish this challenging task, a three-point plan was laid out by Harvard professor John Kotter. The plan called for three actions:
- Establish a sense of urgency: All parties involved must understand that the only choices are to change or not survive.
- Form a powerful guiding coalition: This aspect of the merger was particularly challenging due to frequent command turnover and staff rotations in the military. Civilian consultants were hired to help the Army and Navy leadership communicate and smooth out their clashing leadership styles.
- Establish the brand: The name of the new hospital was an early point of contention.
The transfer of services from the existing facilities to the new, combined facility was gradual to allow for continuity of care for the thousands of service members, retirees, and family members who depended on WRAMC. The end of operations at the WRAMC facility occurred on 27 August 2011, and on 14 September 2011, the NNMC was rechristened the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The WRNMMC continues to provide all the services previously offered by the NNMC and WRAMC and serves as the location of the headquarters for the National Capital Region Medical Directorate, a tri-service task force providing command and control for most medical treatment facilities in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey.
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The new facility is named Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC)
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the flagship medical center of the U.S. Army from 1909 to 2011. The center was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Over the years, the medical care at the facility expanded from a bed capacity of 80 patients to approximately 5,500 rooms covering more than 28 acres of floor space.
In 2011, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center combined with the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The new facility is named Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The decision to merge the two centers was made in 2005 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure announcement, with the goal of transforming medical facilities into joint facilities and reducing costs. The transfer of services was gradual to ensure continuity of care for the thousands of service members, retirees, and family members who depended on WRAMC.
WRNMMC is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the United States, providing medical care for several U.S. presidents since its opening in 1940. It has served as the primary facility for the medical care of presidents and their families, including President Lyndon B. Johnson during his presidency. The medical center includes a presidential office suite with a sitting room, kitchen, conference room, hospital bedroom, and an office for the White House Chief of Staff.
The grounds and historic buildings of the old Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus are being redeveloped as The Parks at Walter Reed, preserving the history of the site. The legacy of Walter Reed and the medical center that bore his name continue to be remembered and honored, even as the physical location undergoes transformation.
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WRNMMC is located in Bethesda, Maryland
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. It was named after U.S. Army physician and Major Walter Reed, who led the team that confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. The center served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
In 2011, WRAMC combined with the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). WRNMMC is located in Bethesda, Maryland, and is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the United States. It is accessible by the Medical Center station on the Washington Metro's Red Line.
The merger of WRAMC and NNMC was overseen by the Office of Integration (OI), which was formed in November 2005 following the Base Realignment and Closure recommendations. The combined facility is staffed by Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel, creating a joint medical facility as part of an integrated military medicine system in the National Capital Region (NCR). The goal of the merger was to reduce government spending on maintaining old buildings.
WRNMMC continues to provide all the services previously offered by NNMC and WRAMC, serving members of the military, veterans, and their families. It serves as the headquarters for the National Capital Region Medical Directorate, providing command and control for most medical treatment facilities in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey.
WRNMMC has a long history of providing medical care for United States presidents since its opening in 1940. President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a key role in its establishment, and it has been used by subsequent presidents for their medical care and that of their families. The center includes a presidential office suite with a sitting room, kitchen, conference room, hospital bedroom, and an office for the White House Chief of Staff.
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WRAMC was named after U.S. Army physician and Major Walter Reed
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) was named after U.S. Army physician and Major Walter Reed. Reed was a pioneering researcher who, in 1901, led a team that confirmed Cuban doctor Carlos Finlay's theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact. This discovery was a significant advancement in the fields of epidemiology and biomedicine, and it allowed for the resumption and completion of work on the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914.
Born on September 13, 1851, in Gloucester, Virginia, Reed joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps to pursue professional opportunities and gain financial security. He passed a challenging thirty-hour examination in 1875, and the army enlisted him as an assistant surgeon. Over the next sixteen years, Reed was assigned to various outposts, where he provided medical care to American military personnel, their dependents, and Native American tribes, including several hundred Apaches.
The health clinic that would become WRAMC was used to train physicians, corpsmen, and nurses in military healthcare beginning in the 1890s. In 1909, the hospital became a separate command and relocated to a new 65-bed facility in Washington, D.C. This facility, known as WRAMC, served as the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011.
WRAMC was located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., and it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The center grew significantly over the years, expanding from an initial capacity of 80 beds to approximately 5,500 rooms covering 28 acres of floor space.
In 2005, the Department of Defense proposed replacing WRAMC with a new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. This proposal was part of a program to transform medical facilities into joint facilities, with staff including Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel. The transfer of services from WRAMC to the new WRNMMC began in 2005 and was gradual to ensure continuity of care for the thousands of service members, retirees, and family members who depended on WRAMC. WRAMC officially ceased operations on August 27, 2011, and the new WRNMMC became fully operational, continuing to provide the same level of care and services as its predecessor.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) is not in operation anymore. It was closed in 2011.
The hospital was shut down as a cost-cutting measure. The government voted to close the hospital and consolidate its operations with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and a hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was replaced by the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The WRNMMC is a tri-service medical center that combines the former WRAMC with the National Naval Medical Center.
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is located in Bethesda, Maryland, on the grounds of the former National Naval Medical Center. It is about seven miles from the previous WRAMC location in Washington, D.C.
