Defense Secretary Says Injured Troops Should Not Have to Battle Bureacracy to Receive Treatment

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that injured American troops should not have to battle outpatient bureaucracy to receive adequate medical treatment once they return home from war. Secretary Gates spoke at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Gates did not fault the medical personnel giving treatment, but rather said dedicated caseworkers are overwhelmed with work and work nights and weekends trying to keep up with the caseload. Gates made his comments after viewing repairs at the outpatient facility building 18, which had been in the news for maintenance and administrative problems. His comments were reported in a news release by the Armed Forces Press Service on the official website of the Defense Department, www.defenselink.mil.

"Like many Americans I was dismayed to learn this past week that some of our injured troops were not getting the best possible treatment at all stages of their treatment, in particularly their outpatient care," Gates said. "This is unacceptable, and it will not continue."

Gates said it is a good thing the problems have come to light, but bad they did not become apparent sooner.

The Defense Secretary said troops who put their lives on the line against a foreign enemey should "not have to battle American bureaucracy." He noted complaints involving outpatient care of poor living conditions, uncompleted maintenance work orders, and mix-ups and delays in personnel and recordkeeping systems.

According to Gates, an independent review group will review all the administrative and rehabilitative processes at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Its report will be issued in 45 days. Free and unrestricted access to the facilities will be given to the review group, according to the Defense Secretary.

The secretaries of the navy and army and the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs will receive a copy of the report the group will make. The findings will also be made public.