Welcome to the National Naval Medical Center – the Flagship of Navy Medicine. It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve you as the 37th Commander. NNMC is a world-renowned, state of the art healthcare institution. It is staffed by many of the world’s best-trained medical practitioners. As a patient, you can rest assured you are in outstanding, capable hands. We are the ‘‘President’s Hospital,” serving those who have worn the cloth of the Nation, their families and our Nation’s Leaders. We provide the same exceptional care to each and every person that enters our doors.

The National Naval Medical Center is committed to accommodating any local, national or worldwide need. We stand ready to assist whether it be conflicts like the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom; natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina; or world-wide humanitarian missions as in USNS COMFORT and MERCY deployments to the farthest corners of the globe.

We are dedicated to prevention and promoting wellness with high quality, patient-centered care. We believe that the patient’s family is vitally important in the healing and rehabilitation process. With a patient’s total health and wellness in mind, it is our objective to provide the best course of action for a fast and proper diagnosis, a well-laid plan for treatment, proper follow-up and rehabilitation when needed. Patients who choose us for care receive the best care available anywhere with personalized, family-oriented attention. We strive to understand you and your family’s unique needs so we can provide you the very best in care and support.

These are exciting times for Military Medicine. We are on a path to meet Congressionally-directed, full integration of Walter Reed Army Medical Center with us at Bethesda. We will become a united National Military Medical Center in 2011. The Deputy Secretary of Defense expanded the BRAC decision to the development of a world-class healthcare system in the National Capital Area. The three military medical centers and systems in this region will no longer operate in an independent fashion. They will, in collaboration with federal, public and civilian partners, work as a network of providers and component facilities bringing the very best in coordinated ambulatory and inpatient services to our population. As integration progresses, we will begin to see signs of construction on base to accommodate the expansion in care capability and service growth. However, we have made a promise! Our commitment to healthcare excellence will remain strong and at no time will the quality of our patient care be compromised. You can continue to rely on our same caring and superior service you have come to know and trust.

We will remain strongly committed to healthcare and readiness education and training. The National Naval Medical Center is a leader in graduate medical and health professional training like undergraduate medical education. Our integrated future will allow further improvements in our health professional education programs to meet the future needs of our patient population.

Because we are a Navy at war supporting a country engaged in a Global War, the National Naval Medical Center has been given the additional responsibility of caring for American’s fallen heroes. We are honored and proud to have the around-the-clock casualty care mission to restore the health, well-being, and function of our country’s courageous men and women. It will remain our top priority. They deserve nothing less than our absolute best for going into Harm’s Way and defending the freedoms and liberties this nation was founded on. It is also our pleasure to care for our Nation’s veterans who gave so much in past conflicts and for their families who always supported them. We gladly do this with respect and compassion.

As the Commander of the National Naval Medical Center, I commit our great institution to ensuring that you and your family members receive the best possible medical care available. I ask your patience and understanding as we expand and take on the challenges that lie ahead in the total integration of all military medicine in the Nation’s Capital Region centered right here at our National Naval Medical Center campus in Bethesda. I welcome your suggestions and thoughts on how we can improve to serve you and maintain our reputation as a world renowned, state of the art healthcare system ... the Flagship of Navy Medicine.

Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

R. R. JEFFRIES
RDML, MC, USN