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New beginning in Bethesda as military hospitals merge

In August, the last patients were transferred from the closing Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the Bethesda National Military Medical Center.

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Lance Cpl. Matias Ferreira, left, and Lance Cpl. Josh Misienicz, go through exercises at the Military Amputee Treatment Center within the newly added America Building at the National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. The complex will be renamed the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center closes and many of the services and patients are moved to the Bethesda facility.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Louise Hassinger works on an above-the-knee prosthesis for cycling within the America Building at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. The prosthetic lab has double the capacity for making artificial limbs as the former lab at Walter Reed.

Louise Hassinger works on an above-the-knee prosthesis for cycling within the America Building at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. The prosthetic lab has double the capacity for making artificial limbs as the former lab at Walter Reed.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

A newly added portion of the Arrowhead Building at the Bethesda site, the U.S. military’s largest medical center.

A newly added portion of the Arrowhead Building at the Bethesda site, the U.S. military’s largest medical center.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

This center became the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of a larger consolidation of military medicine in the Washington area stemming from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision to shutter Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the District.

This center became the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of a larger consolidation of military medicine in the Washington area stemming from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision to shutter Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the District.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sgt. Maj. Ray Mackey, after going through exercises at the amputee treatment center. Mackey, who lost two legs in Afghanistan, said some of the troops who have been at Walter Reed are “a little apprehensive” about the move. But he said concerns have been allayed since their arrival at Bethesda. “Everybody’s really impressed with the facility,” he said.

Sgt. Maj. Ray Mackey, after going through exercises at the amputee treatment center. Mackey, who lost two legs in Afghanistan, said some of the troops who have been at Walter Reed are “a little apprehensive” about the move. But he said concerns have been allayed since their arrival at Bethesda. “Everybody’s really impressed with the facility,” he said.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Cpl. Matt Bowman, left, Gunnery Sgt. John Hayes, center, and Cpl. Tyler Southern work out at the amputee treatment center.

Cpl. Matt Bowman, left, Gunnery Sgt. John Hayes, center, and Cpl. Tyler Southern work out at the amputee treatment center.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Men walk down the hallway of a newly added portion of the Arrowhead Building. The number of patient visits at Bethesda is expected to jump from 600,000 per year to around 1 million.

Men walk down the hallway of a newly added portion of the Arrowhead Building. The number of patient visits at Bethesda is expected to jump from 600,000 per year to around 1 million.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Doug Craig, left, eats lunch with his son, Maj. Jon Craig, at the Warrior Cafe in the newly added Tranquility Hall at the Bethesda facility. Tranquility Hall, a new wounded-warrior barracks, has 153 two-bedroom suites, equipped with kitchenettes, laundry machines, computers and flat-screen televisions.

Doug Craig, left, eats lunch with his son, Maj. Jon Craig, at the Warrior Cafe in the newly added Tranquility Hall at the Bethesda facility. Tranquility Hall, a new wounded-warrior barracks, has 153 two-bedroom suites, equipped with kitchenettes, laundry machines, computers and flat-screen televisions.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Lance Cpl. Josh Misienicz, left, takes a break as Lance Cpl. Matias Ferreira undergoes physical therapy at the amputee center.

Lance Cpl. Josh Misienicz, left, takes a break as Lance Cpl. Matias Ferreira undergoes physical therapy at the amputee center.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Ferreira and Misienicz take a short break from physical therapy. Merging two hospitals with storied histories and deep institutional cultures has not been easy. “This is a historic transformation, given that these are two icons of military medicine,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan, the commander at Bethesda.“You can imagine the brand loyalty at Walter Reed and Bethesda.”

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Lance Cpl. James Boucher traverses the America Building. The 515,000-square-foot building, constructed on a parking lot north of the Bethesda facility’s iconic tower, is the largest out-patient medical facility. Its corridors are already crowded with doctors and patients

Lance Cpl. James Boucher traverses the America Building. The 515,000-square-foot building, constructed on a parking lot north of the Bethesda facility’s iconic tower, is the largest out-patient medical facility. Its corridors are already crowded with doctors and patients

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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