Health Highlights: March 4, 2007

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Congress Members Call for Swift Action to Fix Military Hospital Conditions

Conditions for treating veterans at the U.S. government's Walter Reed Army Medical Center dominated the Sunday television talk show circuit, a day before Congress convenes a series of hearings into what has caused deterioration of outpatient services.

TheAssociated Pressreports that lawmakers seem to be concerned about the physical condition not only at Walter Reed but also at government veteran treatment facilities across the country. "I'm worried about if it's this bad at the outpatient facilities at Walter Reed, how is it in the rest of the country? Because Walter Reed is our crown jewel," the wire service quotes Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., as saying.

Schumer has called on Defense Secretary Robert Gates to convene an independent commission, possibly headed by former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, to take a look at military medical facilities and suggest changes, the wire service reports.

News reports during the past two weeks have highlighted deteriorating conditions for Iraq veterans who were treated as outpatients. The physical plant at Walter Reed was filled with mold, cracking plaster on walls and ceilings, leaks and unsanitary conditions.

President Bush has ordered a complete review and there will be a bipartisan commission named, theA.P.reports. The commanding officer at Walter Reed and the Secretary of the Army have already resigned because of the revelations.

Congressional support appears to cross political party lines, based onA.P.'ssampling of Sunday morning talk shows:

Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan: "Almost no high-level people have ever been held accountable until Secretary Gates came along."

Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi: "Investigations are not always the best way to go, but I think we ought to do whatever's necessary."

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California: "He's [Secretary Gates] taken action, and not only low-level people but high-level people have been replaced, and I think that's welcome action."

Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra of Michigan: an "appalling situation. Hopefully they're putting in place the leadership that will make sure that our troops get exactly the kind of quality care that they make. The sooner they get focused on this, the better."