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Admissions:
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If you are scheduled for inpatient treatment or evaluation, please report to: Admission and Disposition Office, Building 2 (main hospital), first floor, room IR01. It is open 24 hours daily. The main phone numbers are (202)782-6139 and (202)782-6140.
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Please bring proof of eligibility (such as your Department of Defense identification card) and your physician's order to admit you (DA Form 4256).
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Pre-Admission:
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If your doctor has told you that you need pre-admission, please report to Ambulatory Processing Center (APC), Building 2 (main hospital), sixth floor, Ward 66. They are open 0800 until 1700 hrs. Their telephone numbers are (202)782-1667 and (202)782-6632. The APC provides "one stop shopping" pre-admission services, including laboratory testing, anesthesia interviews, EKG, patient registration, third party insurance certification, nursing history and physical exam, and pre-operative teaching.
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You need to bring with you to the APC with the following items:
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Medical records.
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Military ID card.
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Hospital stamp plate (blue card).
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Third-party insurance card.
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History (SF504) and physical examination (SF506) forms.
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Doctor's Orders (DA Form 4256).
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The pre-admission process takes about two hours. If you cannot stay that long on the day you are sent to the APC, we will gladly make another appointment for you. You can do this anytime within 30 days before you are scheduled to be admitted to the hospital (except in special circumstances). But you must you must complete the pre-admission at least 72 hours before your scheduled admission.
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The APC provides short term recovery in the Short Stay Unit (Ward 66) for patients who undergo clinic procedures requiring conscious sedation. The SSU will also prepare the patient for discharge home. The SSU's main telephone number is (202)782-1666.
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If you have such a procedure, you will need a responsible adult with you to escort you home and acknowledge discharge instructions following the procedure. The SSU has a comfortable waiting area for family members, guests, and patients. Usually, you will be discharged to home after approximately one hour of recovery but the recovery for your procedure may require additional hours. The SSU staff will also give you a call the following day to ensure your recovery is going as anticipated and that you are not having any unexpected problems.
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What to Bring:
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We recommend you bring toiletries, reading material, writing materials and night clothes. Hospital pajamas, robes and slippers are furnished, but you may wear your own if you like. Towels and washcloths are provided. Do not bring a lot of personal items, as storage is very limited. If you have helping devices such as canes, walkers, or special wheelchairs, please bring them.
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What not to Bring:
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Money and valuables.You will be advised to deposit them in the hospital safe at Patient Administration when you are admitted. The hospital staff and the U.S. Government cannot be responsible for the loss or damage of valuables or funds that are not deposited. If you are having surgery, please leave all jewelry at home. For obvious reasons you are not allowed to wear it during surgery. You'll have a small wall locker to store your personal items in your room.
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Food.Certain foods may be prohibited by your condition or treatment. Your visitors should check with the nursing staff before bringing you any food or beverages.
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Outside Medications.Bring the medications you are currently taken, but when you arrive show them to the ward nurse and indicate the times you normally take them.
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Electrical Appliances.Plug-in electrical appliances such as televisions, tape players or hair dryers are not permitted, as most of them are not properly grounded and do not meet fire safety specifications. American Hospital Association guidelines allow only battery-powered appliances and electric shavers.
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Room Features:
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We have three types of rooms: private, semi-private and four-bed. Assignment is based on the medical conditions of the patients on your ward. Your bed is electrically operated with built-in switches to control its position. Your call light will be placed on your bed so you can notify the staff if you need them. At this time, the call light does not operate the television units. A staff member will explain all the bedside controls when you arrive. For safety reasons, please keep your bed in the low position at all times. Most beds have television units on a swing arm that you can adjust over your bed. There is an over-the-bed table, as well as a bedside table for such things as meals, writing, and specialized equipment required for your care. Most of these units are on wheels and they are delicate, so please do not use them for support.
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Telephones:
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Most rooms have a push-button telephone free of charge. Be sure to give callers the number on your telephone rather than the ward phone number. All patients in a room share the same phone, so please be considerate and limit your calls as needed. Please encourage your callers not to call before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
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You may make local calls from your room; please ask your nurse how to do this. You can usually make official calls on the Defense Switched Network (DSN) system from the ward, with staff authorization.
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Bathrooms:
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Each room has its own bathroom and shower. Bathtubs are available on each ward. There are two emergency call bells in each bathroom. Know where they are, and don't hesitate to call for assistance.
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Release Of Information:
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Medical information from your records cannot be released without your written consent. If you want any information released to your family physician, employer, insurance company or other agency, be sure to ask Patient Administration to help you fill out the proper forms. Please do not ask the nursing staff to make copies of your records.
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Visitors:
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Visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Generally, our policies allow for clinical staff rounds and morning care to take place before visitors arrive. We ask that the you have no more than two visitors at a time in your room. Each ward has a lounge for patients and visitors. Children under 12 are generally not allowed on the ward for the protection of both the patients and the child. If you are an ambulatory patient, you may visit with your children in the lobbies on the first and second floors.
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Visiting hours may also depend on your condition and whether or not you are in a private room. Please ask a member of the nursing staff if you have questions. Intensive care or special care units may have different policies, so be sure to check with the staffs of those wards for specifics.
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Identification Bracelets:
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On admission, you will receive an identification bracelet. Please keep it on at all times. It is to be removed and returned to the staff only upon discharge. If you find the writing on it has worn off, please ask your nurse to replace it.
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Availability to Receive Medicines:
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At specific times each day, the staff will bring medicines your doctor has prescribed. Please plan to be on your ward at medication times.
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Professional Rounds:
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Physicians and nurses periodically make group visits around the ward to review the status of all patients. These visits are called "rounds" and may include a large number of staff members who are involved in your care. Because this is a large teaching hospital, you might be seen by a variety of different people including medical students, residents, nursing students, staff nurses, dietitians and staff physicians. This team effort helps enhance the quality of care you receive and to provide experience to doctors in training. Check with your doctors and nurses to learn when they routinely make rounds. To make it easier for you, you may want to jot down questions you may have regarding your care so that you can remember to ask your doctors next time they come around.
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Mail:
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The mail is delivered to the ward Monday to Friday. Your address at Walter Reed will be:
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Name (Rank)
Ward Number
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave. N.W
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
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Leaving the Ward:
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Whenever you are able, and have your doctor's permission, it helps your recovery if you get out of bed and move around. If you would like to leave the unit, please ask one of the nurses and sign out in the log book on your ward. This allows the staff to locate you if needed.
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Leave and Absences:
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Convalescent leave, eating at home, and authorized absences must be recommended by your physician, and - in the case of "unit convalescent leave (CVL)" - approved by your command. Please keep in mind that such leaves or absences depend on your condition and sound medical management.
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Going Home:
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Before you leave, check around your room carefully for personal belongings. Your nurse will give you information on other stops to make, such as Patient Administration or the pharmacy. Please be sure to check with the nursing staff before you leave. They will give you discharge instructions and be sure you understand what you need to know to help your recovery, and also how to recognize the signs of any problems and when to contact the doctor.
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Medical Records:
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The Outpatient Records Office is located in Building 2 (main hospital), first floor, room IR09. It is open from 0800 until 1630 hrs, Monday through Friday. The main phone numbers are (202)782-6160 and (202)782-6161. Your military medical records are the property of the U.S. Government. We must have them available so we can give you proper medical care, especially in case of an emergency. If you need your records for an appointment at another facility, please get them during regular working hours on the day before your appointment. You must present your ID card to check out your records.
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Third Party Collection Program:
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The Third-Party Collection Program is located in Building 1, second floor, room B-230. It is open from 0800 until 1630 hrs, Monday through Friday. The main phone numbers are:
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Inpatient Section, (202)782-0432 and (202)782-0433, and
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Outpatient Section, (202)782-9281, (202)782-9282 and (202)782-9283.
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If you are a family member or a retiree and have health insurance, we must bill your insurance company for health care we provide to you. The government absorbs any co-payment fees or deductibles, and these count toward your insurance deductible. This can help you save on future civilian care. Active duty personnel are exempt from this program.
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