LaGrone, Sam

From: Sent: To: Subject: Cara E. Philbin [CPhilbin@npr.org] Wednesday, August 24, 2011 16:32 Cara E. Philbin National Public Radio: Walter Reed Six-Part Series

Next week, NPRs Morning Edition and All Things Considered will air a six-part series centered on the closing of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Reports will focus on the controversy and intricacies involved in the historic medical centers closure, its legacy, and what lays ahead for Americas veterans. Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep and NPRs military and health correspondents will examine whether the fallout from the 2007 scandal involving substandard outpatient living conditions permanently affected Walter Reeds status as the Armys premiere medical center; the medical centers lesser known legacy as a leader in medical research; and how the shutdown fits into a larger base-closure initiative designed to save the military billions of dollars, despite initial cost projection skyrocketing to $2 billion more than originally forecast. Reports will also address how Washington, D.C. may reuse or develop the valuable property vacated by Walter Reed, and what quality of care will look like as the hospital is combined with the National Naval Medical Center to create one comprehensive facility in Maryland. Details about NPRs series are below. If you would like more information, or to speak with our editors about these reports, please let me know. Cara | Cara Philbin | Publicist, Media Relations | cphilbin@npr.org | 202.513.2757 | 978.660.3965 Walter Reed Six-Part Series NPR News: August 29-September 2 PLEASE NOTE: Broadcast schedule is subject to change. Morning Edition Walter Reed History Airing: August 29 Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep reports that as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center closes, patients will be moved to two separate facilities, one in Maryland and one in Virginia. What now lies ahead for the patients once treated at the Armys premiere medical center? What about all that empty land? Airing: August 30 Sabri Ben-Achour of member station WAMU, in Washington, D.C., reports on how the city will re-use the valuable property freed up by the move of the Army hospital. Among the plans being discussed is a new embassy row, as well as mixed office, housing and retail developments and ample green space. What happened after the Walter Reed scandal? Airing: August 31 NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman examines whether things have improved in the years since the 2007 scandal at Walter Reed, where outpatient troops were found living in very substandard conditions. Have things changed? All Things Considered Does closing Walter Reed save any money? Airing: August 31
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NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman reports on the shutdown as part of a large base-closure initiative designed to save the military billions of dollars. But the cost of closing Walter Reed is estimated to cost almost $2 billion more than originally forecast. Walter Reeds Leading Role in Infectious Disease Research Airing: September 1 NPR science and health correspondent Richard Knox looks at the legacy of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in medical research. Since its founding at the turn of the 20th century, Walter Reed has remained at the forefront of developing new treatments and vaccines, including a recent race to find a malaria vaccine. Quality of Care at the New Facilities Airing: September 2 NPR correspondent Joseph Shapiro takes a look at what kind of care troops can expect at the new facilities on the grounds of the Navy's facility in Maryland. Although combining two military hospitals could provide better care, its not easy to merge two.