Fort Gordon, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) — For the first time, Defense Health Agency officials are now publicly confirming what the future of Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon could look like.
In a statement released Monday morning, DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin K. Via said Congress has been notified of the Department of War’s intent to transition Eisenhower Army Medical Center to an Ambulatory Care Center.
According to the statement, that transition would include the permanent closure of inpatient care, except for the hospital’s Residential Treatment Facility. It also says the operating rooms would be maintained for outpatient surgery and that the emergency room would transition to an urgent care center.
That means DHA is now officially confirming a major downgrade of services at Eisenhower — though some details in Monday’s statement differ from a government document 12 On Your Side first reported on Friday.
The full DHA statement
DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin K. Via issued the following statement Monday morning:
“To sustain the critical skills of our military medical personnel, while assuring safe quality and timely access to care for our warfighters and all beneficiaries, the Department of War notified Congress of the intent to transition Eisenhower Army Medical Center (AMC) to an Ambulatory Care Center. The notification listed services scheduled to permanently close, including inpatient care (except for our Residential Treatment Facility). The operating rooms will be maintained for outpatient surgery, and the Emergency Room will transition to an Urgent Care Center. We will continually evaluate all services identified for closure and leverage our strong partnerships between our managed care support contractor and civilian hospitals in the local network.
We understand health care changes are personal, and the Department of War and Eisenhower AMC do not make these decisions lightly. Because we are prioritizing the continuity of high-quality care, we are engaged in a robust planning process to finalize the timeline and the deliberate actions required for a smooth transition. We will provide timely, transparent updates so our beneficiaries know exactly what to expect.
The recent decision to divert critical care patients to civilian network facilities is not related to these Service Change Requests. We will continue to work locally and with the Defense Health Agency to maintain services until the Service Change Requests are fully implemented.”
Earlier coverage:
What DHA is confirming — and what stands out
This is the clearest acknowledgment yet from DHA that Eisenhower is being slated for a major reduction in services.
If carried out as described Monday, Eisenhower would no longer function as a full inpatient hospital.
Instead, it would be transitioned into an ambulatory care center, with inpatient care ending except for the Residential Treatment Facility, outpatient surgery continuing, and the emergency room becoming an urgent care center.
One major point in the statement: DHA is now expressly saying the recent diversion of inpatient critical care patients is not related to these service change requests.
That matches what the hospital told 12 On Your Side last week, when officials said the inpatient critical care diversion was due to staffing shortages and was separate from the congressional service change process.
How this compares with what 12 On Your Side first reported Friday
Last week, 12 On Your Side reviewed a newly surfaced government document that appeared to lay out a sweeping plan for Eisenhower’s future.
That document appeared to call for the hospital to be converted from an inpatient hospital to an outpatient ambulatory care center.
It also appeared to say inpatient, operating room and emergency room services would be discontinued.
Monday’s DHA statement now confirms that a transition to an ambulatory care center is indeed being pursued.
However, the statement adds new detail: rather than eliminating operating rooms entirely, DHA says they would be maintained for outpatient surgery, and rather than simply ending ER services, the emergency room would transition to an urgent care center.
Why this matters
Until now, the public paper trail in this story had largely consisted of letters from members of Congress asking questions about reported cuts.
12 On Your Side first broke this story in November, when reports surfaced of possible cuts at Eisenhower. Those reported cuts included ending inpatient care, along with reported changes to the emergency room and operating room.
At the time, Sen. Jon Ossoff opened an inquiry asking the Defense Health Agency about those reported reductions. His November letter said Eisenhower serves 30,000 to 40,000 people, operates as a teaching hospital with 80 residents, and employs about 1,500 people total.
In December, the hospital’s chief told employees that “specific, congressionally approved decisions involving our operations have not been determined or announced.”
In January, Sen. Ossoff said a new provision in the National Defense Authorization Act increased oversight of efforts to downsize military medical facilities by requiring leaders to evaluate effects on military readiness and explain how care would be provided if hospitals were cut.
Then in March, Rep. Rick Allen told 12 On Your Side that after touring the hospital and meeting with leadership it was apparent to him cutbacks had been happening.
He also said one of the key unanswered questions was whether the changes were tied to a hiring and funding shortfall.
Now, for the first time, DHA is officially acknowledging the broader plan.
What remains unclear
Even with this new statement, major questions remain, including:
when the transition will beginhow quickly changes will happenwhether Congress could delay, modify or stop the planwhat this means for hospital staffand how military families, retirees and other beneficiaries will be affected
DHA said Monday that officials are engaged in a planning process to finalize the timeline and the actions needed for what it described as a smooth transition. But no specific implementation date was included in the statement.
12 On Your Side has previously been told that, absent any change through congressional action, implementation could begin as soon as Sept. 1.
12 On Your Side has also been told the residency program at Eisenhower is expected to end at the end of this month, though that has not yet been confirmed on the record in writing by DHA.
Is it a done deal?
While DHA officials are confirming its intent to cut core serves at the hospital and transition it to an Ambulatory Care Center, this does not appear to be a done deal yet.
It does appear that Congress could have the final say and could possibly make changes to this plan.
12 On Your Side has also been told that, absent any change through congressional action, implementation could begin as soon as September 1, so if you would like to make your voice heard about these plans, it appears now is the time to do so.
Key elected officials contacts
Georgia
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff
Augusta office: One Tenth Street, Suite 660, Augusta, GA 30901Phone: (706) 261-5031Washington office: (202) 224-3521
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock
Atlanta office: 201 17th Street NW, Suite 530, Atlanta, GA 30363Phone: (770) 694-7828Washington office: (202) 224-3643
U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12)
Augusta district office: 2743 Perimeter Parkway, Building 200, Suite 105, Augusta, GA 30909Phone: (706) 228-1980Washington office: (202) 225-2823
South Carolina
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham
Midlands office: 2142 Boyce Street, Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29201Phone: (803) 933-0112Washington office: (202) 224-5972
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
Midlands office: 1901 Main Street, Suite 1425, Columbia, SC 29201Phone: (803) 771-6112Washington office: (202) 224-6121
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02, includes Aiken County)
Aiken/Barnwell office: 1930 University Parkway, Suite 1600, Aiken, SC 29801Phone: (803) 642-6416Washington office: (202) 225-2452
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