The Administration has no qualms with relieving Military personnel.
The decision to remove Womack Army Medical Center’s commander came over Memorial Day weekend, after officials at the hospital’s higher headquarters learned a patient at the hospital died less than a week after another patient death.
Col. Robert Tenhet, commander of Northern Regional Medical Command, said the decision was made to preserve trust in the hospital and ensure patient safety.
Speaking from his offices at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Tenhet said the two deaths, coupled with an ongoing investigation, led to his decision to remove Col. Steven J. Brewster and suspend three of the hospital’s deputy commanders.
He also said further disciplinary action against former leadership couldn’t be ruled out until after several investigations were complete.
Womack is one of the Army’s largest hospitals. It has the largest emergency department and serves the largest population.
Tenhet said the hospital was already under investigation at the time of the deaths following an accreditation process that revealed shortcomings in Womack’s infection control procedures.
He said the deaths and the earlier accreditation issue are not related. And said the two deaths would be investigated by the hospital, with Northern Regional Medical Command overseeing the investigations.
Tenhet, who is set to be promoted to brigadier general, is a native of Spring Lake and has spent more than 13 years assigned to Fort Bragg units, including Womack.