Ask Patch: Who Will Have Access to the New Hospital on Fort Belvoir?

Last week we asked who would have access to the new hospital on Fort Belvoir. and between one of hour readers we pretty much nailed it on the spot. 

Dave said:

"If you're Department of Defense or retired military, you get access to it the way you currently do at DeWitt. There is a difference in clinics, that the new hospital will have more services available, but the clientele will stay exactly as it is now. There is an agreement in place that emergency patients can be treated at the new hospital only if the ambulance can't get to Inova Mt. Vernon quickly enough, but even then just to stabilize them, and then to send them on."

Basically, what it boils down to, is if you sustained a life threatening emergency and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital was the nearest hospital, you could go there with the expectation you will be treated. But considering you would have to drive onto the base and pass through security, if you're in a situation where every second counts, going to Inova Mt. Vernon would probably be the more timely choice.

In terms of regular doctor's appointments, those doctors are available to active and retired military and their families, according to Charles Widener of the hospital's public affairs office.