Offer soldiers outside rehab

Re “A soldiers’ hospital’s duty,” editorial, March 13

Your excellent editorial points out that “Secretary Robert M. Gates has moved quickly. He formed an independent review group to examine the state of Walter Reed and other military hospitals.” The secretary’s action is both expected and commendable. But immediate steps are needed to provide the best possible treatment to the existing patient load and to those who may be wounded and need treatment while the independent group completes its review. Accordingly, to reduce existing facilities’ overloads, and because there are outstanding not-for-profit rehabilitation hospitals throughout the nation, immediate, temporary arrangements could be made by the Defense Department for continuing outpatient treatment to be provided in such hospitals.

BOB JORDAN

Ventura