Military Health System Struggles Revealed Through Naval Hospital Bremerton Shortages
Naval Hospital Bremerton, located in Kitsap County, Washington, is grappling with chronic medical staffing shortages that have been exacerbated by directives from the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to reduce critical staff. These staffing shortages have been a concern for local politicians, military officials, and the hospital's community for some time.
In 2021, the hospital's emergency department was downgraded to an urgent care clinic, and since then, the lone physician has left, resulting in about 700 retirees and veterans being transferred to civilian medical facilities across Kitsap County. This situation has led to concerns being raised by Sen. Patty Murray, who has urged for steps to be taken to fix the issues at Naval Hospital Bremerton. She has stated that it is a readiness issue, a retention issue, and personal for these families.
By February 2025, the hospital's internal medicine department was operating with just one physician for 2,200 patients, and by 2024, the hospital was struggling to provide access to primary care, mental health services, and maternal health. Thousands of service members and their families lack on-base health care at Naval Hospital Bremerton. In response to these issues, Sen. Murray has written a letter to the then-acting DHA Director expressing concerns about disruptions in care, logistical barriers, and difficulties in specialized care coordination due to the reassignment of patients.
The chronic shortages at Naval Hospital Bremerton cannot be explained by routine military processes like retirement and permanent change-of-station orders. These staffing shortages reflect broader issues within the military health system, with bases nationwide reporting shortages of physicians and nurses, longer wait times for care, and increasing reliance on civilian providers since DHA assumed management of all military treatment facilities.
In an effort to address these issues, Dr. Stephen Ferrara, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, recently visited Naval Hospital Bremerton. His visit highlights the awareness of the challenges faced by the hospital and reflects efforts to acknowledge and potentially address these systemic issues. Dr. Ferrara expressed optimism and conviction, suggesting that the hospital is adapting by doing "more with less," which might involve innovative operational strategies to maintain efficiency.
Addressing these systemic problems would require comprehensive reforms and investments in healthcare infrastructure and staffing. The Naval Hospital's struggles reflect the broader challenges within the military health system, and addressing these issues would require a multifaceted approach that includes both short-term operational adjustments and long-term systemic reforms.
While not directly addressing staffing shortages, Naval Hospital Bremerton's emergency manager emphasizes the importance of emergency planning, which could help in managing crisis situations caused by shortages. Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby has echoed Sen. Patty Murray's concerns about challenges with the Defense Health Agency (DHA).
The Department of Health and Human Services designated Kitsap County as a "high-risk" and "health shortage area" in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for action to address the staffing shortages at Naval Hospital Bremerton and ensure that service members and their families have access to the healthcare they need.
In 2025, the federal workforce at Naval Hospital Bremerton's internal medicine department was operating with just one physician for 2,200 patients, indicating a drastic reduction in the workforce that needs to be reimagined. Sen. Patty Murray has proposed addressing these issues through comprehensive reforms and investments in healthcare infrastructure and staffing, acknowledging the impact of medical-conditions and health-and-wellness on service members and their families.
