Navy Surgeon General Thanks Personnel for Care Provided to Marines

From Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

TWENTY-NINE PALMS, Calif. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Surgeon General visited the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital Dec. 3., during his tour of Navy medical facilities that support the the Marine Corps in southern California.

Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr. toured the hospital, participated in a retirement ceremony, and spoke with command leadership where he discussed the history and importance of Navy Medicine's partnership with the Marine Corps.

"The bond that Navy Medicine shares with our Marines is like none other - it's sacred and unique," said Robinson. "When our Marines deploy, they know they will be well-cared for, from the battlefield to when they return home. We will follow the Marines into heaven or to the gates of hell."

The Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, located in the High Desert region of the Mojave Desert, is a tenant command on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in the city of Twentynine Palms.

The Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command conducts relevant live-fire combined arms training, urban operations, and joint/coalition level integration training that promotes operational forces readiness. The hospital is a state-of-the-art, 160,000 sq. ft. facility containing 22 beds, an Emergency Medical Department, four operating rooms, a new seven-bed Desert Beginnings Labor Delivery Recovery and Postpartum (LDRP) Unit, and a 15 bed multi-service ward (MSW) for inpatient care. A modern full-service pharmacy, laboratory, radiology departments and a physical therapy clinic are also available to beneficiaries.

Capt. Ann Bobeck, Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms commanding officer, said it is an honor to support the Marines mission.

"I am very proud of our staff here at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital," said Bobeck. "They work hard every day to deliver the best possible care to the Marines and their families here at Twentynine Palms, not to mention the many military retirees who live in the area."

During his visit, Robinson also highlighted his commitment to supporting force readiness and the importance of providing quality patient and family centered care.

"When our Sailors and Marines deploy, it is critical that they know their families will be well cared for in their absence," said Robinson. "This commitment by Navy Medicine not only brings peace of mind, but it supports force readiness as our war fighters can better focus on the job at hand."

During his tour of select Navy medial facilities in the area, Robinson also participated in the ground breaking ceremonies of the replacement Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton Dec 2.