Beaumont Army Hospital’s Commander temporarily suspended

A spokeswoman for William Beaumont Army Medical Center confirmed the hospital’s commander, Col. Erik G. Rude, was temporarily suspended Tuesday.

Officials said Rude will be placed on other duties outside the medical center while an investigation is conducted. WBAMC deputy commanding officer, Col. Christopher G. Linder, has assumed temporary command.

“I want patients and staff to know this suspension is not related to The Joint Commission survey in March 2018,” Regional Health Command-Central commanding general Maj. Gen Thomas R. Tempel Jr. said. “I remain very proud of the Beaumont team and know that, during this investigation, they will continue their focus on collaborating with TJC in our continuous improvement process. We remain committed to providing safe, high quality care to our soldiers, families and our retirees.”

The spokeswoman said the investigation will continue.

“I’m in the place I want to be,” Col. Rude told the El Paso Times in September, 2017 when he was assigned to WBAMC. “I got a big medical center command. That is what I wanted. Life couldn’t be better.”

Col. Rude is from Mesquite, Texas and called the assignment “a homecoming.”

Before WBAMC, his most recent assignment was Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., according to his bio.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.