Articles

Feb. 26, 2021

Mobile medics leverage virtual health to aid military trainees with COVID

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Service members with COVID-19 may be in quarantine, but they are far from being alone. A new virtual health program is leveraging technology to provide round-the-clock care for military trainees who tested positive or who are deemed at risk due to exposure or symptoms. “This has been a tremendous collaborative effort between Brooke Army Medical Center, the Virtual Medical Center and the Army Medical Center of Excellence to provide medical support to Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors,” said Army Maj. Daniel Yourk, deputy director of operations, Virtual Medical Center.

Feb. 19, 2021

Army hospital powers through record-breaking winter storms

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON — With record-cold temperatures and potential power outages looming in South Central Texas earlier this week, Brooke Army Medical Center immediately launched into action to ensure continuity of patient care despite the impending storms. With safety at the forefront and to conserve resources, BAMC first delayed all non-urgent medical appointments and procedures to ensure emergency services and trauma support to the city remained unaffected. This measure enabled patients and non-emergency-essential staff to stay off icy roads and safely at home.

Feb. 11, 2021

SAMHS Centralizes COVID Screening and Testing at BAMC

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas — To preserve clinic access and maximize resources, the San Antonio Military Health System is centralizing COVID-19 screening and testing to a single location at Brooke Army Medical Center on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. Effective noon on Friday, February 12, the sites at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and Randolph Clinic will close after 11 months in operation, and BAMC will become the sole screening and testing location within SAMHS. BAMC’s site, located in the first floor of the parking garage, is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. As a reminder, the site will be closed Monday, February 15, for the Presidents Day holiday, but will resume normal operations on Tuesday, February 16. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we continue to modify services based on current conditions. Please continue to do your part to slow the spread of this virus, remember the 3 Ws: wear a face covering, wash your hands or hand sanitize regularly and watch your physical distancing. That is the best way to preserve the health of our patients and staff.

Feb. 3, 2021

Fort Sam Houston Community Pharmacy relocates to new Exchange

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The Fort Sam Houston Community Pharmacy has moved into the new Army and Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) located at 2500 Funston Road on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the contact number remains the same: 210-295-9965. A virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m. on the Brooke Army Medical Center Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BrookeArmyMedicalCenter).

Feb. 2, 2021

BAMC Behavioral Health interns honor fallen colleagues

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — A group of Soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center recently honored some of their fallen colleagues by holding a pre-dawn 2 mile memorial road march on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. The BAMC Psychology and Social Work interns and residents partnered with their counterparts from Desmond T. Doss Health Clinic, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to honor 13 Soldiers who were killed in action during wartime operations.

Jan. 28, 2021

San Antonio Military Health System starts next phase of COVID vaccine rollout

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The San Antonio Military Health System is starting the next phase of the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout -- expanding the scope of who is eligible to get vaccinated against the virus. Phase 1b includes beneficiaries age 75 and older, personnel who perform critical national capabilities, personnel preparing to deploy to locations outside of the U.S., and frontline essential workers.

Jan. 26, 2021

Gladiator program helps ensure student medics’ readiness

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Once they complete basic training, Army medics receive an array of training to ensure they are ready to deploy around the world at a moment’s notice. The new Gladiator program, which was initiated by the Soldiers in Training Physical Therapy Clinic on Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, is designed to improve the physical readiness of Soldier medics throughout their training. “Gladiator begins with initial screening by senior drill sergeants, identifying Soldiers who need a physical therapy evaluation for new or lingering injuries from Basic Combat Training,” said Army Maj. Nicole Brown, the officer in charge of Outpatient Physical Therapy at the Capt. Jennifer Moreno Clinic on JBSA Fort Sam Houston. “Soldier medics are then either medically cleared or placed into the new Gladiator program where they take part in rehabilitative physical training.”

Jan. 21, 2021

BAMC celebrates MLK with virtual presentation

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Brooke Army Medical Center honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a live virtual presentation on BAMC’s Facebook page Jan. 14. The Baptist minister and activist became the spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.

Jan. 11, 2021

BAMC to transfer new pediatric patients needing inpatient care to preserve COVID efforts

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — With the ongoing threat of the pandemic and to preserve resources and staffing, Brooke Army Medical Center will transfer new pediatric patients needing inpatient care to local children’s hospitals at this time. “We are taking this additional precautionary measure to ensure our healthcare professionals are poised to support an increased need for COVID-19 care for our service members and families,” said Air Force Col. Patrick Osborn, San Antonio Military Health System Surgeon-in-Chief and BAMC’s Deputy Commander for Surgical Services.

Jan. 11, 2021

BAMC first baby a breath of fresh air for 2021

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — After a long and arduous 2020, marked by one of the worst pandemics in history, Brooke Army Medical Center welcomed some good news with the birth of Stella Luna Nolasco, Jan 1, at 3:26 a.m. The new parents, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Ojeda-Nolasco, a C5 aviation research manager at Lackland Air Force Base, and her husband Isaac Nolasco, a police officer in New Braunfels, Texas, received a special visit from Brig. Gen. Shan Bagby, BAMC commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thurman Reynolds. Bagby and Reynolds personally delivered a gift basket, and took time to congratulate mom and dad and welcome the baby to BAMC’s military family.