Articles

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.

Jan. 8, 2021

BAMC takes on additional trauma patients

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Brooke Army Medical Center is expanding its ability to care for critically injured community members to help ease the COVID-19 burden on the local healthcare system. Last week, with the demand for COVID-19 care increasing, BAMC began accepting a higher percentage of trauma patients through transfers from other hospitals throughout the region, as it did during the summer COVID-19 surge, said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Patrick Osborn, San Antonio Military Health System Surgeon-in-Chief and BAMC’s Deputy Commander for Surgical Services.

Jan. 4, 2021

BAMC provides COVID-19 vaccine program update

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Brooke Army Medical Center administered its first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to frontline medical professionals Dec. 17 as part of the Department of Defense’s initial vaccine rollout. “I’m ready to eradicate this virus,” said Army Capt. Rebecca Parrish, a COVID-19 intensive care unit nurse, after she received BAMC’s first vaccine.

Jan. 4, 2021

San Antonio Military Health System Delays Elective Surgeries

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON — In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order for area hospitals to postpone elective surgeries and procedures to reserve capacity for COVID-19 patients from the community. In line with this order and to ensure our healthcare professionals are poised to support an increased need for acute inpatient care, the San Antonio Military Health System has begun temporarily delaying some elective surgical cases, particularly those requiring an overnight stay.

Dec. 22, 2020

‘Game-changing’ program enables COVID-19 patients to safely recover at home

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 21, 2020 – Kathlyn Chassey was shocked when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 after experiencing a low-grade fever and a bad headache. A former lung transplant recipient, Chassey had been staying close to home for months to avoid the respiratory risks associated with the virus. She figured she had an infection or the flu when she arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Emergency Department.

Dec. 17, 2020

Army ICU nurse receives first COVID-19 vaccine at BAMC

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The first Brooke Army Medical Center staff member to receive a COVID-19 vaccine said she was “excited and relieved” to receive the shot. Army Capt. Rebecca Parrish, an Army nurse who has been serving on the frontlines of healthcare since the pandemic began, was among a small group of frontline medical professionals who received the first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines at BAMC today.

Dec. 17, 2020

DoD’s COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts Explained

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Vaccine candidates are being offered through an Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. Getting the vaccine protects yourself, your family, your community and our nation. The Department of Defense is implementing a standardized and coordinated strategy for prioritizing, distributing, and administering a COVID-19 vaccine(s) through a phased approach to DoD uniformed service members, both the active and Selected Reserve components, including members of the National Guard; dependents; retirees; civilian employees, and selected DoD contract personnel as authorized in accordance with DoD regulation.

Dec. 8, 2020

Winter is coming: COVID surge spurs readiness efforts at BAMC

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the nation, Brooke Army Medical Center is bracing for the impact of the coming winter months as colder weather drives people indoors where the virus is more likely to spread. Equipped with lessons learned, BAMC is preparing to shift resources and personnel to ensure hospital readiness in the event of a patient increase. On the preventive front, leaders continue to underscore the importance of safety measures such as hand washing, face coverings, personal protective equipment and physical distancing.

Nov. 23, 2020

San Antonio Military Health System seeks volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine trial

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Two San Antonio Military Health System facilities are seeking volunteers from among the military beneficiary population to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial. The trial is part of Operation Warp Speed, a national initiative to accelerate the development, production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.