Articles

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.

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.