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Commander's Corner
Sept. 15 marks new era for military healthcare in San Antonio
Major General M. Ted Wong
In accordance with 2005 BRAC law, our inpatient facility previously known as Brooke Army Medical Center or BAMC, is officially renamed San Antonio Military Medical Center, or SAMMC. The name BAMC will still be used to refer to the Army Component command that includes SAMMC, and the five Army outpatient healthcare facilities in San Antonio. We will be a part of the new San Antonio Military Health System.
As SAMMC, we will continue to be fully committed to providing the highest quality healthcare, in a safe and caring environment that best serves our patients: the nation’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen; their Families and retirees. We have the privilege and good fortune to work in one of the most technologically advanced healthcare facilities in the nation, incorporating the latest in evidenced-based healthcare designs that maximize the effectiveness of healthcare delivery, improve patient safety and health outcomes, provide for a first-class healing environment, and offer our staff an ergonomic and safe work setting. Once fully staffed and operational, SAMMC will be the largest inpatient hospital in the Department of Defense, and continue to be the military’s only Level 1 Trauma Center in CONUS.
We will provide the full range of specialty and subspecialty services, be centers of excellence for Cardio-Vascular, Maternal and Child, Breast Imaging, and burn specialty services, and operate 35 integrated, world class graduate medical education programs. Our healthcare system and our residency programs are enhanced by our partnerships with the new Battlefield Health and Trauma facility, the Army Institute of Surgical Research, and the Center for the Intrepid. The transition and movement of services into the Consolidated Tower will occur over the next three months, and should be complete by mid-December.
The integration has also brought together the talented and dedicated staff and best practices from both medical centers; and the synergy of working shoulder to shoulder with each other every day, not only improves patient care at SAMMC, but also prepares our Soldiers and Airmen to work together effectively in joint operational assignments.
We've also wanted to make sure we remain a good partner and neighbor with the city of San Antonio. The new building design incorporates the latest in energy conservation and low environmental impact concepts and qualifies the building for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.
I want to thank our patients and staff for their patience and understanding during the past five years as they negotiated clinic relocations, parking shortages and traffic congestion. Ultimately, it’s about providing the best patient centered healthcare services in the best state of the art healthcare facility, while maximizing the effectiveness and value of our healthcare services. As a cohesive team composed of Army, Air Force and civilian personnel, we will succeed in this endeavor.
Please join me in celebrating this new beginning of military medical teamwork and integration with our Air Force colleagues in the San Antonio Military Health System.
M. Ted Wong
Major General, US Army
Commanding General
Southern Regional Medical Command,
Brooke Army Medical Center and San Antonio Military Medical Center