BAMC: Bringing the cutting edge of Army medical care and services to San Antonio
October 29, 2010
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Brooke Army Medical Center serves as a world-class medical center and is one of the Army's largest medical facilities, offering the highest quality of medical care for wounded warriors, service members, Family members, civilians and veterans.
The medical center consists of graduate-level medical education and training, the only Level 1 trauma center and burn center within Department of Defense, as well as the Center for the Intrepid, a high-tech rehabilitation facility for outpatient care.
The uniqueness of the medical center is its ability and capacity to take care of patients from a resuscitative state through reconstructive care and then carry them through a full rehabilitation, all in the same location.
BAMC is one of only 15 hospitals in the United States that holds both Level 1 trauma certification and accreditation from the American Burn Association.
Forty beds are devoted to the Army Institute of Surgical Research, which operates the Army Burn Center, the only one in the Department of Defense.
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure implementation at BAMC and Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force base will culminate in a premier regional health care system for patients. The realignment of inpatient services and related specialty care from WHMC will enhance care available to BAMC patients.
As the only DoD Level I trauma center, BAMC will continue to be responsible for research, professional and community education, prevention, consultative community outreach services and programs statewide.
Once present construction and renovation concludes in 2011, BAMC will have 425 inpatient beds, 33 operating rooms for inpatient and ambulatory surgery and an expanded emergency department.
In addition, BAMC will host state-of-the-art labor and delivery suites, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, and a bone marrow transplant unit. Centers of Excellence in Battlefield Health and Trauma and Cardiovascular Care will also serve beneficiaries.
The Joint Center of Excellence for Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute was also added in the realignment and integration of BRAC at BAMC. This facility will bring all branches of military services to work together with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, providing a powerful platform for excellence in battlefield health.
Current research efforts include hemorrhage control, pain management, limb salvage and regenerative medicine, all striving to improve battlefield survival and the quality of life for all service members.
The medical center has cared for more than 4,326 patients including Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. At the same time, BAMC has deployed more than 1,545 assigned Soldiers in support of OIF, OEF and OND.
Since initiation of U.S. military operations in Iraq, the USAISR Burn Flight Team has completed more than 89 overseas flight missions, transporting more than 350 burn and trauma casualties from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to BAMC for care.
The BAMC Burn Center has treated more than 800 military personnel injured in overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since March 2003. In an effort to meet the increasing patient care requirements related to burn casualties, a second burn intensive care unit was opened in December 2004.
In January of 2005, BAMC opened the Department of Defense's second center for amputee care. To date, providers at BAMC have cared for more than 283 service members who have sustained traumatic amputation.
The Center for the Intrepid, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art out-patient rehabilitation center, opened its doors Jan. 29, 2007.
This world-class facility was conceived by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and was built by donations from more than 600,000 Americans.
The facility includes clinical, research, administrative space, a gait lab, a computer assisted rehabilitation environment, a swimming pool, an indoor running track, a two-story climbing wall, and a prosthetic fabrication lab.
CFI physical therapists provide evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for patients who have sustained trauma and or illness. Occupational therapy focuses on restoring health and function following injury or illness. Treatment activities are designed to enable patients to successfully perform occupational tasks and activities of daily living like bathing, shopping, cooking, writing, performing household chores and everything needed to function on a day-to-day basis.
Opened at the same time and adjacent to the CFI, two new Fisher Houses were introduced to provide warriors and their Families a home away from home and allow them to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.
BAMC currently has four Fisher Houses located within walking distance of the hospital.
BAMC staff members are dedicated and committed to providing the highest quality of care and services to all patients in an environment that fosters dignity, respect and professionalism.
Some of the services offered to patients include: free valet parking, interactive computer kiosks throughout the hospital, a new open visitation policy and beepers issued to families waiting for their loved ones who are in surgery.
The interactive computer kiosks allow patients to voice opinions on service received at BAMC. The feedback provided will not only offer immediate response for BAMC staff, but the user may also use the kiosk to update information on Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), make appointments using TRICARE Online, receive information about other clinics and use of the BAMC directory.
BAMC officials recently implemented patient open visitation guidelines for Families and visitors of all inpatients. This policy allows Families to work with the nursing staff to optimize their visits by fostering the safest environment possible and to have more flexible time regarding their visiting hours.
BAMC operates 58 outpatient specialty clinics, recording a million patient visits each year. The hospital sustains over 60 accredited educational programs, including 38 graduate medical education programs, eight nursing programs, 18 enlisted allied health and medic phase II training programs along with additional programs in administration and allied health specialties.
BAMC and the ISR staff members consist of officers, enlisted, civilians and contractors totaling more than 5,400 employees in the medical center.
The fully integrated collaboration of physicians, nurses, therapists, scientists and support staff of BAMC and WHMC, and the BHT will bring the cutting edge of medical care and a catalyst to lead the way for advanced care for wounded warriors, service members, Families, civilians and veteran patients.