JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
With safety at the forefront, Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston will begin a phased re-opening of primary and surgical care starting June 1.
While BAMC will also discontinue its curbside pharmacy services at that time, each pharmacy will implement streamlined measures with everyone’s safety and convenience in mind.
Please be advised that aspects of the following plan may change based on this evolving situation. The safety and wellbeing of our patients, staff and family members is BAMC’s top priority.
Screening and Testing
The COVID-19 screening and testing site has relocated to the south side of the first-floor parking garage to enhance safety over the hot summer months. The hours of operation are weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should please proceed directly to the BAMC ER.
Primary Care
Starting June 1, BAMC’s primary care clinics – to include Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at BAMC and Adolescent and Family Medicine at the Capt. Jennifer Moreno Clinic, Spc. Taylor Burk Clinic, and Schertz and Westover Hills Medical Homes– will increase the number of face-to-face visits.
BAMC is pleased to announce that its expanded virtual healthcare services will continue. Beneficiaries are encouraged to take advantage of this safe, convenient service for their routine healthcare needs.
BAMC’s primary focus remains to provide appropriate care in the safest manner. To that end, face-to-face visits will only be conducted at the discretion of the patient’s provider team and in a pre-arranged and coordinated fashion.
To reduce COVID-19 risk, beneficiaries should not visit the clinic unless directed to do so by their provider team. If scheduled for an in-person visit, patients will be screened for COVID symptoms and everyone must have a face covering to enter the clinic.
At this time, patients are only able to schedule a virtual visit on TRICARE Online, or TOL, or through the Central Appointment Management Office, or CAMO. If a face-to-face visit is preferred, patients should let the CAMO agent know at the time of booking a virtual visit or call the clinic to speak with their provider team.
If you suspect you may have COVID-19, do not come to the clinic. Instead, either schedule a virtual visit with your provider or visit the BAMC COVID screening and testing site located on the south side of the first-floor parking garage weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
To further minimize COVID-19 risk, we ask beneficiaries to limit the number of people that accompany them to their in-person appointment.
Per BAMC’s interim visitation policy (https://www.bamc.health.mil/docs/visitors-guidance.pdf), outpatient pediatric patients may only be accompanied by one adult caregiver (unless otherwise instructed by the clinic), and adult patients are not permitted to have anyone accompany them to their appointment unless necessary to ensure the safety of the patient.
Primary care clinics will continue to operate weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Schertz and Westover clinic laboratories will reopen on June 1, and pharmacy services will continue in all locations (see pharmacy section below).
Elective Surgery
As with primary care, BAMC will begin to expand its surgical services starting June 1. While urgent and emergent cases have continued unabated throughout the pandemic, BAMC will be scheduling other procedures, to include some elective surgeries, based on medical need and the care team’s recommendation. Patients will be contacted directly to schedule these procedures. Patients who had been scheduled for a procedure prior and have a question or concern should contact their clinic or provider for more information.
Radiology
Radiology is working diligently to process provider imaging requests, while also increasing the length of appointments to ensure adequate time for cleaning/sanitation of rooms and equipment and to ensure appropriate social distancing in waiting areas. While screening mammograms will resume, there may some limitations of availability given the increased length of appointments.
Pharmacy
As part of BAMC's phased reopening, the Pharmacy will discontinue its curbside services effective June 1, and patients will need to go to their respective pharmacy locations to process their prescriptions. However, to ensure continued safety and convenience, BAMC pharmacies will implement a streamlined pick-up and drop-off process.
Due to updated COVID-19 social distancing measures, patients will be permitted to enter pharmacy waiting areas in limited numbers. During this time, all patients arriving at the pharmacy will be issued a pharmacy waiting ticket to either pick up, drop off, or initiate prescription requests. The drive-thru windows at Schertz and Westover Medical Homes will be available for prescription pick-up only until 1600.
For dropped off or requested prescriptions, patients will be asked to return to the pharmacy in two hours to pick up their prescription order. However, any prescription requests that are initiated after 2 p.m. will be processed and ready for the next business day after 9 a.m.
Patients are asked to call ahead to have their prescriptions activated by the pharmacy prior to their arrival.
BAMC Pharmacies Phone Numbers:
• Community/Refill Pharmacy: 210-295-9964 or 210-295-9965
• Capt. Jennifer Moreno Pharmacy: 210-808-3551 or 210-808-3558
• BAMC Main Outpatient Pharmacy: 210-916-1818 or 210-916-1123
• JBSA-Camp Bullis Pharmacy: 210-295-8423 or 210-295-8236
• Westover Medical Home Pharmacy: 210-539-0972
• Schertz Medical Home Pharmacy: 210-916-0047 or 210-539-0737
Refill requests may be initiated via the refill line at 210-916-8700 or through the TRICARE online patient portal. Please allow for 72-hour turnaround time for called in or online refill prescription requests.
Patients picking up prescriptions will be provided a waiting ticket and will be called to a window by a pharmacy team member for service. Patients who have an antibiotic prescription, who are physically disabled, or have a clinic appointment will be given priority service.
Patients also have the option of obtaining a 90-day supply of their medications via TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or at retail network pharmacies (three, 30-day supplies at the cost of three copayments). Consider using home delivery to conveniently access maintenance medications (drugs regularly taken for a chronic condition) without leaving your home. Visit https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/home-delivery for more information.
Nutrition Department
Starting June 1, BAMC will reopen dining facilities for grab and go services only. Seating will not be available, and face coverings and social distancing in lines and food-service areas will be required. Patrons are also required to use the hand sanitizer dispensers and hand-washing stations prior to entry. We ask for everyone’s patience as the number of patrons entering will be limited to ensure proper social distancing can be maintained.
Dining options and hours are as follows:
- Café Express - breakfast (6-9 a.m.) and lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Main Dining Facility - Breakfast (6-9 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m. To 2 p.m.), dinner (4-6 p.m.) and late meal (6-11 p.m.).
- Chef Signature – 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays
The following menu items will be available:
- Bottled beverages (all flavors)
- Packaged sandwiches
- Packaged salads
- Packaged cooler items (i.e. hummus, guacamole, string cheese, boiled eggs, etc.)
- Packaged bakery items (cookies, cakes)
- Packaged dry goods (chips, granola bars, nuts, etc.)
Additionally, a pre-bagged meal option will be available comprising a combination of the above items. Hot food or dispensed beverages, to include coffee and dispensed sodas and juice, will not be available.
Safety First
As BAMC conducts its phased re-opening, everyone is asked to remain vigilant in their individual safety and discipline – maintain social distancing, wear a face covering and stay home if feeling ill and as recommended by military and community leaders. This is the best way to support and protect each other.
Beneficiaries who have questions or symptoms they would like to discuss with a healthcare professional can call the San Antonio Military Health System (SAMHS) COVID-19 Nurse Info Line at 210-581-2266, option 6, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours and on weekends, call the MHS Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1. You can also send a secure message through the TOL Secure Messaging function or call the Consult Appointment Management Office (CAMO) at 210-916-9900.
BAMC will continue to take proactive steps, working alongside its military and community partners, to both contain the spread and mitigate the impact of the virus. As this situation is rapidly evolving, BAMC will share updates often. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support during this challenging time!
For the most up-to-date information, visit BAMC’s COVID-19 site at https://www.bamc.health.mil/articles/covid19/, BAMC Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrookeArmyMedicalCenter and visitation policy at https://www.bamc.health.mil/docs/visitors-guidance.pdf.