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MEDCoE adds antigen testing lab to COVID-19 mitigation strategy
January 25, 2021 — It took nearly 8,000 COVID antigen tests, at least that many screenings and 14 days of restriction of movement, but in-person learning at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, safely resumed after post-holiday block leave reintegration recently at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Pfc. Jagher Jones with Company A, 232nd Medical Battalion, testing COVID-19 antigen samples.

Partnerships, COVID-19 are catalysts for enterprise virtual health
January 21, 2021 — In the pre-COVID-19 world, nearly all health care was delivered in person within brick-and-mortar facilities. Telehealth, referred to in the Defense Department as virtual health or VH, was a promise of the future — a capability whose time had not quite yet arrived... MORE

Zekelia Rembert and Anna Moore, virtual health nurse care coordinators, coordinate virtual health projects and outline participating Military Treatment Facilities at the Virtual Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston May 16, 2019.

Combined Arms Center commanding general visits MEDCoE
January 21, 2021 — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence hosted Lt. Gen. James Rainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 19-20... MORE

Lt. Gen. James Rainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, addresses U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence commanders and leaders Jan. 20 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

COVID-19 hinders blood donations during National Blood Donor Month
January 20, 2021 — “The public health guidelines to reduce interaction with others, social distancing, reducing time outside the home … it translates into a decreased donor turnout,” said Army Col. Jason Corley, director of the Army Blood Program, from the U.S. Army Medical Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas... MORE

Getting people to donate a pint of their potentially life-saving blood has never been easy.

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC holds AFAP Focus Group Jan. 27
January 15, 2021 — Military service members, including active, Reserve and National Guard, military spouses, family members, retirees, Department of Defense civilians and survivors are invited to participate in the Armed Forces Action Plan Focus Group online from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 27... MORE

Military service members, including active, Reserve and National Guard, military spouses, family members, retirees, Department of Defense civilians and survivors are invited to participate in the Armed Forces Action Plan Focus Group online from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 27.

NAMRU-SA participates in first virtual San Antonio postdoctoral research forum
January 15, 2021 — Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, or NAMRU-SA, was one of five academic or scientific research institutions in San Antonio to provide presenters, judges, organizers and attendees for the annual San Antonio Postdoctoral Research Forum, Dec. 7-11, 2020. Due to COVID-19, it was the first time the program went virtual in its eight-year history... MORE

Cmdr. Linda Smith, a Navy Medical Corps doctor and Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio’s executive office.

A ‘Tough Conversation’ with a focus on bureaucracy
January 15, 2021 — Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, along with Command Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider, started off the New Year by hosting their “Tough Conversation” forum at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 5 with the topic of bureaucracy within the wing... MORE

Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, along with Command Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider, started off the New Year by hosting their “Tough Conversation” forum at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 5 with the topic of bureaucracy within the wing.

Army to review discharges, status-upgrade procedures for behavioral health conditions
January 13, 2021 — The U.S. Army has agreed to review the discharges of thousands of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma or other behavioral health conditions, and to change some of its administrative procedures for individuals who apply to have their discharge statuses upgraded in the future... MORE

The U.S. Army has agreed to review the discharges of thousands of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma or other behavioral health conditions, and to change some of its administrative procedures for individuals who apply to have their discharge statuses upgraded in the future.

USAISR collaboration to optimize combat casualty care
January 12, 2021 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston continues to be a driving force behind important advances in combat casualty care. Contributing to the Institute’s success has been establishing and maintaining collaborations with governmental and nongovernmental organizations to include industry and academia... MORE

Jose Salinas, Ph.D. (right), chief of Engineering Processes and Product Development at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, explains the research his team is conducting to Col. Bruce Syvinski (left), director of Medical Capability Development Integration Directorate at the Futures and Concepts Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.

Updates to SHARP expedited transfer policy to reinforce 'people first' efforts
January 11, 2021 — The Army plans to roll out new training in support of the expedited transfer policy that provides streamlined and necessary support to Soldiers and adult dependents who are victims of sexual assault... MORE

Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program

BAMC to transfer new pediatric patients needing inpatient care to preserve COVID efforts
January 11, 2021 — 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... MORE

59th Medical Wing Pediatric Critical Care Air Transport Team

BAMC first baby a breath of fresh air for 2021
January 11, 2021 — 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 at 3:26 a.m. Jan. 1... MORE

Stella Luna was the first baby born at BAMC at 3:26 a.m. Jan. 1, 2021, weighing 8 pounds, and 2 ounces.

ARNORTH to adjust military COVID-19 response operation in four states, Navajo Nation
January 11, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 150 military medical personnel from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army began deploying to expand support to California, and approximately 40 U.S. Army Reserve medical personnel deployed to support Arizona as part of a Department of Defense COVID-19 support operation... MORE

This Is My Squad: Forging leadership skills through the squad leader development course
January 8, 2021 — “This Is My Squad,” an initiative of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston, aims to build more cohesive units across the Army and empower noncommissioned officers with the leadership skills to anticipate issues and address them early on... MORE

MEDCoE takes measures to minimize COVID-19 transmission following Holiday Block Leave
January 8, 2021 — U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence cadre, leaders and medical personnel screened approximately 3,000 Advanced Individual Training Soldiers returning to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston from their holiday block leave between Dec. 30 and Jan. 4... MORE

Staff Sgt. Michael White, an instructor with the 187th Medical Battalion, takes Pfc. Amaya Cerutti’s temperature after she returned from Holiday Block Leave.

BAMC takes on additional trauma patients
January 7, 2021 — 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... MORE

Members of the 555th Forward Surgical Team rush a simulated trauma patient to surgery during training with the Strategic Trauma Readiness Center of San Antonio, or STaRC, at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, May 28, 2020.

Army Community Service modernizes online volunteer service tool
January 6, 2021 — Volunteers can take advantage of the Army's new Volunteer Management Information System starting Jan. 11. The volunteer information that was previously found on Army OneSource will soon be available through Army Family Web Portal VMIS... MORE

Modernized VMIS webpage login on the Army Family Web Portal.

San Antonio Military Health System delays elective surgeries
January 5, 2021 — In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Texas Gov. 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... MORE

Surgeons perform a procedure at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

IMCOM professional receives award from Army chief of chaplains
January 4, 2021 — Melanie Reagin, U.S. Army Installation Management Command G9, received the Order of Aaron and Hur from Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, IMCOM’s commanding general Headquarters IMCOM at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 10 for her assistance in the creation of the online Digital Giving system for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps... MORE

BAMC provides COVID-19 vaccine program update
January 4, 2021 — 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... MORE

Medical tech administers COVID-19 vaccine.