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New reusable container option available in BAMC dining areas
February 26, 2019 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Nutritional Medicine at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is implementing a new reusable container option at the dining areas throughout the hospital. Patrons now can choose to use a reusable plastic container when getting food at a dining area within the hospital. The containers can hold anything from classic fare meals to soup, salad or pizza. ... MORE

The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Nutritional Medicine is implementing a new reusable container option at the dining areas throughout the hospital. Patrons now can choose to use a reusable plastic container when getting food at a dining area within the hospital. The containers can hold anything from classic fare meals to soup, salad or pizza.

Leap of faith: chance meeting brings Soldier to CFI after jump accident
February 22, 2019 — The hand-scribbled note taped to his dog tags simply said, “Request to go to the CFI” with a phone number. The note was written from one amputee to another. Army Staff Sgt. Kayshawn Porterfield was following in his father’s footsteps. He joined the Army with a plan of becoming a lifelong Soldier and his Army career was progressing. He was moving up in rank quickly, had finished the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. ... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kayshawn Porterfield practices picking up objects using a myoelectric prosthesis at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Center for the Intrepid at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Feb. 21. A myoelectric-controlled prosthesis is an externally powered artificial limb that the user controls with electrical signals generated naturally with his own muscles.

BAMC seeking ‘mystery shoppers’ to help improve patient experience
January 31, 2019 — Retail stores often use secret shoppers to improve customer service. Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is now implementing a similar concept to improve patient experience... MORE

Volunteer Cynthia Barrera hands Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Gittens, Medical Education Training Campus instructor and writer, a Mystery Shopping Patient Experience pamphlet at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 25. The program enlists patients to anonymously evaluate the care they receive at medical appointments.

Medical school advisors visit Brooke Army Medical Center
January 24, 2019 — Two U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Battalions recently joined forces in order to show medical school pre-health advisors the benefits of choosing an Army healthcare career over the civilian sector, visiting staff at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

University of Vermont's medical school advisor Cara Calvelli (left) and Marguerite Degenhardt (right) of North Central College witness the birth of "Baby Simi" in the training delivery room of Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Advisors from several institutions attended the Medical Advisor Army Experience Tour,from North Central College, Beaumont Health System, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Farmingdale University, West Virginia Health System, University of Vermont and Dartmouth University.

BAMC hosts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance
January 23, 2019 — Brooke Army Medical Center hosted the Joint Base San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at the historic Fort Sam Houston Theater Jan. 17... MORE

Retired Command Sgt. Major Marshall L. Huffman speaks to attendees of Joint Base San Antonio’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event at the Fort Sam Houston Theater Jan. 17. The event, hosted by Brooke Army Medical Center, celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. King and served as a reminder to continue to strive toward his dream of equality for all.

Brooke Army Medical Center welcomes first baby of 2019
January 2, 2019 — He was due after the holiday, but decided to come early to the New Year’s party. A few hours after the ball dropped in Times Square in New York City, Callum Charles Hunt made his appearance at 1:50 a.m. on New Year’s Day, marking Brooke Army Medical Center’s first delivery of 2019. ... MORE

Brig. Gen. George N. Appenzeller (second from left), Brooke Army Medical Center commander, along with Sarah Kelly (far left), BAMC auxiliary president, and Master Sgt. Melinda Griffin (far right), enlisted advisor to the deputy chief for patient support, present a gift basket to retired Army Sgt. Christopher and Hillary Hunt after the birth of their son, Callum Charles Hunt, at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 2, 2019. Callum, born at 1:50 a.m. on New Year’s Day, was BAMC first baby born in 2019.

Brooke Army Medical Center deploys HIPAA-compliant secure messaging app
December 11, 2018 — Medical professionals at Brooke Army Medical Center have deployed a cloud-based messaging app which will allow them to securely share patient information from their personal devices and desktop workstations... MORE

Don Ryan (left), a representative of the company that developed the app, teaches Maj. Samuel Owen (right), physician, how to use the secure messaging app at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 4. The app, which is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant, will allow BAMC staff members to share patient information and photos securely.

Resources available to service members dealing with substance use disorders
December 11, 2018 — The Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Behavioral Medicine has launched a new program to make it easier for service members to get help for substance use disorders. The new Addictions Medicine Intensive Outpatient Program is an intense five-week outpatient program offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Multi-Disciplinary Behavioral Health Clinic... MORE

A Soldier holds his Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care commencement coin.

ADVISOR system medical lifeline for operational forces
December 3, 2018 — The Advanced Virtual Support for Operational Forces system, or ADVISOR, coordinated through the Army Virtual Medical Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, provides 24/7/365 on-demand telephone consultations with on-call specialty providers during emergencies... MORE

A Soldier uses the Advanced Virtual Support for Operational Forces system, or ADVISOR, during the Army Best Medic Competition held in September at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.

Commentary: Military traditions instill pride, connection with past
November 30, 2018 — I’ve seen more than my share of military traditions over the past 20 years. Countless times, I’ve sung service songs, watched the Honor Guard place the colors, and stood at attention during Reveille and Retreat. While I’ve always admired the dignity and honor of these traditions, they became somewhat routine over the years. I didn’t truly appreciate their purpose until my father passed away. ... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center staff practice the rendering of flag honors for fallen heroes in July 2018. No matter the branch, war or length of service, BAMC salutes every veteran and first responder who dies in the hospital with a flag ceremony by an Honor Guard.

Sutherland Springs remembered one year later
November 21, 2018 — Brooke Army Medical Center held two ceremonies to honor the victims of a mass shooting that took place in a small rural community near San Antonio and the staff members who treated them... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center staff members sign a banner of support for Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas, as part of the commemoration ceremony Nov. 5, the one-year anniversary of the Sutherland Springs shooting. Clear Lake Regional Medical Center received eight patients – all students – in the wake of the Santa Fe High School Shooting last May. BAMC wanted to “pay it forward” to another hospital that cared for victims after a mass shooting. After the Sutherland Springs shooting, BAMC received a banner from Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas as a demonstration of support and appreciation for our staff. Sunrise Hospital received nearly 200 victims after the Vegas shooting.

Veterans honored during Brooke Army Medical Center ceremony
November 9, 2018 — Brooke Army Medical Center held its 3rd annual Veterans Day Celebration Nov. 2 featuring patriotic music, performances by a local high school marching band and drill team, a health fair and lunch... MORE

Retired Master Sgt. Walter Taylor, a former Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion Soldier, was the guest speaker during the 3rd annual Veterans Day Celebration at BAMC Nov. 2. The former combat engineer was seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2011 when he was struck in the face by a rocket-propelled grenade. As he healed, he continued to serve his fellow veterans and their families within the WTB in uniform and as a civilian.

Brooke Army Medical Center achieves ‘Most Wired’ title for seventh consecutive year
November 9, 2018 — For the seventh consecutive year, Brooke Army Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s “Most Wired” medical facilities for its innovative use of health information technology by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, or CHIME... MORE

Gina Brown uses to wireless hands-free integrated communications system contact another staff member Nov. 1. The Brooke Army Medical Center Information Management Division at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston implemented the WHICS last October, but the system was fully employed Oct. 5 to allow alarms from patient monitors to automatically contact the appropriate personnel through the device.

BAMC maintains long-standing accreditation from Commission on Cancer
November 7, 2018 — Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston maintains multiple accreditations in an effort to ensure patients receive the safe, high-quality care they deserve. One of the longest-standing accreditations, more than 68 years, is from the Commission on Cancer, or CoC, a program of the American College of Surgeons... MORE

Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Lauren Lee examines Faunia Rodriguez at the Brooke Army Medical Center Hematology/Oncology Clinic Nov. 6.

Protect yourself, guard against mosquitos
October 18, 2018 — Due to the recent heavy rains, the amount of mosquitos has increased at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis. Brooke Army Medical Center Environmental Health Services members are conducting mosquito surveillance and request people don’t tamper with mosquito traps... MORE

Due to the recent heavy rains, the amount of mosquitos has increased at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis. Brooke Army Medical Center Environmental Health Services members are conducting mosquito surveillance and request people don’t tamper with mosquito traps.

Brooke Army Medical Center tests emergency capabilities during city-wide exercise
October 16, 2018 — The scenario for this exercise was mass shooting involving explosives at Freeman Coliseum in downtown San Antonio. At BAMC, an additional scenario involving a tanker truck containing a chemical agent colliding with a bus carrying patients, was added to test the hospital’s ability to decontaminate patients before treatment... MORE

Steven Burton (right), emergency manager, briefs members of the Emergency Operations Center during the 2018 San Antonio Mass Casualty Exercise and Evaluation at Brooke Army Medical Center Oct. 11. The exercise simulated an active shooter scenario to test the capabilities of hospitals and emergency responders in the San Antonio area.

Flu shots available at WHASC, BAMC
October 15, 2018 — Flu shots available at WHASC, BAMC... MORE

JBSA, BAMC hosts Retiree Appreciation Day Oct. 20
October 15, 2018 — Military retirees and service members who are about to retire can find out about useful programs and benefits at Military Retiree Appreciation Day from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 20 at the Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

Graciela Alfano (left), licensed vocational nurse, shows Joann Dick, a regular attendee, different insects that can cause various allergy reactions during the Military Retiree Appreciation Day at Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall Oct. 14, 2017. Military retirees and service members who are about to retire can find out about useful programs and benefits at Military Retiree Appreciation Day Oct. 20, 2018 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall.

Brooke Army Medical Center’s Ward 6T seeks dog teams
October 10, 2018 — Ward 6T of the Behavioral Health Department at Brooke Army Medical Center is looking for qualified and dynamic dog teams to aid in the department’s healthcare mission... MORE

Ward 6T of the Behavioral Health Department at Brooke Army Medical Center is looking for qualified and dynamic dog teams to aid in the department’s healthcare mission. Interested owners/teams should contact BAMC’s Ward 6T at 210-916-1085 to set up an in-person interview.

Hispanic culture, heritage celebrated during Brooke Army Medical Center observance
October 10, 2018 — Hispanic music and song rang out in the Brooke Army Medical Center Medical Mall Oct. 3 as the organization celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center Commander Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller and BAMC Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Oates present Karyme Zuniga Reyes and Itzel Schuessler and their teacher, Maria-Cristina Ortega-Alton, a token of appreciation during BAMC’s National Hispanic Heritage Month event in the hospital’s Medical Mall Oct. 3. The group preformed several sings in Spanish to honor different Hispanic and Latino cultures.