Joint Base San Antonio > News

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center debuts new flu test equipment
February 15, 2018 — The 59th Medical Wing, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, recently introduced a new system that can allow doctors to get results in less than an hour. The Roche Lab in a Tube is a compact molecular diagnostic platform that can be used in doctor's offices, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals to expedite the diagnosing process... MORE

Joe Contreras and Senior Airman Amber Scandridge conduct a practice test of the new Roche LIAT in the Urgent Care Clinic at Wilford Hall on Joint Base San Antonio Lackland Feb. 6, 2018. The new testing system, according to officials in the clinic, improves patient care by reducing the amount of time to determine if a patient has the flu from 48 hours down to less than 30 minutes.

59th Medical Wing Gastronomy Clinic strives for excellence
February 14, 2018 — The gastronomy clinic, located within Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, can provide patients timely screenings to detect gastro related illnesses, including cancer... MORE

Surgical technicians from the 59th Medical Wing, prepare a patient for a colonoscopy, January 10, 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The can provide patients timely screenings to detect gastro related illnesses, including cancer.

Diabetes prevention program tested by WHASC shows promising results
February 2, 2018 — “I wish I knew this 30 years ago,” is a common feeling among Air Force veterans after receiving diabetes education. Like most of the 89 million Americans with pre-diabetes, many active duty Airmen do not know the ways they can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes... MORE

1 in 3 Americans are have prediabetes. Research has shown that we can delay and even prevent the onset of diabetes through simple lifestyle changes that can make significant, positive changes in our health.

Getting to know the Wilford Hall Department of Dermatology
February 1, 2018 — The 59th Medical Wing Department of Dermatology, located in the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, is one of the largest and most capable dermatology clinics in the country providing world-class medical and surgical care for diseases of the skin, hair, and nails... MORE

JBSA Air Force clinic first to offer new breakthrough procedure
November 24, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing's Wilford Hall Eye Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the first Air Force medical clinic to perform corneal collagen crosslinking in-house, and has already treated 10 patients so far... MORE

Poor eyesight can, and will, pose a potential career ending medical condition to many service members. The 59th Medical Wing’s Wilford Hall Eye Center has a solution for it.

Good mental health critical to readiness
November 21, 2017 — Mental health is a critical part of every Airman’s medical readiness. Although many service members worry that seeking mental health care will negatively effect their career, the opposite is usually true. With early identification and the right treatment by a medical professional, most mental health issues get better quickly without any negative career impact... MORE

Maintaining your mental health is critical to readiness. People suffering from depressive disorders can experience slowed physical reactions, impaired judgment and indecision, all of which can risk the mission. Treatment for mental health issues can show real improvement in as little as four weeks. If you, or someone you know, may be dealing with depression, get treatment now.

Paramedics expand Wilford Hall's medical capabilities
November 8, 2017 — Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, has a robust, multifaceted patient care program that provides one-stop-shop for medical needs, including its own emergency medical service teams... MORE

Staff Sgt. Lucas Reaume, paramedic with the 59th Medical Wing, poses for a portrait at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Service Center, Texas, Feb. 9, 2017. The paramedics are on stand-by 24 hours a day for any medical emergencies that occur on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez)

Introducing the new Wilford Hall Eye Center
November 6, 2017 — The Wilford Hall Eye Center, the 59th Medical Wing’s departments of ophthalmology, optometry, and the Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center now aligned under one umbrella for the first time ever, is located within the Department of Defense’s largest outpatient clinic and surgical facility, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, and includes the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Ophthalmology residency program... MORE

(U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Stephan Alvarez)

Highway 90 Gate enhances patient care at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center
November 1, 2017 — Located on West U.S. Highway 90 access road, patients are able to access Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland at the closest possible point to the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC) and the gate is open from 6-9 a.m. for inbound traffic and outbound from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m... MORE

Staff Sgt. Mellissa Taylor, 559th Trainee Health Squadron optometry noncommissioned officer in charge, checks an ID at the Highway 90 gate while performing security forces augmentee duty Oct. 23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The Highway 90 gate provides easy and convenient access for patients to quickly access care and facilities.

The new Wilford Hall welcomes its first patient with ribbon cutting
June 12, 2017 — The 59th Medical Wing's new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting June 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The 59th MDW identified Master Sgt. Karrin Hatcher as it's first official patient to be seen in the $418-million, 682,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility... MORE

The 59th Medical Wing's new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting today, June 7, on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The 59th MDW identified Master Sgt. Karrin Hatcher as it's first official patient to be seen in the $418 million, 682,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Wilford Hall is the U.S. Air Force's flagship medical facility for outpatient care. The building features four wings, on four floors, housing more than 25 outpatient clinic and clinical services.

59th Medical Wing clinics, services set to move to new Wilford Hall
May 12, 2017 — With the primary goal of minimizing patient impact, the 59th Medical Wing will begin relocating clinics and services to the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on Tuesday, May 30, 2017... MORE

New Wilford Hall, Jan. 19, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

Wing pioneers innovative diabetes education program
January 17, 2017 — A 59th Medical Wing education initiative aims to ensure all Department of Defense patients with diabetes can learn how to manage their disease and lower their risk for complications... MORE

Dr. Tom Sauerwein, director of the 59th Medical Wing’s Diabetes Center of Excellence, teaches patients to self-manage diabetes during a classroom session at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The DCOE is a premier Air Force Medical Service specialty clinic dedicated to providing standardized diabetes care to beneficiaries across the military health care system. The clinical component provides diabetes management, diabetes education, and diabetes prevention programs through referral care to more than 50,000 TRICARE beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)

Medical physicist helps patients fight back against cancer
October 12, 2016 — With a master’s degree in physics, it comes as no surprise that Maj. David Winter, 59th Medical Wing medical physicist, has spent his entire career in motion.At Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical... MORE

Maj. David Winter, 59th Medical Wing medical physicist, poses in front of medical equipment in the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 16, 2016. Winter is in charge of operating a diverse array of imaging machinery that detects and combats cancer in patients.

Dermatologist earns health care hero award
October 7, 2016 — The San Antonio Business Journal recently honored a 59th Medical Wing dermatologist for his contributions to health care in the local community... MORE

$Col. (Dr.) Chad Hivnor, laser and research chief with the 59th Medical Specialty Squadron, uses a fractional carbon dioxide laser to treat a patient’s scar at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Oct. 7. The laser treatment, also known as fractional skin resurfacing, goes deep into the epidermis of the skin and stimulates the production of collagen to create firm and smooth skin. Hivnor recently earned the San Antonio Business Journal 2016 Health Care Hero award for his contributions to health care in the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)$

Development program helps Wilford Hall medics cultivate customer service skills
July 5, 2016 — Warrior medics from the 59th Medical Wing are seeking direct feedback from patients and improving the patient experience through a new program developed by the 59th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron... MORE

Retired Tech. Sgt. Arnold Parker (left), a Korean War veteran who worked in nutritional medicine on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in the early 1950s, speaks with members of the 59th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron during a session of the Deliberate Development Program June 20 at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The program develops Airmen of all ranks in areas, which include leadership, management and self-improvement. It encourages networking and access to other members of the medical team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)