Articles

Feb. 6, 2024

DOD’s first dual-patient ECMO C-17 transport

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The Department of Defense’s only Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) team travelled to El Paso, Texas, on Oct. 23, 2023, to support a civilian patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The ECMO team, located at Brooke Army Medical Center possesses the capability for global transports of all service members. Additionally, the team may also transport civilian patients through the Secretarial Designee program or with the Secretary of the Air Force’s approval. Once approval is granted, the medics use any means necessary to quickly reach the patient.

Feb. 2, 2024

Operation AGILE Medic: Joint Forces Collaborate in Full-Spectrum Medical Readiness Exercise

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CAMP BULLIS — In December 2023, military forces conducted Operation AGILE Medic (OAM) at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas. Over 100 medical professionals collaborated to enhance full-spectrum medical readiness. The exercise addressed communication and training gaps, incorporating stress-inducing scenarios and a phased training approach. Emphasizing adaptability, OAM scenarios prepared personnel for operational challenges, fostering teamwork. The exercise highlighted the importance of unified efforts, creating a close-knit, trusted team, and demonstrating the effectiveness of joint training exercises in achieving mission readiness.

Jan. 26, 2024

Leaders join forces to improve health care access for military recruiters, families

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 22, 2024 — To ensure the greatest outreach, the military often locates its recruiters and their families close to communities with eligible youth, but far from the peer support and healthcare resources of an installation. To help fill this gap in support, leaders from the Air Force Recruiting Service, Defense Health Agency and TRICARE, the military’s healthcare program, met Jan. 11 to discuss the unique challenges military recruiters face in remote locations, particularly from a healthcare standpoint, and to brainstorm solutions.

Jan. 22, 2024

59th MDW: Office of the Chief Scientist, Science and Technology Scores High With Multiple Presenters Accepted at AsMA Annual Scientific Meeting

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TX —  The 59th Medical Wing, Office of the Chief Scientist, Science and Technology will have a strong showing at the 2024 Aerospace Medical Association Conference held in Chicago in May 2024.The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) is international in both membership and scope of interest, providing opportunities to connect and exchange ideas with some

Jan. 14, 2024

Operation AGILE Medic, communication is key

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CAMP BULLIS, Texas — During the first week of December 2023, the Air Force, Army and Marines collaborated in Operation AGILE Medic at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, providing medics with real-world experience in austere environments transporting patients and implementing hands-on Medic-X training. Throughout the joint exercise, medics were faced with unexpected scenarios, where they had to communicate between the Expeditionary Medical Support unit to the En Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS) team to Air Evacuation and, or, Critical Care Air Transport team, and vice versa.

Nov. 29, 2023

AFRL, 59th Medical Wing launch space medical research group

A newly established collaboration between the 711th Human Performance Wing’s Human Effectiveness Directorate, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the 59th Medical Wing is creating a military research working group to address defense space-linked medical research gaps. The Clinical and Operational Space Medicine Innovation Consortium, or COSMIC, will serve as a platform to fuse human health and performance research capabilities and expertise across both organizations.

Nov. 15, 2023

59th MDW: WHASC walk-in influenza vaccine line for active duty

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The Allergy and Immunizations Clinic at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center has established a walk-in Influenza Vaccine Line exclusively for active-duty status until Dec. 1, to expedite the vaccination of service members. Active-duty patients can receive their vaccination in the WHASC atrium, located between the C and D wings, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Due to the holidays, hours of operation on Nov. 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will be closed on Nov. 23 and 24.

Nov. 13, 2023

Empowering Service Members: Advancing Mental Health Access and Targeted Care

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Taking the initiative to seek help for emotional difficulties is a courageous and responsible step for a service member. According to a recent study, 26 percent of active-duty service members reported using mental health services in the past year. The Air Force Medical Readiness Agency Behavioral Health branch reported data from 2014 to 2019 showing the volume of clinical services delivered to active-duty members within AF mental health clinics increased by 32 percent. Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center’s Mental Health Clinic is dedicated to ensuring that all service members receive effective care in a timely manner. After assessing a patient’s needs, the mental health team creates a personalized care plan designed to yield positive results. Depending on the patient’s needs, the clinic may recommend external resources such as Military One Source, Military and Family Life Counseling, the Chaplain, or embedded Mental Health providers within a unit. Alternatively, specialty mental health treatment within the Mental Health Clinic, including group or individual therapy and medication, may be recommended. The clinic prioritizes compassionate treatment aimed at improving functioning in crucial life areas.

Oct. 24, 2023

59th Medical Wing’s own honored with Aerospace Medical Association fellowship

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dr. Paul M. Sherman, was recently honored with a fellowship for his exceptional contributions to aerospace medicine at the 2023 Aerospace Medical Association's 93rd Annual Scientific Meeting. Dr. Sherman, currently serving as the Director of Radiological and Aerospace Medical Research at the 59th Medical Wing Chief Scientist’s Office, Defense Health Agency, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas, has had a distinguished career. He previously served at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine and the 711th Human Performance Wing, retiring with the rank of colonel after 27 years of service.

Oct. 17, 2023

Military health and readiness improved through collaboration with small business

Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland, Texas — The article highlights the significant musculoskeletal injuries faced by military personnel, particularly ankle injuries. These injuries lead to training disruptions, costly medical attrition, and affect military readiness. To address this, the Air Force initiated the Versatile Injury Prevention and Embedded Reconditioning program (VIPER) and partnered with TayCo Brace to develop the XAB (eXternal Ankle Brace). This innovative brace offers better range of motion and comfort, reduces recovery time, and can be worn over combat boots or athletic shoes. It is expected to significantly improve return-to-duty rates, reduce disruptions, and enhance overall outcomes for service members with ankle injuries. The XAB is commercially available for military procurement, representing a promising solution for military musculoskeletal injuries.