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News & Gallery

Articles

Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing practice detecting seizures during a national disaster response exercise on Camp Bramble at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 3, 2023. Texas A&M University has been conducting emergency response training for 15 years and, for the first time, collaborated with the 59th MDW. Being able to train inflight and utilize Disaster City by collaborating with Texas A&M gives medics a way to hone their skills, prepare for national emergencies and remain ready medics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

Feb. 16, 2024

Defense Health Network Central garners top honors for Ready Reliable Care initiatives

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 — Four teams from Defense Health Network Central will be celebrated for their exceptional efforts to improve the Military Health System during a ceremony, Feb. 15, 2024. Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and Defense Health Agency Director Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland will present the Ready Reliable Care High Reliability Organization Awards to the winning teams, which include DHN Central’s 673rd Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; 377th Medical Group, Kirtland Air Force Base; and Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Airman 1st Class Pedro Mourin, patient travel technician, Staff Sgt. Rebecca Miranda, patient travel noncommissioned officer in charge, and Senior Airman Andres Gonzalez, patient travel technician, all assigned to the 59th Medical Support Squadron pose for a photo December 19, 2023, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Feb. 15, 2024

Navigating Care: A Guide to WHASC Patient Travel Program

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO- LACKLAND, Texas — For military retirees and beneficiaries, accessing specialized care is made easier with Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center’s Patient Travel Program. Through its comprehensive support and commitment, navigating medical care becomes a smoother journey for all involved. The program welcomes all TRICARE Prime beneficiaries, including active duty

The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation team from the 59th Medical Wing and Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, came together to turn a critically ill patient with lung failure by using the functions on a specialty bed with staff at the University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas, Oct 23, 2023. The Department of Defense’s only ECMO team possesses the capability for global transports of all service members. Additionally, the team can transport civilian patients through the Secretarial Designee program or with the Secretary of the Air Force’s approval. (Courtesy photo by the medical team)

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.

Operation AGILE Medic, a week-long exercise at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, was a Tri-Service medical training exercise that immersed military medics in the seamless process of transporting patients from the Expeditionary Medical Support unit to the En Route Patient Staging System team, and further to Air Evacuation and Critical Care Air Transport Teams, and vice versa.

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.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Harrell, director, Defense Health Network Central, Defense Health Agency; director, San Antonio Market; commander, 59th Medical Wing; and the lead for Air Force Medical Agency Alpha, responds to a question about healthcare access for recruiters during a meeting at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Jan. 11, 2024.

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

Airmen approach a UH-60 on Dec. 6, 2023, at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, during Operation AGILE Medic. This joint force medical training exercise immerses medics in the seamless process of transporting patients from the Expeditionary Medical Support unit to the En Route Patient Staging System team, and onwards to Air Evacuation and Critical Care Air Transport Teams, and vice versa. The hands-on experience ensures medics gain a comprehensive understanding of communication protocols, the critical timing for patient preparation, and the intricacies of the entire process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

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.

A graphic depicting Rocket Cargo, one of the Department of Air Force Vanguard programs that focuses on rapid global mobility including delivery of medical supplies. The Clinical and Operational Space Medicine Innovation Consortium, or COSMIC, created a research working group to address defense space-linked medical research gaps. This newly established collaboration between the 711th Human Performance Wing’s Human Effectiveness Directorate, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the 59th Medical Wing will serve as a platform to fuse human health and performance research capabilities and expertise across both organizations. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

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.

Tech. Sgt. Carolina Guzman, 59th Medical Specialty Squadron Allergy and Immunizations section chief, prepares an influenza vaccine on Nov. 14, 2023, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Airman from multiple clinics and specialties volunteered to ensure the 59th Medical Wing surpasses the Department of Defense’s 90-percent vaccination goal and protect against influenza and potential complications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)

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.

Graphic demonstrating the process of Mental Health care and additional resources through targeted care. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

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.

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