Skip to main content

Military Health System

Elective surgeries resume within the San Antonio Military Health System

Image of Two surgeons in an operating room. Two surgeons in an operating room

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Coronavirus & the MHS Response

With safety at the forefront, elective surgeries are set to resume at the end of August across the San Antonio Military Health System.

“We have a military population whose non-urgent procedures were delayed in some cases for safety purposes and in order to preserve resources and capacity,” said Army Brig. Gen. Shan Bagby, commanding general for the Brooke Army Medical Center aboard Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. “We are eager to resume these important medical services.”

SAMHS had resumed ambulatory elective surgeries at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center earlier this month, already doubling the number of procedures performed in July. Meanwhile, BAMC has focused on providing urgent and emergent inpatient surgical care. Next week, BAMC will increase surgical capacity by 50% for more complex elective surgeries, said Air Force Col. Patrick Osborn, San Antonio Military Health System surgeon-in-chief.

Patients whose procedures were delayed will be contacted by their surgical team or clinic, and new cases will be scheduled based on patient acuity and available capacity, said Osborn, adding that evaluation of patients’ surgical needs has been ongoing, often through virtual technology.

“Elective procedures are an important aspect of a person’s overall health care and, while they may not be urgent in nature, they should not be put off indefinitely,” Osborn said. “After careful assessment, we are confident in our ability to resume these procedures safely.”

SAMHS will monitor the pandemic situation daily and expand or scale back procedures as needed, said Air Force Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, SAMHS market manager and commander, 59th Medical Wing.

“Our highest priority is safeguarding the health and wellness of our patients and staff,” DeGoes said. “We will continue CDC-recommended safety precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our most valuable asset – our people.”

SAMHS had paused elective procedures July 1 due to the surge in COVID-19 and in line with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order. The intent was for hospitals to reserve capacity for COVID-19 patients from the community.

Despite a resumption of elective surgical services, everyone should continue to social distance, wear a face covering, and wash hands thoroughly and often, Osborn said.

“We all have a continuing role in stopping the spread of this virus,” he said.

You also may be interested in...

Decision Brief Pediatric Health Care Services

Presentation
8/10/2017

Defense Health Board briefing about Pediatric Health Care Services

Recommended Content:

Public Health

Pediatric Health Care Services

Presentation
11/1/2016

Pediatric Health Care Services briefing to the Defense Health Board, Nov. 1, 2016.

Recommended Content:

Public Health

Pediatric Care in the Military Health System

Presentation
11/1/2016

Pediatric Care in the Military Health System briefing to the Defense Health Board, Nov. 1, 2016.

Recommended Content:

Health Care Administration & Operations | Public Health

Deployment Health Centers Review

Presentation
8/9/2016

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Health Care Administration & Operations

Pediatric Clinical Preventive Services

Presentation
8/9/2016

Recommended Content:

Research & Innovation | Public Health

Reconstruction and Restoration of the Genitourinary System after Contemporary Battlefield Urotrauma

Presentation
8/9/2016

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Health Readiness & Combat Support

Review of the Defense Health Board’s Combat Trauma Lessons Learned from Military Operations of 2001-2013 Report

Presentation
8/9/2016

The in-depth information and recommendations in the report enable [the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs] to consider approaches to enhance Combat Casualty Care.

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Research & Innovation | Health Readiness & Combat Support

Joint Trauma System

Presentation
8/9/2016

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Research & Innovation

Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control

Presentation
2/10/2016

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Health Care Administration & Operations

Perspectives of a Deployed Combat Hospital Commander

Presentation
2/10/2016

Recommended Content:

Health Care Administration & Operations | Public Health

6th Medical Group Overview and Mental Health Suicides PTSD and VA Collaboration

Presentation
11/9/2015

6th Medical Group Overview and Mental Health/Suicides/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Veterans Affairs Collaboration

Recommended Content:

Public Health

Decision Brief NBH Subcommittee Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics 4 Tasking

Presentation
11/9/2015

Decision Brief: Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics 4 Tasking

Recommended Content:

Public Health

Neurological Behavioral Health Subcommittee Update

Presentation
8/20/2015

Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee Update

Recommended Content:

Public Health

USAMRIID Biosafety Biosecurity Biosurety and Ebola Response Support

Presentation
8/20/2015

U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease Biosafety/Biosecurity/Biosurety and Ebola Response Support

Recommended Content:

Public Health

Biomedical Innovations for Infectious Diseases and Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Presentation
8/20/2015

Recommended Content:

Research & Innovation | Public Health
<< < 1 2 > >> 
Showing results 1 - 15 Page 1 of 2
Refine your search
Last Updated: August 15, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery