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San Antonio Military Health System celebrates first year

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas --  The San Antonio Military Health System celebrated a year of historic and unprecedented change in military medicine here in San Antonio Sept.14.

During a press conference held at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, senior military leaders announced the successful accomplishments of the new military health system as well as increased partnerships with the city of San Antonio.

Under SAMHS, nearly 2,000 Airmen and civilian personnel were integrated with the Army beginning Sept. 15, 2011 at SAMMC. The health system employs 12,000 military and civilian employees with combined budgets of over $1.18 billion annually.

"Our Airmen are honored to serve side-by-side with their Army colleagues here at SAMMC, the DOD's only Level 1 trauma center in the U.S.," said Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, director of SAMHS.

"At Lackland, we flawlessly established the Department of Defense's largest ambulatory surgical center and are now constructing a new world class facility," added Hepburn, who is also the commander of the 59th Medical Wing.

SAMHS provides oversight for the healthcare delivery of more than 240,000 Department of Defense beneficiaries in the San Antonio metropolitan region. Healthcare services are provided by San Antonio Military Medical Center, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, 19 primary care clinics, and over 100 specialty services.

Hepburn and Army Maj. Gen. Ted Wong, deputy director of SAMHS and commander of Brooke Army Medical Center and Southern Regional Medical Command, stood in concert before a crowd of community and military leaders, noting the many successes of the past year, including the improved accessibility to patient-centered medical homes and enhanced secure email communication between providers and patients. San Antonio has also been chosen as one of three test sites for the DoD and Veterans Administration for integrated Electronic Heath Record (EHR), which ties into The Affordable Health Care Act.

"The SAMHS fosters an opportunity for synergy, enabling BAMC and the 59th Medical Wing, in collaboration with healthcare partners, to make system-wide improvements that elevate our quality of care, and increase the efficiency in delivering healthcare," said Wong.

"Our patients will remain our top priority and our sole reason and purpose for our existence, as we provide high quality, safe and accessible care, while maintaining our patient's trust and confidence," said Wong.

SAMHS oversees clinical, educational, and business operations for all military treatment facilities in the San Antonio area. The goal is to create a premier health system dedicated to enhancing quality care, advancing biomedical research, enriching graduate medical education and training, and maintaining a first-class global readiness mission.

"In the months ahead we will continue to transform military medicine here in San Antonio. We will further our transition from healthcare to preventative health, and will optimize all of our facilities in an integrated manner," said Hepburn. "It is our pledge to provide a safe, high-quality, and positive experience that is patient-centered and family-supportive."

For more information about SAMHS, please visit,
www.health.mil/About_MHS/Organizations/MHS_Offices_and_Programs/SAMHS.aspx