Air Force general takes charge of San Antonio Military Health System Published Sept. 15, 2015 59th Medical Wing SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Air Force Maj. Gen. Bart Iddins assumed the role of market manager of the San Antonio Military Health System from Army Brig. Gen. Barbara Holcomb Sept. 15. As market manager of the San Antonio Military Health System, Iddins integrates a medical system that has a collective operating budget of $1.2 billion and provides health care for more than 240,000 beneficiaries who visit the system's 10 medical facilities in the San Antonio metropolitan area. Iddins, who also commands the 59th Medical Wing headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, becomes the fourth market manager in the organization's six -year existence. The positions of market manager and vice market manager rotate between the Air Force and the Army every two years. The SAMHS is one of six Department of Defense multi-service markets that integrate military health care between the services. Together, the market manager and medical commanders at local military treatment facilities partner to coordinate health and wellness programs with a clear focus on optimizing patient-centered care and safety, while maintaining the global readiness of U.S. forces throughout the globe. "I am honored to serve all Joint Base San Antonio mission partners and our 240,000 beneficiaries as the SAMHS market manager. Our over-arching goal is to treat your mission as our mission; your family as our family and your hardships as our hardships," said Iddins. "SAMHS medical personnel are relentlessly focused on exceeding all expectations regarding access to health care services, patient safety, health care quality, education, training, research, and combat readiness! Moreover, all components of the SAMHS health care enterprise are rapidly transforming into a so-called 'high reliability organization' by leveraging innovation, standardization, modern process/quality improvement methods, and the dedication and talents of our extraordinary medical personnel." Brig. Gen. Barbara Holcomb, who continues to command the Southern Regional Medical Command at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, said, "Our goal at SAMHS is to make the military health care system the primary health system of choice for our beneficiaries. "Over the past year we have worked purposefully to improve timely access to care, patient safety, and quality outcomes across the market by collaborating together and focusing on common processes and procedures. The partnership efforts of our local Army and Air Force medical units throughout SAMHS have resulted in more efficient uses of resources, better patient outcomes, and streamlined, standard processes," said Holcomb. "There are still many areas we can improve but the most important focus is on our patients and their families to ensure they are provided the best possible care when ill or injured and receive the best health education to prevent illness and injury," she added. The SAMHS reached full operating capability on Oct. 1, 2014. Over the past year, local medical commanders and their subordinate senior leaders created the first unified business performance plan. This five-year plan refines the approach to standardizing processes, reducing health care costs and ensuring that the patient gets exceptional access to quality services.About the San Antonio Military Health System Brooke Army Medical Center and the 59th Medical Wing are proud partners in the SAMHS. As an integrated system, the SAMHS provides safe, accessible, high-quality, patient-centered care. On its journey toward becoming a High Reliability Organization, SAMHS continues to promote patient health, readiness, research, and education and training. The vision of SAMHS is to be the Department of Defense's premier system for health, and our patients' first choice for health care. Find out more about the SAMHS at www.health.mil/About-MHS/Other-MHS-Organizations/San-Antonio-Military-Health-System.