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Starting July 1, Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force will cease to be a level one trauma center. More from Texas Public Radio’s Terry Gildea.
June 30, 2010 · The move is part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure or BRAC plan to consolidate Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall creating the San Antonio Military Medical Center. But the Chief of Wilford Hall Trauma Medicine, Air Force Major Mark Gunst says some emergency medicine will continue.
“Wilford Hall will remain open as a fully accredited emergency department, but emergency medical services will no longer trauma patients to our hospital. It’s important to note that the Air Force trauma mission in San Antonio will carry on, but just in a different location. All Wilford Hall trauma staff will provide care at BAMC,” said Gunst.
University Hospital and Brooke Army Medical Center are left to meet the city’s trauma medicine needs, but BAMC is expanding to handle the increased load. Lt. Colonel Tim Nunez is the Chief of Trauma Medicine at BAMC. He says there should be no decrease in the level of trauma care provided.
“We have coordinated closely with city officials to ensure that ambulance service can safely transport patients to the appropriate medical center to meet patient care needs. Additionally we have collaborated closely with our Air Force partners at Wilford Hall to ensure that BAMC will have the critical staff necessary to provide the required level of care associated with the increased trauma mission,” said Nunez.
The full consolidation of BAMC and Wilford Hall is scheduled to be complete by September, 2011. | 
