JBSA FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS--Regional Health Command -- Central is leading the way into the future with virtual healthcare as Brooke Army Medical Center was named the first Virtual Medical Center in the Army.
Announcing BAMC as the Virtual Medical Center allows RHC-Central to develop comprehensive processes and policies to ensure the successful expansion of virtual healthcare programs throughout the region and all over the globe.
"This designation as Army Medicine's first Virtual Medical Center is a common-sense progression of BAMC's capabilities and it will have far reaching benefits for both patients and providers," Army Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Jr., RHC-Central commanding general, said.
According to Assistant Chief of Staff for Clinical Operations Col. (Dr.) John Ekstrand, Regional Health Command-Central, the primary purpose of the Virtual Medical Center is to provide consistent specialty care to military patients within underserved and remote areas across the globe, eventually expanding onto the battlefield.
Some military bases are remote with only small clinics or hospitals available to treat c illnesses and injuries. In those cases, virtual healthcare provides a reliable solution to connect military patients with specialty providers who may be across the country, according to Ekstrand.
"Being able to provide for our service members, even at the most remote military installations, increases their access to care from specialty providers and enables them to receive quality care without taking extra time away from their unit," Ekstrand said.
With the advent of virtual healthcare within the last decade, innovations and pilot programs within individual hospitals and clinics have grown in number to meet the specialty care needs of military patients in remote areas, including on the battlefield.
Virtual health programs throughout RHC-Central have developed to meet the needs of patients and providers alike. Such programs include:
• BAMC, the largest medical center within the 20-state region, provides assistance to many military treatment facilities in the areas of virtual dermatology and echocardiology consults, as well as a virtual consultation program through email.
• Gen. Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital has partnered with a local hospital, Arkansas Baptist Health, to assist in electronic ICU monitoring.
• Evans Army Community Hospital, in partnership with BAMC Cardiology, has begun a pilot program to allow patients on blood thinners to check their prothrombin time test, also known as an INR or coagulation test, at home instead of driving to their hospital or clinic for a simple blood test.
• Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center also has one of the largest virtual behavioral health units with more than 60 full time employees to meet the needs of the Fort Hood Soldiers, and others stationed around the world who don't have access to behavioral health providers.
"This is great news for BAMC, RHC-Central, Army Medicine and our patients who ultimately benefit from this enhanced care," Tempel said.
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