BAMC returns to baseline surgery procedure rate

By Brooke Army Medical Center Public AffairsJuly 5, 2017

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON -- Brooke Army Medical Center has returned to its normal surgical procedure rate after a deliberate slowdown to review all aspects of surgical care.

BAMC is now performing an average of 50 operating room procedures a day, which was the hospital's baseline prior to a surge in fall 2016 to enhance readiness and health education.

"We are pleased with this milestone; however, we don't see this as the endpoint," said BAMC Commander Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson. "We are working diligently to increase our operating capacity so we can continue to care for our all of our patients' needs and generate military war-time readiness."

As a high reliability organization focused on quality and safety, BAMC is continually searching for ways to improve the medical services provided to those entrusted to its care. Most recently, BAMC took a number of steps to ensure high quality surgical care for its patients. An initial step taken in mid-April was to temporarily reduce the number of elective surgical procedures while leaders and outside experts evaluated staffing, equipment, space and processes to ensure the facility is ready to meet the surgical demand.

As a result of this review, BAMC determined it needed to add 27 technicians to better manage the workload in the Sterile Processing and Distribution unit, which manages the surgical instrument sterilization process. The added personnel are helping to ensure there are enough sterile surgical sets on hand to meet the organization's requirements. Some of the complex surgeries require upwards of 12 sets at one time.

Leaders continue to look closely at all surgical processes and methodically increase surgical procedures over time. As a teaching hospital, BAMC leaders are committed to ensuring surgeons, residents and support personnel have the surgical repetitions they need to carry out their mission both stateside and when deployed.

"Increased surgeries hone medical skills needed on the battlefield, which is a key component to medical readiness," Johnson said.

"We appreciate our patients' patience, support and understanding throughout this process and apologize for any inconvenience," the general continued. "Our unwavering commitment is to our patients' care. That drives everything we do."

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