Bexar County Backs BAMC Trauma Mission Amid Methodist Expansion Plans

Bexar County Unanimously Passes Resolution to Protect Brooke Army Medical Center Trauma Care

Bexar County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to reaffirm support for Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), acting to protect the military facility’s regional trauma care mission as Methodist Healthcare pursues a Level II trauma designation, ksat.com reported. The unanimous vote by the Bexar County Commissioners Court aims to prevent civilian trauma case distribution shifts that county leaders warn could jeopardize the military hospital’s readiness training. BAMC stands as the Department of Defense’s sole Level I trauma center, relying on civilian patient volume to maintain critical wartime medical skills.

Methodist Healthcare Level II Trauma Pursuit Drives County Action

Methodist Healthcare started a year-long process to upgrade its flagship hospital on the Northwest Side from a Level III to a Level II trauma facility, expressnews.com reported. City and county leaders raised concerns that treating severely injured patients at Methodist could siphon vital trauma cases away from BAMC and University Hospital. Together, BAMC and University Health treat roughly 13,000 trauma patients annually, according to Scott Jackson, the city’s military and veteran affairs director cited by expressnews.com. A Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson stated that no Methodist hospitals currently hold an active pursuit status for a designation change with the state.

Military Medical Readiness Depends on Civilian Trauma Patient Volume

BAMC trains about 3,500 military medical personnel each year by treating civilians arriving with gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and severe accident trauma, tpr.org reported. BAMC commander Col. Kevin Kelly told commissioners that the facility functions as a critical national readiness asset. Our ability to care for a sufficient volume and range of trauma patients enables military physicians, nurses, medics and other clinicians to develop and sustain the life-saving skills required for combat casualties, Kelly said, according to tpr.org. The resolution specifically reinforces a commitment initially adopted by the court in 2018 to preserve patient volume, acuity, and complexity.

Regional Advisory Council and State Regulators Face Coordinated Evaluation Call

The newly approved county resolution calls for data-driven evaluation of regional trauma capacity changes involving the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), emergency medical service providers, military medical leadership, and civilian hospitals. While San Antonio City Council weighs a similar resolution, city members requested more data regarding the impact on BAMC before casting a vote, expressnews.com reported. Methodist Healthcare declined to comment on the county resolution, and the American College of Surgeons declined to comment on whether Methodist has initiated formal work toward a higher-level designation, according to expressnews.com and tpr.org.