Brooke Army Medical Center is a modern state-of-the-art, 450-bed
health care facility that provides level-one trauma and graduate medical
education. The physical appearance and the efficiency of space throughout the
hospital creates a user-friendly, high quality health care environment for
patients, their families and health care providers
The
multi-storied medical treatment facility is the primary structure in the medical
complex. It has 1.5 million square feet of operational space and a normal bed
capacity of 450, of which 48 are ICU beds and 40 are dedicated to the Institute
of Surgical Research Burn Unit. The hospital is capable of expanding to 653 beds
if needed to support a wartime mobilization.
Denzel
Washington and his family visited troops at Brooke Army Medical Center in San
Antonio, Texas recently. Soldiers evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized
due to burns. There are some buildings that are called Fisher Houses. These
Fisher Houses are where soldiers families can stay, for little or no charge,
while the soldier is staying in the Hospital. Brooke Army Medical Center has
quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost
filled most of the time. While Denzel Washington was visiting Brooke Army
Medical Center, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. he asked how
much one of them would cost to build. he took his check book out and wrote a
check for the full amount right there on the spot.
A
Fisher House™ is "a home away from home"
for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical
centers. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment
facility or have transportation available. There are 38 Fisher Houses, with five
more in construction.
Typically,
the houses are 5,000 + to 16,000 square foot homes donated by the Fisher family
and Fisher House Foundation. Each house is designed to provide eight to 21
suites. All are professionally furnished and decorated in the tone and style of
the local region. The houses can accommodate 16 to 42 family members. They
feature a common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room and an
inviting living room with library, and toys for children. A Fisher House is a
temporary residence and is not a treatment facility, hospice or counseling
center. The program began in 1990, and has offered more than 2.5 million days of
lodging to more than 110,000 families.
Fisher Houses are given to the U. S. Government as gifts. Military service secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the homes. The Fisher House Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, builds new houses, and assists in the coordination of private support and encourages public support for the homes.
Convenient
patient and visitor parking is available. There are 3,314 parking spaces in a
circle around the hospital. The majority of these are located near the entrance
to the Clinic Building because Brooke Army Medical Center clinics support
approximately 640,000 outpatient visits annually.
This web site was created and is maintained for historical and public relations purposes.
Copyright 2006 ~ All Rights Reserved