Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center

My PCM was the first professional to diagnose my hip problem not as a aging problem but as a congenital defect neglected for 40+ years.
After numerous MRIs, CT Scans and X-​Rays, I got the total hip replacement that was due about 30 years ago. Fast forward 4 weeks after surgery, and I get physical therapy twice a week.
My therapy is guided by my doctor, but the therapists themselves do all of the heavy lifting. So far, I’ve had a Marine Corps corpsman, an Air Force physical tech (with his SSgt supervisor) and an Army tech.
I am completely amazed by the professionalism of the staff. They guide me in my rehabilitation, and take care to correct my form when I’m not doing my reps in the proper fashion.
In one short week, the PT staff has increased my confidence in my abilities and has doubled my range of motion. I’m pretty sure that I will meet or exceed my pre-​op capabilities by my return to work date in December.
Highly recommended if you have DoD medical care privileges.

Honestly I have only been here once and now it’s no longer a full service facility. It’s slowly becoming a derelict, aged, waste of space. After 1530 the place is a ghost’s paradise. Empty. Beyond empty. Hundreds of empty rooms, hallways, and this eerie «someone creepy is watching you» feeling. The hallways are two football fields long, poorly lit, and waiting to swallow you whole with no sign to where you went. Hearing your own footsteps echoing down multiple hallways as you attempt to escape just adds to the creepy factor. I was here to do basic medical inprocessing for USAF 433D AW CES. 3X911 EM. I barely understand what they mean myself having served in the Marines everything I saw, read, or was told was in Greek. With No Pictures! Marines NEED Pictures!
The staff was incredibly thorough. Friendly. Non creepy. And deserving of a new building.

Wilford Hall has been the home of Air Force medicine for decades. There are very few airmen who haven’t traversed its storied corridors at least once in their careers. And even though the newer SAMMC gets all the press these days, this grand old hospital is still a very good medical facility. Everyone who works here really seems to care about what they’re doing – a rarity in many houses of healing. And even once this old edifice is torn down, I am certain that the good works will continue in the new facilities going up on the opposite side of the parking lot.
Side note: It’s hard to understate the impact that Wilford Hall has had on the Air Force. Even its name has inspired the naming of buildings all across the service. For example, the Air Force Academy has Fairchild Hall, Sijan Hall and Vandenberg Hall. And here on Lackland we have Arnold Hall, Ardisana Hall, Mitchell Hall, Parrish Hall and Sebille Hall. Go to any other USAF base in the world, and you’ll see the same thing over and over: lots of «halls» named after various people.
But did you realize that «Wilford Hall» isn’t just some «hall» named after someone named Wilford? The original Wilford Hall Medical Center was named in honor of Major General Wilford F. Hall, one of the pioneers of aeromedical evacuation. Hall is his name! So in a way, all those «halls» out there are really named after him. Pretty cool, huh?

I checked in at 0400 my throat and my ears are killing me and I can’t swallow. I’ve been waiting for an hour to be seen by someone. It took 10 – 15 minutes just for someone to check me in, I pressed the button to call for someone and the airman working as the receptionist said, «oh must not be working, I didn’t hear you.» When I checked in he wanted to start a conversation about whether or not I like San Angelo — I’m sick! I’m not here to converse with you! I can’t even talk because my throat is so swollen!
I was finally able to see the doctor after 2 – 2.5 hours and she was very helpful. I have never been to the SAMMC hospital I’m not sure if their medical services are better/​more timely?

Dec 2013
I was advised by the dial a nurse to take my sick 3year old (FLU) to the urgent care facility at Wilford Hall as pediatrics could not see her. We arrived around 6pm and were denied care, because we did not have an appointment. I asked to make an appointment and they said all slots were full and would have to return at 11pm.
After scanning a completely empty waiting room, We decided to wait to see if we could possibly pick up a «no show» slot.
After 45 minutes and only 2 patients arriving at the clinic I approached the desk and asked if they were still completely fill on appointments. I was I informed by the airman that they could not assign «no show“appointments to new individuals because the time slot was expired.
Frustrated beyond believe, I took my extremely sick child home.
I returned at 11pm to a line out the door and a full waiting room. At this point my daughter is vomiting and has a fever over 103 °F and is crying uncontrollably. We waited until 3am to see a doctor.
Of course, positive for the flu and since page urgent care pharmacy didn’t have Tamiflu in stock were forced to wait another hour.
We arrived home close to 5am.
I often wonder how many patients contracted the flu after my daughter vomited all over the waiting area and if this is standard procedure with MTFs.

The doctors, nurses, appt check in, and basically everyone who works at WH … They are all really friendly people.
Yes there is construction right now so parking is still a nightmare; any empty spot is «reserved» so lurk with caution. I always arrive 30 min prior to an appt in preparation of not being able to find a spot.
Appts are typically not on time, in my case at least. There are signs in the waiting area that inform you to ask the front desk about your appt if you’ve been waiting 15+ min (after your scheduled appt). I usually encounter a 30 – 45 min wait and you know the appt will only be 10 minutes because they rush you out.
The women’s clinic has 1 Dr working (only prego ladies get that person); us ladies that come in for regular check-​ups get NP’s — who by the way can’t write new scripts for certain medications. Very frustrating especially when I specifically asked to see a Dr for an on going issue, that WH and SAMMC were tag teaming on in the first place. It’s not like I was coming in for something new.
So off to SAMMC I go… If I would have been informed of this in the first place I would have just made the appt at SAMMC. Lovely making 2 appts for the exact same thing!
What else… The main pharmacy is usually fast before noon on any given day… After that, you may be waiting a while.
Blood work/​lab is always a nightmare so expect a wait.
Bring a book or magazines since any type of cell service is spotty.
It’s easy to navigate, there are signs all over. If you’re lost, head to the info booths at the main entrance. I love talking to those folks, they are so sweet.

I’m happy with the services Wilford Hall provides. The place is huge but if you look lost, someone will offer to give you directions.
I have been able to easily make appointments here as well as email my provider with questions or for medication refills. They have been very thorough regarding ordering the right exams and blood work, which I greatly appreciate.
The pharmacy can get quite busy but they move fairly quickly and they’re actually quite pleasant usually.
I really do appreciate the services Wilford Hall provides.

I completed my training as a medical lab technician at Big Willie in 1983. The entire staff from the doctors down were top notch and as good as I have seen anywhere.
I was there during the fire around 1982 when we evacuated the entire building, carrying patients out on wooden polled canvas stretchers when they weren’t ambulatory. The entire operation was completed in a calm, efficient and orderly manner. I am very proud to have served with these fine people. It breaks my heart to know that they will be tearing this building down once the new facility has been completed.
The end of a great era is upon us. I salute you all!

Very nice place. Been here twice to see orthopedics for my knee and the docs there are great. To bad I live in Fort Worth. Would love a facility like this near by once I retire.

As a military retiree, I get great service here.

OMG this place has got to be the QUICKEST ER in the military hands down! I have been going to military hospitals for 26 years and have never been seen so quickly. I was in and out with my prescription and xray results in under an hour. The staff was super friendly and although the facility was outdated in comparison to that of Ft Sam’s the service was superior.

I love wilford hall. I much prefer to have my appointments here than at SAMMC. The staff doesn’t seem as rushed and impersonal with you.
The parking right now Ian ‘t great only because they’re in the process of building the new ambulatory clinic. Once that’s up and they take down the current wilford hall, parking should improve greatly.
The great thing is that the patients who park really far don’t have to walk. Volunteers drive around in little golf cart type things and give them rides right to the front door and back to their car!
The patient care here is wonderful and I’m looking forward to the new super clinic!

These medical facilities in San Antonio are the absolute best in the business. At least they don’t treat you like the scum of the earth like civilian medical does.

Very helpful staff. Parking is ok, just expect to park across the street and maybe you’ll get a closer spot.

Not favorite spot for medical treatment… but they are wayyy better than BAMC.