San Antonio Military Medical Center integration: A case study in organizational leadership design

The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission law of 2005 established a combined Army-Air Force medical center in San Antonio, Texas. The new facility is named the San Antonio Military Medical Center. This planned integration of two facilities would result in the downsizing of Wilford Hall Medical Center to a clinic and expansion of the nearby Brooke Army Medical Center to encompass all inpatient care. As part of the integration, the emergency services of both hospitals, to include the emergency departments, would merge under single leadership. As part of this case study, the proposed future organizational design is examined. Real and potential barriers to change are also indentified and possible solutions are explored.