Host-nation hospital provides extended health care to USAG Ansbach community

ANSBACH, Germany (April 7, 2014) -- Receiving medical care overseas could mean that Soldiers, civilians and family members are referred to local medical providers and hospitals for extended health care support, said Lt. Col. Rodney Gonzalez, commander of the Katterbach Health Clinic, in a recent interview with a local German newspaper.

U.S. Army Garrison Commander Col. Christopher M. Benson and Command Sgt Maj. Mark A. Kiefer took an opportunity to find out first-hand just what "extended health care support" could mean for USAG Ansbach community members during a March 24 guided tour of the Ansbach Klinikum.

The tour through the Emergency and Intensive Care Units, Radiology and Cardiology Unit, and the Maternity Ward gave Benson and Kiefer a glimpse into the hospital's state-of-the art technology and provided them a chance to meet with staff.

Dr. Michael Achtert, chief of the Emergency Unit said, "We are trying to have at least one English-speaking nurse and physician available at the unit, to help clarify any initial language issues for our American patients who come to us for emergency services."

There is also "regular and close contact with the Patient Liaison Officers from USAG Ansbach, which is very helpful for [military] patients and our staff," said Nils Wittig, communication officer for the Ansbach Klinikum.

"Our goal is to make a visit to the Klinikum as comfortable as possible for patients and to let them concentrate on getting healthy," said Wittig.

Wittig pointed out that last year the Klinikum provided care to some 1,150 patients living within the USAG Ansbach community.

"While we do what we can with integrating our military patients, U.S. Army Patient Liaison Officers play an important part in easing patients' fears of the unknown. Like what the health care will be like, will the staff speak English, and what they can expect the food to be like," Wittig said. He pointed out that Gerald Wuechner, director of the in-house dining facility, was recognized for excellence for its Mediterranean cuisine in 2013 by USAG Ansbach.

Deputy Chairperson for Administration Claudia B. Conrad explained that the"ANregiomed" is a hospital association, including medical facilities that joined from Ansbach Klinikum, Dinkelsbuehl and Rothenburg (ob der Tauber) in August 2013 to provide "seamless hospital care for patients across the region."

Similar to a small city, the Klinikum is self-supporting, Conrad said. A staff of some 1,300 nurses, general and specialized physicians and therapists, and technical service and support personnel work to ensure medical support on a 24-hour basis.

"We provide a maximum, across-the-board spectrum of medical care," Conrad said. "From emergency services, to pain management, radiology, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery to trauma and reconstructive surgery procedures, we offer an array of services here at the Klinikum."

Dr. Cathrin Boehner, medical director, chief of the Radiology Institute and chief of the newly established ANregiomed Tele-Radiology, said the newest technological addition to the Klinikum will facilitate medical evaluation and assessment from afar.

"The new technology offers the advantage to connect the Klinikum with regional hospitals and physicians," said Boehner. "It is a tremendous improvement, allowing special medical consultation among physicians, who now have immediate and direct access to test results, thus enabling recommendations and adjustment treatment, without delay."

For additional information in English, including locations, departments and contact information for host-nation facilities, visit http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/katterbach/.

For information on medical care for civilian employees, the Army's Civilian Human Resources Agency (Europe Region) Employee Handbook is accessible through: https://cpolrhp.cpol.army.mil/eur/overseas/employee_handbook/living/medical_care.htm.

Related Links:

Civilian Human Resources Agency (Europe Region) Employee Handbook

Katterbach Health Clinic