Lt. Col. Karrie Fristoe (left) returns Hanau Health Clinic's cased colors to the charge of Sgt. 1st Class Sean Tudlong while the color bearer, Spc. Stephen Phipps, looks on. The health and dental clinics at Hanau closed this summer, among a number of...

Lt. Col. Karrie Fristoe (left) returns Hanau Health Clinic's cased colors to the charge of Sgt. 1st Class Sean Tudlong while the color bearer, Spc. Stephen Phipps, looks on. The health and dental clinics at Hanau closed this summer, among a number of changes to Army medical facilities in Germany.

Along with Hanau, the medical, dental and veterinary organizations at Darmstadt also closed.

Heidelberg Hospital became an outpatient health center, providing services such as same-day orthopedics, gynecology and general surgery as well as primary care. Inpatient services are provided by German hospitals.

"Active duty Soldiers and their Family members enrolled in TRICARE Overseas Prime are fully covered when seen by a host nation provider," said Maggie Smith of the Europe Regional Medical Command's resource management division.

"As Soldiers move back to the States or to points east and west in Europe, the population in the Heidelberg footprint has drawn down significantly," said Col. Kyle D. Campbell, Heidelberg MEDDAC commander. "While our name has changed, the high quality of care we provide and coordinate has not."

The headquarters of Bavaria MEDDAC moved to Vilseck.

Europe Regional Medical Command continues to plan for the transformation of the 39th Medical Brigade to a modular medical command (deployment support).