HOHENFELS, Germany -- The 212th Combat Support Hospital deployed to Camp Albertshof, Hohenfels April 18 - May 15, for an external evaluation and to support Saber Junction 2017.

During the multinational exercise, the 212th CSH provided medical support to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and other forces at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. The CSH also provided real-world medical support establishing an outpatient specialty clinic to support the soldiers stationed at The US Army Garrison-Bavaria.

During this exercise, the 212th CSH deployed its entire 84-bed hospital complete with a two-bed operating room, 24-bed intensive care unit, 60-bed intermediate care ward, emergency department, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, patient administration department, and medical specialty services. Medical specialties included general surgeons, orthopedic surgeon, oral maxillofacial surgeon, cardiologist, and gynecologist. In hopes to make the most out of the exercise, Lt. Col. Wesley Clarkson, the CSH's Chief Medical Officer, began to develop the idea of the consultative care clinic increasing access to services for Bavaria Soldiers.

Soldiers who are stationed in US Army Garrison-Bavaria have fewer US specialty providers locally compared to those soldiers in the Kaiserslautern Military Community stationed near Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC). If a soldier from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment has a referral to see an orthopedic surgeon to discuss the risks and benefits of surgery, he or she has to spend a full day driving, attending an appointment, and returning home. The other alternative is to see a local German health care provider that can at times have language barriers hindering the patient's ability to fully understand his or her options.

In order to support a clinic for the US Army-Garrison soldiers, the 212th CSH decided to transform one of its 20-bed intermediate care wards into an outpatient specialty clinic.

"By operating this clinic, we not only make it easier on the soldiers stationed far away from LRMC, but we keep our providers engaged in doing what they do best, taking care of patients" Clarkson said.

The Consultative Care Clinic provided soldiers the opportunity to have minor procedures such as tooth extractions and soft tissue excisions, pre-operative surgical consults, and face to face discussions about the future of their healthcare.

The Consultative Care Clinic saw a total of 43 clinic patients and 23 surgical cases during the two week exercise. The 212th CSH hopes to continue providing excellent patient care in future operations and make it easier for soldiers to see the providers they need.