Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.

By Mr. Michael K Beaton (Regional Health Command Europe)January 31, 2017

Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts (left) embraces Professor-Doctor Anton Scharl, M.D. of the Klinikum (hospital) Saint Marien, Amberg. Roberts was at the hospital with Hohenfels Army Health Clinic Chief Nurse Major Kaitlyn Perkins, to present him wit... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts (center, left) is present as Major Kaitlyn Perkins, Chief Nurse, Hohenfels Army Health Clinic (right), awards a framed clinic Certificate of Appreciation to Professor-Doctor Anton Scharl, M.D. (center right), of the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts (left) embraces Professor-Doctor Anton Scharl, M.D. of the Klinikum (hospital) Saint Marien, Amberg. Roberts was at the hospital with Hohenfels Army Health Clinic Chief Nurse Major Kaitlyn Perkins, to present him wit... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts, a spouse stationed with her Soldier husband at JMRC in Hohenfels stands in front of the Klinikum (hospital) Saint Marien, Amberg, after a nearly year-long struggle with cancer. Roberts was at the hospital with Hohen... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hohenfels Army Health Clinic patient thanks clinic, German hospital staff for recovery.
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts, a spouse stationed with her Soldier husband at JMRC in Hohenfels stands in front of the Klinikum (hospital) Saint Marien, Amberg, after a nearly year-long struggle with cancer. Roberts was at the hospital with Hohen... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

AMBERG, Germany -- Arlene Roberts, a spouse at JMRC in Hohenfels recently visited the Klinikum (hospital) Saint Marien, Amberg, Jan. 25, to thank her physician and his staff for her return to health after a lengthy period of recovery.

Roberts accompanied her husband to Germany, a Sergeant with the 1/4 Infantry stationed at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, when he was reassigned in 2015. She was diagnosed with cancer in March of 2016, beginning a long journey toward recovery requiring frequent hospital visits and overnight stays at the Klinikum. Roberts was referred for treatment by the Hohenfels Army Health Clinic, located approximately 40 miles south of the Bavarian city of Amberg.

Her diagnosis necessitated numerous chemotherapy treatments as well as multiple surgeries throughout the year.

Roberts was recently diagnosed as cancer-free and credits her recovery to the work and support of the Hohenfels clinic staff and the outstanding network providers who treated her at the Amberg hospital, specifically, Professor-Doctor Anton Scharl, M.D.

"Professor-Doctor Scharl and his team have been outstanding. Not only have I received top-notch professional care, but they were friendly, considerate and prompt throughout my treatment and along my long road to recovery." said Roberts.

Roberts was enthusiastic in her praise, saying that as a surgeon and a physician Scharl was incomparable. "He is so dedicated to healing his patients. He's amazing." Roberts said. "I also have to thank Dr. Ludwig Fischer von Wiekersthal at the Klinikum's Internal Medicine department. Both of these men are utterly and unfailingly dedicated to their patients. They saved my life."

From the start and throughout her journey to recovery Roberts said she relied on the staff of the Hohenfels Army Health Clinic for support and guidance. "We well understand how daunting the thought of off-post, overseas health care may seem to Soldiers and family members." said Major Kaitlyn Perkins, Chief Nurse at the Hohenfels Army Health Clinic. "The Hohenfels Army Health Clinic - like all U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Bavaria (BMEDDAC) clinics - only refers to trusted Preferred Providers in the TRICARE network. This means their practice has been extensively reviewed and meets the same high standards as specialties in the American healthcare system."

"We also have a dedicated Health Care Finder, Ms. Ute Davis, whose goal is to take as much of the worry, stress and unfamiliarity out of the off-post referral process as possible for our patients." said Perkins, "Once a patient receives referral authorization the entire process for scheduling an appointment to getting seen and treated should feel identical to that of being at an American doctor's office. If a patient is struggling with this step, the Health Care Finder is available to assist you and make it easier."

"If the patient wants support for the appointment with a German health care provider, a German speaking Health Care Finder, Ms. Davis coordinates it for them." said Perkins. "In addition to our Health Care Finder, we have Patient Liaisons. Generally most German health care professionals speak English -- our Patient Liaisons are there to assist and keep patients safe, communicate patient requests for more information or clarification about their treatment and explain the differences a patient might encounter in the U.S. and German health care systems, and they are available to assist 24/7."

Mrs. Roberts is by no means alone in her praise of German health care.

"German hospitals and care givers are amongst the best in the world and even though there are a great deal of similarities shared by U.S. and German health care facilities, there are some minor cultural and institutional differences to be aware of." Perkins added.

"For example In-patient nurses in the German system are not trained the same as nurses in the US." Perkins noted, "In Germany, the doctor administers most of the medications, takes the blood work, starts the intravenous lines and does most of the education about pre and post-operative care with the patient. In-patient Nurses in Germany mainly ensure all the activities of daily living are assisted with, for instance, bathing, going to and from the bathroom, eating, walking, and so on. Nurses may deliver oral medications under supervision, but they are not necessarily trained in what the medication is or what it is for or what it may counteract with." said Perkins. "Part of this is because of a language barrier and part is the lack of schooling at the same standard as U.S. nurses."

"We at the Hohenfels Army Health Clinic are going to be with any patient every step of the way, whether they need to see an off-post health care provider or whether it's something we can treat and heal at the clinic." said Perkins.

"Healthy, ready Soldiers and the care of Soldier families, that's our responsibility at the Hohenfels Army Health Clinic." Perkins said. "Readiness is our number one goal."

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY HOHENFELS HEALTH CLINIC

The U.S. Army Hohenfels Health Clinic is co-located with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) one of the seven directorates falling under the leadership of U.S. Army Europe's 7th Army Training Command and provides quality ambulatory care for more than 6,000 Soldiers and their families, while coordinating and facilitating inpatient and specialty care with nearby German host nation medical facilities and DoD partners. JMRC Hohenfels is an integral part of the 7th Army Training Command (7ATC), the largest training command outside the continental United States. The Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas provide realistic, relevant training to U.S. Army, Joint Service, NATO and allied units. To learn more about the people and facilities of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Bavaria (BMEDDAC) and the clinics they support in Ansbach, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Stuttgart and Vilseck visit the MEDDAC Bavaria website at http://rhce.amedd.army.mil/bavaria

Related Links:

BMEDDAC website

HOHENFELS ARMY HEALTH CLINIC website

BMEDDAC on Facebook

HOHENFELS ARMY HEALTH CLINIC on Facebook

BMEDDAC on Flickr