Wuerzburg MEDDAC: Crossroads of history and health

By Ruth Hamill

Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series of articles highlighting 7th MEDCOM facilities. Future issues of the MEDCOM Examiner will feature each of the MEDCENs, MEDDACs and other MEDCOM treatment facilities in a series of articles designed to further acquaint people throughout 7th MEDCOM with each activity.

It has been said that whoever travels throughout West Germany is bound to come across Wuerzburg somehow. History, art and natural phenomena from many periods are found in this old town, located in the heart of Germany, home of the Wuerzburg MEDDAC.

The 100-bed 67th Evacuation Hospital, located on a 14-acre kaserne on the Galgenberg hillside, is the backbone of the MEDDAC. The facility was built in 1935 when the expansion of the German army necessitated a new and larger army hospital. It was originally constructed as a 300-bed, six-story building with approximately 1,200 rooms. The main building was designed in an arc shape to conform with the contours of the hillside.

While ground-breaking ceremonies were held Dec. 24, 1935, construction did not officially begin until Jan. 7, 1936. The opening ceremonies were Nov. 11, 1937. After Sept. 1, 1939 and the beginning of hostilities, the Germany Army Garrison Hospital Wuerzburg assumed the status of a reserve hospital and was the parent unit for other reserve hospitals in the vicinity of Wuerzburg. At this time operating beds were increased to 700, with a maximum of approximately 2,000 beds occupied at the end of World War II.

Americans arrive
The first U.S. Army unit to occupy the hospital was the 124th Evacuation Hospital which began operating there on April 8, 1945. Since then, the hospital has experienced a frequent turnover of tenant units. Since April 16 of this year, the official designation has been the 67th Evacuation Hospital.

Today, the MEDDAC serves a total of about 40,000 people living within a 2,500 square-mile area of responsibility. Most of these people are assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division which is headquartered in Wuerzburg. The hospital sees approximately 70 inpatients per day and delivers about 72 babies per month.

The MEDDAC also provides support to four health clinics located in Wildflecken, Schweinfurt, Kitzingen and Wertheim. The Wertheim clinic was recently renovated, and the modernized clinic held its grand opening on August 20, 1982.

Nearly 650 people are employed at the MEDDAC and outlying clinics, including 35 Medical Corps officers (plus one U.S. civilian and four local national physicians), 16 members of the Medical Service Specialist Corps, 287 enlisted personnel, 120 U.S. civilians and 162 local nationals or third country nationals (1981 figures).

Col. Harry S. Spaulding became commander of the Wuerzburg MEDDAC upon his arrival Sept, 1, 1981 from Fitzsimmons Army Regional Medical Center in Denver, where he served as deputy commander. He is also the chief of allergy and clinical immunology at the hospital, holds an allergy clinic once a week and visits the outlying clinics on a regular basis to give lectures and see patients.

The MEDDAC offers several other specialties including internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, general surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, OB-GYN, pathology, radiology, and psychiatry.

Patients needing more in-depth care are evacuated to Frankfurt or Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Centers and approximately 15 people are sent by MEDEVAC to the States each month.

Family practice popular
According to Col. Egon K.E. Schlatter, Chief of Professional Services, all the clinic services offered are noteworthy, particularly the Family Practice Clinic, which was begun in 1977. Headed by Maj. Thomas H. Auer, MC, there are seven physicians and eight nursing assistants or LPNs. Patients are divided among the physicians by unit so that when individuals and families arrive in Europe they immediately have a family physician responsible for their health care. This has encouraged physician-patient relationships as well as physician-unit relationships, greatly improving patient education and unit communications. The Family Practice Service also maintains approximately 15 percent of all hospital admissions and delivers approximately 220 children per year.

The Wuerzburg DENTAC, commanded by Col. Thomas R. Tempel, is co-located with the MEDDAC in Wuerzburg and operates clinics there, in Wildflecken, Schweinfurt, Kitzingen, Wertheim and Bad Kissingen.

The Veterinary and Food Inspection Services are provided by the 80th Medical Detachment (VS) located at Faulenberg Kaserne and commanded by Capt. Michael W. Yehle.

Historically wealthy
The elevation of the hospital grounds provides a very scenic view of Wuerzburg, the city that poet, novelist and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called one of the most beautiful in Germany. It is located on the Main River 65 miles east of Frankfurt and marks the beginning of one of the best known and most popular tourist routes in Germany: The Romantic Road. Wuerzburg is in the center of the Franconian wine district and the largest vineyards in Germany. The ancient Marienberg Fortress, rebuilt after World War II bombings, is located on a hill overlooking the city and the Palace of the Prince Bishops, built by Balthasar Neumann in 1720, is in the center of the city. Neumann is one of Germany's best known architects of the Baroque. Much of both the fortress and the palace can be attributed to the von Shoenborn family who, like the Medici's of Florence, were enthusiastic patrons of the arts and architecture.

The Wuerzburg University, still thriving, was founded in 1582 and is where Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen discovered the X-ray. The MEDDAC enjoys an excellent relationship with the university, according to Dr. Spaulding. About 25 patients receive supplemental care there each month. In addition, the chiefs of the departments of surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics, plus other staff members, have visited the major university medical facilities which the MEDDAC utilizes.

Spaulding said, "We have met with university officials to improve communications and work out the details for better care. As new chiefs of major services arrive here, I want to make sure they all get a chance to visit the university facilities. We also have some emergency deliveries at the Frauenklinik. To make the transfers smoother we give the mothers a card in German and English for them to give the physician. It has all the pertinent information a physician needs in the delivery room. We spend a lot of time and effort on this type of activity, hoping to improve the German-American relationship. After all, we are guests here."

The hospital also has a partnership unit at the German air force base al Klingholz. The "Sanitaetsschule der Luftwaffe" invited about 25 members of the MEDDAC to a MASCAL exercise where 70 to 80 mock casualties were evacuated from a base in Holland and in October 1982, 20 members of the Sanitaetsschule participated in the MEDDAC's MASCAL exercise.

Enlisted programs
With the transition from a TDA to a TO&E posture for the organization, emphasis has been on training programs for the enlisted personnel. In cooperation with the local education center, a fully-funded EMT education program has been established which is being conducted in the hospital area. On-going constructions include duties, responsibilities and authority of NCOs in the MEDDAC through NCOPP.

"Establishing and improving communications between staff sections in the MEDDAC and the outlying health clinics is a priority," says CSM Odel Couch. A new study guide has been developed to assist enlisted soldiers in preparing for the Sergeant Morales Club board the SOM, SOQ, SOY and promotion boards. "Participation of all MEDDAC personnel has increased in community activities within the geographical area," he said.

The Wuerzburg MEDDAC hosted the first 7th MEDCOM CSM and Senior NCO Conference in August 1982. The conference created an awareness within MEDDAC senior NCOs of NCO responsibilities.

XO sums it up
Lt. Col. (P) Joseph K. Lillard, executive officer at the Wuerzburg MEDDAC, has been there six months and summarizes the benefits of the assignment. He says, "it has got to be one of the most delightful places I have ever been in my career. Our relationship with the community is excellent and these good things filter back to the military. Both the civilian and the military communities are pleasant. And our MEDDAC, while small enough for everyone to know each other, is large enough to provide excellent medical care for all service members and their families in the area."