The 52nd Medical Group breaks ground to offer closer services

Col. Tip Wight, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, Dr. Christoph Tein, LBB Trier, Herr Michael Billen, State Parliamentarian, Herr Klaus Rodens, Mayor of Spangdahlem, Herr Bernd Oberlander, Firm Gross, Mr. Kris Hurst, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Col. Lorrie Cappellino, 52nd Medical Group commander break ground to begin construction for the Spangdahlem Clinic, Nov. 24, 2008 The clinic is being built to consolidate medical care for the Spangdahlem community and is expected to open in 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle.)

The 52nd Medical Group breaks ground to offer closer services

Published Dec. 1, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE,Germany -- The 52nd Medical Group cooperated recently with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and various German representatives to begin construction of the new medical clinic located on Spangdahlem Air Base. The ground was broken on the site November 24, and the facility is expected to be open in April 2011.

"All military medical and dental services currently offered by the Bitburg Annex and Spangdahlem Air Base are expected to be consolidated on Spangdahlem Air Base by 2012," said Colonel Lorrie Cappellino, 52nd Medical Group commander. This construction project will replace multiple 1950s infrastructures making way for a state- of-the art heath care facility.

Col. Lorrie Cappellino also said, "As the medical support for the mission of the 52d Fighter Wing, we need to be close to our Airmen. The consolidated move to Spangdahlem offers tremendous opportunities to enhance not only our clinic's productivity and efficiency, but also our patients' overall health care experience." The men and women of the 52nd Medical Group firmly believe in "One Team-One Fight."

"I was stationed here from 2000-2002 when Bitburg was still a fully-operational hospital," she said. "When I came back in 2007, the Bitburg hospital transitioned to a clinic within two days after taking command. It was a very challenging day for the members of the 52nd Medical Group, and the members of the community. Transition is currently a way of life for Saber medics. However, we all know that the end result is well worth the effort and we all look forward to the opening of this new medical facility."

"We will continue to educate our beneficiaries about the medical care we offer and the location of those services," she said.