Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations announced today that Erlanger Health System will build, operate and staff a health and wellness center at the Volkswagen manufacturing facility currently under construction at Enterprise South.

The new 32,000-square-foot facility will offer a primary care center, occupational medicine services, optical and dental care, a pharmacy, fitness center, and physical therapy services.

Adjacent to the main facility will be a 13,000-square-foot child care center.

A LifeForce air ambulance helicopter pad is also onsite.

The facility, called Erlanger at Volkswagen Drive, is unique in the Erlanger system in that it will serve the Volkswagen manufacturing facility, its families and suppliers, but it will also be available to residents of the surrounding community.

“This partnership between Volkswagen and Erlanger will be greatly beneficial to our employees who will have a vast range of health and wellness services available to them right here at the plant,” said Hans-Herbert Jagla, executive vice president of Human Resources for Volkswagen in Chattanooga. “We are especially excited to open Erlanger at Volkswagen Drive to the community as well. We’ve been told that this part of town is underserved for medical services and we are pleased that we can be a good neighbor as well.”

Jim Brexler, Erlanger president and CEO, said, “Through this partnership, Erlanger will be able to provide all pre-employment, occupational health, minor emergent care and rehab services within minutes of the auto assembly plant floor.

“What makes our sixth campus even more innovative is the focus on preventive care and our ability to not only serve Volkswagen and its suppliers, but the community at large.”

The primary care center at Erlanger at Volkswagen Drive will be staffed by internal medicine specialists and pediatricians and mirror the operating hours of shift workers at the assembly plant. Other specialists will rotate through the center on an as needed basis, such as orthopedic and OB/GYN physicians. The onsite occupational medicine program will provide medical services to the business community in that area. Among other business partners to be announced at a later date are Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital, which will provide physical therapy services at the site.

Erlanger at Volkswagen Drive is the continuation of an existing business partnership between Erlanger and Volkswagen. Last year, Volkswagen entered into an agreement with Erlanger to provide onsite medical coverage throughout the construction phase of the automotive plant.

Since that time Erlanger has provided on an onsite medical team which has also been working closely with Hamilton County EMS officials to facilitate the appropriate responses in the event of medical emergencies at the construction site.