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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000912057-97-004254.txt : 19970222
<SEC-HEADER>0000912057-97-004254.hdr.sgml : 19970222
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000912057-97-004254
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		3
FILED AS OF DATE:		19970212
SROS:			NASD

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDCATH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000931782
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-OFFICES & CLINICS OF DOCTORS OF MEDICINE [8011]
		IRS NUMBER:				561635096
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-48547
		FILM NUMBER:		97525100

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7621 LITTLE AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 106
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28226
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045413228

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7621 LITTLE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 106
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28226

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MEDCATH
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941021

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TCW GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000850401
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		865 SOUTH FIGUEROA ST
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90017

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>SC-13G
<TEXT>


<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

             INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 AND 13d-2
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (Amendment No.       )*


                                  Medcath, Inc. 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   584050108  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)




- -----------------------------

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                        (Continued on following page(s))
                                Page 1 of 8 Pages

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 584050108                    13G              Page  2  of  8  Pages   
- ----------------------                               ---------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               The TCW Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                        (a)  / /
                                                                        (b)  /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Nevada corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           NUMBER OF               5    SOLE VOTING POWER
            SHARES                                                      827,400
         BENEFICIALLY              ---------------------------------------------
           OWNED BY                6    SHARED VOTING POWER
             EACH                                                           -0-
           REPORTING               ---------------------------------------------
            PERSON                 7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             WITH                                                       827,400
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                            -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                        827,400
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
     CERTAIN SHARES*
                                                                           / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
      7.4% (see response to Item 4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
                                      HC/CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 584050108                    13G              Page  3  of  8  Pages   
- ----------------------                               ---------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               Robert Day
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                        (a)  / /
                                                                        (b)  /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           NUMBER OF               5    SOLE VOTING POWER
            SHARES                                                       827,400
         BENEFICIALLY              ---------------------------------------------
           OWNED BY                6    SHARED VOTING POWER
             EACH                                                            -0-
           REPORTING               ---------------------------------------------
            PERSON                 7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             WITH                                                        827,400
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                             -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                         827,400
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
     CERTAIN SHARES*
                                                                           / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
      7.4% (see response to Item 4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*7
                                      HC/IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

<PAGE>

                                                        Page  4  of  8  Pages

Item 1(a).     Name of Issuer:

               Medcath, Inc.

Item 1(b).     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

               7621 Little Avenue
               Suite 106
               Charlotte, NC 28226
               
Item 2(a).     Name of Persons Filing:
Item 2(b).     Address of Principal Business Office:
Item 2(c).     Citizenship:

               The TCW Group, Inc.
               865 South Figueroa Street
               Los Angeles, CA 90017
               (Nevada Corporation)

               Robert Day 
               200 Park Avenue, Suite 2200
               New York, New York 10166
               (United States Citizen)

Item 2(d).     Title of Class of Securities:

               Common Stock

Item 2(e).     CUSIP Number:

               584050108

<PAGE>

                                                        Page 5  of  8  Pages

Item 3.        If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 
               13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:

          (a)  [ ]  Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act:

                         Not applicable

          (b)  [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act:

                         Not applicable

          (c)  [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act:
                    
                         Not applicable

          (d)  [ ]  Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                    Investment Company Act:

                         Not applicable

          (e)  [ ]  Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
                    Investment Advisers Act of 1940:

                         Not applicable

          (f)  [ ]  Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the
                    provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
                    1974 or Endowment Fund (SEE 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)):

                         Not applicable

          (g)  [X]  Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Rule
                    13d-1(b)(ii)(G) (SEE Item 7):

                         The TCW Group, Inc.
                         Robert Day (individual who may be deemed to control The
                              TCW Group, Inc. and other holders of the Common
                              Stock of the issuer)

          (h)  [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H):

                         Not applicable.
<PAGE>

                                                        Page  6  of  8  Pages

Item 4.        Ownership**

          THE TCW GROUP, INC.

               (a)  Amount beneficially owned: 827,400

               (b)  Percent of class: 7.4%

               (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                    (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                            827,400

                    (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:   none.

                    (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
                            827,400

                    (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                    of:  none.

          ROBERT DAY 

               (a)  Amount beneficially owned: 827,400

               (b)  Percent of class: 7.4%

               (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                    (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 
                            827,400

                    (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: none.

                    (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
                            827,400

                    (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                    of:  none.

- --------------------
**The filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that 
the reporting person or any of its affiliates is, for the purposes of Section 
13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of 
any securities covered by this Schedule 13G.  In addition, the filing of this 
Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person 
or any of its affiliates is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by 
this Schedule 13G for any other purposes than Section 13(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934.

<PAGE>

                                                        Page  7  of  8  Pages

Item 5.        Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

                    Not applicable.

Item 6.        Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

               Various persons other than as described in Item 4 have the right
               to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from,
               or the proceeds from the sale of, the Common Stock of Medcath,
               Inc.

Item 7.        Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which 
               Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding 
               Company.

               SEE Exhibit A.

Item 8.        Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

               Not applicable. SEE Exhibits A and B.

Item 9.        Notice of Dissolution of Group.

               Not applicable.

Item 10.       Certification.

          Because this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), the
          following certification is included:


          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
          belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
          course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
          have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
          of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
          participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.

<PAGE>

                                                        Page  8  of  8  Pages

                                    SIGNATURE


               After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.


Dated this 12th day of February, 1997.


                                        The TCW Group, Inc.

                                                  
                                        By:  /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                             -----------------------
                                             Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                             Authorized Signatory
                         


                                        Robert Day

                                                  
                                        By:  /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                             -----------------------
                                             Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                             Under Power of Attorney 
                                             dated January 30, 1996, 
                                             on File with Schedule 13G
                                             Amendment Number 1 for 
                                             Matrix Service Co. dated 
                                             January 30, 1996.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-21
<SEQUENCE>2
<DESCRIPTION>RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A


                 RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

PART A: TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

               The TCW Group, Inc.

               Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control The TCW 
               Group, Inc.)


RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN RULE 13d-1(b):

          (i)   Trust Company of the West, a California corporation and a bank 
          as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

          (ii)  TCW Asset Management Company, a California corporation and an
          Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment 
          Advisers Act of 1940. 

          (iii) TCW Funds Management, Inc., a California corporation and an
          Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment 
          Advisers Act of 1940. 
     
Note:          No Common Stock of Medcath, Inc. is held directly by The TCW
               Group, Inc.  Other than the indirect holdings of The TCW Group,
               Inc. no Common Stock of Medcath, Inc. is held directly or
               indirectly by Robert Day, an individual who may be deemed to
               control The TCW Group, Inc. 
     
PART B: NON TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

               Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control the 
               holders described below which are not subsidiaries of The TCW 
               Group, Inc.)

RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN 
RULE 13d-1(b):

               Oakmont Corporation, a California corporation and an Investment
               Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers 
               Act of 1940.

               Cypress International Partners Limited, a British Virgin Islands
               corporation and an Investment Adviser registered under 
               Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.



                                    A-1
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.
<SEQUENCE>3
<DESCRIPTION>JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT B

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT


               The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing 
statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and 
that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be 
filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing 
additional joint acquisition statements.  The undersigned acknowledge that 
each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for 
the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained
therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the 
information concerning the other, except to the extent that he or it knows or 
has reason to believe that such information is accurate.


Dated: February 12, 1997


                                        The TCW Group, Inc.

                                             
                                        By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                            -----------------------
                                            Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                            Authorized Signatory
               


                                        Robert Day

                                             
                                        By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                            -----------------------
                                            Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                            Under Power of Attorney 
                                            dated January 30, 1996, 
                                            on File with Schedule 13G
                                            Amendment Number 1 for 
                                            Matrix Service Co. dated
                                            January 30, 1996.

                                    B-1
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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