Affinity Medical Group opens new, innovative pediatric clinic
08 / 01 / 2006
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis. – Bright, brilliant color shapes are displayed on the walls to stimulate the mind. Clouds hang from the lobby ceiling and a six-foot tall, 220-gallon fish tank is on display in the lobby.
The atmosphere at the new Affinity Medical Group Pediatric clinic at 740 Deerwood Ave. in the Town of Menasha is meant to appeal to newborns through teenagers. “The challenge we were given was to build a clinic that would be accepted by patients that range in age from six months to 18,” says Gary Kusnierz, director of Construction and Development for Affinity Health System.
The design goal for the seven-physician clinic was to make it look less clinical as a way to ease patient anxiety about going to see the doctor. That’s why there is a children’s play area with touch screens, wireless Internet access, bright colors and the fish tank. Large lobby windows allow natural light to flood the space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The Deerwood clinic, like Affinity Medical Group’s Greenville and Little Chute clinics opened within this past year, incorporates environmentally friendly sustainable concepts through the U.S. Green Building Council and was designed through the patient’s eyes.
Traffic flow was designed so that patients will move from the waiting area to the examination rooms and the diagnostic area without backtracking or feeling like they have entered a maze. “With this new clinic design, we are attempting to change the patient experience,” Kusnierz said.
In addition to these amenities, the state-of-the-art clinic offers a full service laboratory and X-ray, as well as two medical procedure rooms in addition to exam rooms.
The following pediatricians are practicing at the new Deerwood clinic:
- Dr. Robert Gehringer
- Dr. Patricia Howe
- Dr. William Kasper
- Dr. Barbara Kissam
- Dr. Peter Roloff.
A sixth pediatrician will be joining the clinic later this year. In addition, OB/GYN services are provided at the clinic by Dr. J. Michael Gonzalez, Dr. Thomas Reinardy, and Deborah Zelhofer, a certified nurse midwife.
A public open house for the new clinic is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 23. Tours of the clinic will be given and people will have an opportunity to meet the physicians.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.