Kusnierz named director of functional excellence
10 / 23 / 2006
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis. – Affinity Health System has named Gary Kusnierz as director of functional excellence. Kusnierz has been Affinity’s director of construction and development for the past five years.
In his new role, Kusnierz will lead customer service and quality initiatives for the entire system. Specifically, Kusnierz will be charged with developing and incorporating LEAN principles throughout Affinity. LEAN is a process that helps organizations eliminate waste and become more efficient in the delivery of products and services to its customers. Historically associated with the manufacturing industry, it is becoming more popular in other industries.
“We’re going to be challenging the status quo like never before,” Kusnierz said about his new role. “In the end, we’re going to provide exceptional customer service to our patients.”
Kusnierz received his master’s degree in engineering management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. During his graduate work, Kusnierz studied extensively the principles of LEAN and completed his thesis on applying LEAN in health care. Kusnierz earned his LEAN Lead Certification and Master LEAN Lead Certification in the Toyota Production System. Kusnierz, who serves on the University of Wisconsin Madison continuing education presenter panel, has spoken both locally and nationally on applying LEAN in health care.
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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.