Affinity's pediatric clinic receives 'green' certification
06 / 25 / 2007
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Maria Heim, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
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MENASHA, Wis. – The Affinity Medical Group pediatric clinic in the Town of Menasha, which opened in July 2006, has achieved “certified” status through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system.
The clinic, located at 740 Deerwood Ave., was designed to ease patient anxiety about seeing a doctor. The building includes bright, brilliant color shapes displayed on the walls to stimulate the mind, fabric clouds hanging from the lobby ceiling, and a six-foot tall, 220-gallon fish tank in the center of the lobby. Large lobby windows allow natural light to flood the space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary standards and certification program created by the U.S. Green Building Council that recognizes environmentally friendly construction projects. The clinics incorporate environmentally friendly, sustainable concepts. LEED design follows six criteria:
- Sustained site development
- Water efficiency and savings
- Energy efficiency and savings
- Conservation of materials and selection
- Indoor environmental quality
- Innovation in design.
Since 2005, all Affinity construction projects are undertaken “with the goal of reducing or eliminating the impact of the building on the environment,” said Gary Kusnierz, director of Construction & Development for Affinity Health System. That includes placing clinics closer to residential areas for convenient access for Affinity patients, Kusnierz said.
Incorporating sustainable design in building projects is not only good for the environment, “it has a direct correlation to Affinity’s mission and values,” Kusnierz said.
Hoffman LLC, Appleton, was the construction manager for the pediatric clinic. “Environmentally responsible solutions require a commitment, and alignment of this commitment by Affinity and Hoffman has been very rewarding,” said Paul J. Hoffman, owner of Hoffman LLC.
Hoffman is a planning, architecture and construction management firm that has been involved with more than 2.5 million square feet of LEED-certified projects. “Providing responsible solutions for our clients that have minimal impact on the environment has been part of our culture for more than a decade,” Hoffman said.
The pediatric clinic joins three other Affinity clinics in Brillion, Darboy and Greenville that have received LEED certification. Affinity also is pursuing certification for its Little Chute clinic, as well as a 50,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project at
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and has been nationally listed for two years in a row among the top 50 health systems for quality and efficiency (Thomson Reuters, Modern Healthcare; 2009, 2010). For nine consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI Health (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation – Affinity ranks no. 81 in the 2011 report. 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. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It has been nationally ranked in the Top 50 Health Insurance Plans for five consecutive years in the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. 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 26 family practice and specialty clinics – 23 of which are transforming into medical home models – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.