Two more Affinity clinics earn 'green' certification

04 / 30 / 2007

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For more information contact:
Lisa Cruz, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)

MENASHA, Wis. – The Brillion and Darboy Affinity Medical Group clinics, which opened in fall 2006, have achieved “certified” status through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system.

The two Affinity clinics join the Affinity Greenville clinic as the only health care facilities in the state and among a handful throughout the nation to earn this distinction. The two identical clinics are 3,500 square feet and feature a full-service lab and X-ray area.

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 the construction of the Greenville clinic in 2005, all Affinity construction projects are done “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 both clinics. “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.

Affinity is seeking LEED certification for two other new clinic projects in the Fox Valley, as well as a 50,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among 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 is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to 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 Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.