Health Briefs

Mason Health reveals new patient access center

A patient access center officially opened at Mason Clinic with a ribbon-cutting event for staff March 8.

According to a news release, plans to remodel the former clinic and office space was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19. Construction began in August 2021 and was completed in February. Public Hospital District No. 1 commissioners Darrin Moody and Gayle Weston, patient access center staff and Mason Health Senior leadership attended the ribbon cutting.

“The outstanding work of leaders and front-line staff across the District have brought the completion of the Patient Access Center to fruition,” Mason Health CEO Eric Moll said. “The patient access center presents strong alignment with our strategic vision of providing the best patient-centered care in the Pacific Northwest. It is my pleasure to celebrate and recognize this major achievement for our staff, patients and community. I am proud of all that is being accomplished.”

In the new center, schedulers for primary care, pedicatrics and behavioral health will work closely next to the team for specialty service lines, including women’s health, eye care, general surgery, podiatry and orthopedics.

“The completion of the new patient access center is a wonderful achievement during what has been a difficult couple of years for everyone,” Moody said in a news release. “It is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the staff we have at Mason Health. This centralized approach to scheduling medical visits within the Mason Health system aligns with our organization’s culture, while continually striving to reach the highest levels of customer service and a stellar patient experience.”

Mason Health earns first energy star certification

Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star certification for superior energy performance.

According to a news release, Public Hospital District No. 1 announced this is the first year Mason Health has earned the award. Energy Star certified buildings and plants are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings throughout the country based on weather-normalized source energy use that factors account occupancy, hours of operation and other measurements.

Mason Health’s move toward for energy efficiency includes converting exterior campus lighting to LED lighting in 2019, converting all interior T12 fluorescent bulbs to more efficient T8 bulbs and any light fixture in the last two years that has needed repairs has been replaced with LED lights.

Mason Health’s energy score is 86 out of 100, which means it outperforms 86% of similar buildings and uses 20.6% less energy per square foot than other buildings in the country.