Odana Atrium: A New Clinic, Naturally

Natural light floods the high atrium lobby, highlighting wood and stone and the soothing colors of nature that cover the walls. The large space, brought to human scale by thoughtful design and the use of sunlight and other natural elements, invites patients into a warm environment that has been specifically designed to enhance the healing process.

Odana Atrium, the newest University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation primary care clinic, is a far cry from UW Health Odana and UW Health Meadowood, the two family medicine clinics that combined to form this inviting and peaceful environment. It is a beautiful new clinic, and it is also the embodiment of a new approach to health care.

Demonstrating the Newest and the Best

"Our goal is to deliver the best possible primary care in the state," says Marilyn Chohaney, MD. "Odana Atrium is undertaking a three-year demonstration project for the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation. We are trying new ideas, working more collaboratively with each other and our patients and analyzing everything that goes into our patient care. Every job and work flow will change in the process."

"Our model of care emphasizes the clinic as a care team that works with the patient for health and wellness, as well as for acute illness," explains Catherine James, MD.

The new model is partially based on reports from the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Both challenged providers to change their delivery of health care, to promote wellness rather than disease care, and to increase efficiency, quality and safety.

Toyota meets UW Health

The clinical care team is also very intrigued by the Toyota Production System (TPS) that is being applied to medical care in a number of health care settings across the United States TPS, or lean manufacturing, empowers every employee to say, "I think I have a better way." It propelled Toyota to the top of the automotive industry, and its principles are transferable. Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle turned around a huge deficit using TPS. Drs. Chohaney and James, along with Sara L'Herault, Odana Atrium clinic manager, visited Virginia Mason in Seattle to see TPS in action.

A robust measurement system will generate detailed reports on a monthly and quarterly basis. By the end of the second year, the team hopes the reports will show that patient safety has improved and that patients are in better health and happier with their care.

A Haven for Wellness and Healing

Dr. Chohaney, formerly of Meadowood, and Dr. James, of the previous Odana clinic, served as physician leader and medical director, respectively, for the Odana Atrium design and construction.

With the emphasis on wellness and healing, the team wanted a building in which form follows function. Large windows at the entrance and a skylight that runs the length of the building illuminate the clinic, and windows added at the ends of corridors create more warmth. The large interior is divided into four "neighborhoods" or care centers, each with 6 to 8 physicians, for a more comfortable, less overwhelming experience. Patients always go to the same neighborhood to see their doctor.

Augmenting the care centers are a patient education area for conferences and classes with health educators and nutritionists, and a self-education area in the lobby, where patients may use computers to access health information online. Staff wellness also is promoted, with a meditation room available for a quiet getaway, and a pleasant break room. Pedometers will soon be available, letting staff know how much they walk each day.

In the near future, integrative medicine physicians will move their primary care practices to Odana Atrium, while keeping their integrative medicine clinics at Research Park. At Odana Atrium, they will help educate other physicians in the benefits of integrative medicine. Acupuncture and massage therapy will be soon be offered, and nutraceuticals are already available at the on-site pharmacy.

"Everyone, from receptionists to nurses to laboratory technicians to providers, has been enthusiastic and very involved in all aspects of our new clinic," says Dr. James. "Trying to redesign and improve health care is an exciting and important undertaking. Our three-year project will be over before you know it, and we will learn just how successful we have been with improving our patient care and service."