New Natural Medicine Teaching Clinic Opens

Largest natural medicine clinic in Northwest has many green features and a focus on patient comforts

(Kenmore, WA 2-22-06). The Bastyr University teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health, unveils its new facility on February 22, 2006. Located seven blocks south of its previous site, where Wallingford meets Fremont at 3670 Stone Way North, the new Bastyr Center for Natural Health features elegant design, a therapeutic central water feature, green building features and a dispensary and retail space joining Western natural medicine with acupuncture and Oriental medicine products.

Patient and staff comfort and accessibility have been key considerations at every turn, creating a soothing and tranquil environment. The art glass water feature and slate flooring anchor the entry, enveloping the main lobby, reception and retail area with the pleasing music of falling water. Dramatic lighting, inviting colors inspired by both Western and Oriental herbal medicine, rich woods, beautiful fixtures and a recurring art motif combine to create a sanctuary of healing. Patient areas are larger and more comfortable, offering a total of 40 exam and treatment rooms. Bastyr Center for Natural Health now sees over 35,000 patient visits per year, making it the largest natural health clinic in the Northwest. Jamey Wallace, ND, Director of BCNH, states “From the beginning, we wanted a beautiful yet functional teaching clinic that would serve patients, students and faculty and be an asset to the community. Our dreams have come true. Students will receive their training in the crown jewel of natural medicine clinical education. And patients will find a healing environment in a state-of-the-art facility.”

The local architecture, planning and interior design firm CollinsWoerman designed and renovated the building interior. CollinsWoerman is known for health care planning and design as well as commercial, mixed-use, science and technology. Their health care clients include Northwest Hospital, Virginia Mason, Olympic Medical Center and Overlake Hospital. The two-floor Bastyr Center for Natural Health project created 32,000 square feet of diverse clinic space, including waiting and reception areas, administrative offices, a study library, 40 patient care rooms, treatment areas, student lounge, dispensaries and 2,500 feet of retail space. Project costs totaled $2,256,000. Architect Project Manager Grant Faust says “Bastyr’s vision from the very start was to create a healthy, pleasing and low-impact space. For our design of Bastyr Center for Natural Health, we’ve integrated natural, people and earth-friendly materials and design wherever possible.”

Bastyr Center for Natural Health has applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Commercial Interiors certification (LEED-CI), for compliance with high environmental standards. LEED-CI is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy and productive places to work, less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint. Notable green features include the use of comfortable, sustainable cork and marmoleum floors, an enhanced mechanical air venting system addressing indoor air quality and the use of low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for adhesives, paints and materials. Marmoleum provides less off-gassing than conventional vinyl petroleum floor products; it’s a sustainable resource made of natural products including linseed oil and a degradable hemp burlap backing.

Other amenities include increased accessibility for patients with special needs, large case review rooms for medical staff, shower and lockers for commuting staff and students, 37 patient parking spaces in the underground accessible garage, a two-person sauna used for special heat treatments, peat bath and hydrotherapy rooms, and the beautiful 2,500 square foot retail and dispensary space featuring healthy lifestyle products, unique gifts, natural health and wellness books, high quality supplements, herbs, food items and more.

BCNH clinical services include: naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutrition counseling, homeopathy, physical medicine and counseling. In addition to the teaching team model where advanced students see patients under the supervision of licensed physicians, Bastyr also offers practitioner care. The new Bastyr Center for Natural Health is located at 3670 Stone Way North, where Wallingford meets Fremont. For more information phone the center at (206) 834-4100 or visit www.BastyrCenter.org