The design of outpatient environments plays a crucial role in shaping the journey of a cancer patient, providing a foundation for healing through carefully crafted spaces that address individual needs, values, and experiences. Healing environments are born out of the complex interplay between practices, space, and care, with a specific focus on the patient’s unique journey.
“Every patient’s cancer care journey is unique and how they experience healthcare environments is a very personal compilation of past experience, state of wellness, the built environment and service delivery. As healthcare planners, our primary goal in the framing of healing environments is to reduce anxiety at all phases of the patient journey,” said Rebecca MacDonald.
Understanding the Patient Journey
Creating a healing outpatient environment starts with understanding the patient’s journey. A key part of the design process is meeting with patients, caregivers and clinical staff to develop an understanding of the priorities and workflows at each stage of the treatment. Through the mapping of these flows and priorities we establish key design priorities. These design priorities impact both the big planning moves i.e., where we locate the front door and how we bring natural light into the building, to the small design elements, such as supporting patient privacy and designing alcoves for supplies. Each touchpoint in this journey must be designed with empathy and precision, ensuring that the patients feel supported from the moment they arrive.
The Big Design Moves
Creating the First Impression
Patients often arrive at cancer centers with heightened anxiety and the initial interaction with space can significantly impact their outlook for the day. Through the design of a clear place of arrival with a well-defined and convenient drop-off location, patients have a clear sense of arrival at the cancer centre. This clarity helps patients feel immediately at ease conveying the message, “I have arrived at the right place.” Locating the Welcome Desk and Patient Registration so that it is immediately visible from entrance, reassures patients that they are supported, establishing an immediate connection between patients and staff.
Managing Routes and Transitions
Navigating healthcare spaces can add to patient stress. Clear intuitive wayfinding from the entrance to reception and beyond is critical to creating a positive patient journey. Through the design of repeated, recognizable decision points the design team can reinforce a sense of knowing and control, reducing anxiety. Reducing travel distances between clinics also support patients’ physical needs and comfort. The New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre, designed by Parkin and ZGF Architects, exemplify these principles, featuring a main reception desk visible from the entrance and drop-off area, and clinical spaces consolidated on two central floors. These design features facilitate familiarity and ease of navigation.
Prioritizing access to Natural Light and Views to Nature
At all phases of the patient journey access to natural light and views to nature is key to reducing anxiety and keeping connection with the environment beyond the clinical space. Using lightwells, courtyards, and clerestory glazing we are able to bring light deep into the building. Key examples of this include designing lightwells into the radiation treatment department, and courtyards at key points in the building that support wayfinding and bring daylight to clinical spaces and staff areas that are in the center of the building.
Considering Department Adjacencies
The relationship of the public spaces and retail outlets to clinical departments is an important consideration. Dynamic public spaces which integrate waiting, event space and food service with access to natural light are important program elements that provide space for patients and carers to meet and pass time around appointments. However, frequently the public spaces in cancer centers include food services. Locating the systemic therapy department away from the smells of the food service areas supports patients who are feeling unwell and sensitive to food smells. When master planning the cancer center the range of experiences of patients and families are carefully considered to ensure that departmental adjacencies create mutually beneficial relationships, and positively impact the patient experience.
Design Innovations at the Smaller Scale
Clinical Spaces
Effective clinical spaces contribute significantly to the healing process. This starts at the entrance to the clinical departments. Locating reception and waiting rooms close to clinic entrances but with limited sightlines into clinical areas, ensures patients interact with staff in a controlled manner. Once in the clinical space, flexibility of space is key to catering to the needs of patients for privacy or social interaction. Patients highly value their ability to set up their treatment space to reflect their comfort level with other patients, their state of wellness and how they want to use their time. Privacy Screens, access to Wi-Fi and charging ports are all small features that have a big impact on patient experience. Access to natural light and views is also a high priority for patients with longer treatments. Views of nature provide a positive distraction in the treatment areas.
Programming and carefully planning spaces for equipment, waste, and clean and soiled flows ensures that everything has a place. Clutter in clinical spaces creates a heightened sense of anxiety for patients and is inefficient for staff. Through the careful design of storage and support areas, the design team can help bring a sense of calm and order to the clinical areas.
Support Spaces
Beyond the clinical areas, support spaces for family and friends are vital. Comfortable waiting areas with access to refreshments and natural scenery can significantly reduce the stress associated with waiting. Waiting and lounge areas support a variety of activities from social interaction and play areas for children, to remote work and quiet contemplation. Homelike lounge spaces with flexible furniture allow patients and families to define their space as needed. A variety of furniture types, including lounge chairs, tables and chairs in a variety of sizes and seating with charging outlets, can support a variety of activities, including remote work, board games, and quiet conversation. Spaces for respite, including interior garden spaces and outdoor terraces offer moments of escape from clinical settings. Locating these spaces in quiet but convenient areas of the cancer centre is important to their success. The key to successful patient and family support spaces is flexibility and variety, to meet the varied needs of patients and their caregivers. These lounge spaces are key touchpoints on the patient and family journey.
Designing care environments with a deep understanding of the patient journey, integrating key elements that reduce anxiety, provide clear navigation, support clinical functions, and offer comfort and respite, significantly enhances the patient experience. Creating spaces that heal is not just about medical treatment but about fostering a supportive, empathetic, and holistic environment that addresses the comprehensive needs of cancer patients and their families.