How cancer centers are designing new north stars for the changing future

That’s nearly 5,500 people receiving life-altering news every day. People who will spend weeks, months, and sometimes even years cycling in and out of cancer in the hopes they’ll transition from new diagnoses to survivorship statistics. Because despite the rising incidence rates, the risk of dying from cancer is actually lower than it was in the 1990s.

The adage goes that everyone is affected by cancer in some way, but it is becoming a first-person experience for more people than ever before. With the rise of certain cancers in people in their 20s and 30s, and those diagnosed in their 40s, 50s, and 60s able to live longer even with a cancer diagnosis, cancer centers are poised to become one of the busiest healthcare service lines across the country.

But are cancer centers equipped for this future of cancer care? Higher incidence rates, especially in younger populations who previously never considered receiving a cancer diagnosis, means more screening and prevention services. More cancer diagnoses mean a need for more inpatient and outpatient treatment beds, infusion bays, imaging and laboratory spaces and other offerings. More cancer survivors mean more counseling services, nutrition guidance and other surveillance and support spaces.

Our current work with some of the top cancer care organizations in the country shows how they are rethinking how patients receive care, where compassionate care is fused with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostics.

These are north stars our cancer experts are currently using to guide them in rethinking the future of cancer centers: 

Patients’ Stories Matter

The emotional state of a cancer patient differs depending on what part of the journey they’re on. Diagnosis prompts anxiety. Treatment can be isolating and draining. Screenings and tests can create fear and dread. Some people have immense support from family and friends, while others face their cancer experience largely alone.

These varied emotions and mental health states can get lost in a healthcare facility where healing the physical body is the priority. Rooms are cold and windowless. There are few spaces to get away and process information. Not enough space inspires hope and optimism during a time when those feelings are needed the most.

Our current work with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) and the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) involves hours of patient interviews and research into their cancer journeys, and what they felt would make it better. The research also branches out to interview doctors, nurses and other support staff about what physical space would make it easier to prioritize empathetic care and true connection. Kimberly Silver, a Blue Cottage of CannonDesign consultant working on the MSK project, shared that some important patient insights from research include the need for patients and loved ones to process information away from clinical spaces and that light, sound and color can affect their emotions, so the desire a balanced environment.

This kind of ethnographic work takes time and may seem to sometimes offer obvious insight, but taking them into consideration from the start of the design process can result in a much more responsive environment that considers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual state of a patient. A mantra for the patient experience at MSK is “progress is sacred,” recognizing that every patient journey towards discharge and recovery is different and every milestone should be recognized. The patient room, for example, is meant to serve as a retreat for times when the patient desires care and protection. It also allows for personalization and adaptability to meet the needs of the individual, recognizing that emotions and the care journey is constantly shifting.

The delicate integration of research

The forward momentum of cancer research is critical in increasing the rate of cancer survivorship and giving hope to that rising number of newly diagnosed patients. However, cancer research labs and clinical trial spaces are often siloed away in separate buildings or on a different campus altogether, creating a disconnect between groundbreaking discoveries and patients seeking vital information and hope.

“There is an increasing demand for spaces that support the administration of clinical trials,” says Susan Silverman, MSN, MBA, a consultant with Blue Cottage of CannonDesign, nurse and former Administrative Director of oncology services at New York Presbyterian. “These specialized spaces need to support both administrative tasks like patient enrollment and education as well as the actual treatment.”

The UCM Cancer Pavilion will house a dedicated clinical trial space for streamlined access to the latest research and treatments, a proof point of all the scientific minds working towards the latest diagnostics and treatments. It will also house a specialized laboratory allowing for better translation of personalized medicine techniques such as CAR-T cell therapies used to treat blood cancers.

One-stop care (And scans. And bloodwork. And therapy.)

As healthcare organizations merge or acquire one another, they often create sprawling campuses or clinics across regions, leading to logistical challenges and increased stress for caregivers and patients who must navigate multiple sites for appointments or tests. That’s why when organizations are building new cancer centers, they prioritize centralizing all cancer services in one location to streamline care and reduce the strain on patients and caregivers alike.

"From a patient safety and satisfaction perspective, key services should be designed in a thoughtful progression to reduce footsteps for those in a diminished state," says Laura Constantin, a Buffalo-based healthcare client leader who previously designed many patient experiences while working at Roswell Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Understanding the cycle of care and those most frequented spaces are key to creating a comforting experience."

Mount Sinai Medical Center’s new Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Florida, will consolidate the entire campus’ cancer services into one building, with the patient journey thoughtfully considered from start to finish. The centralized and multidisciplinary care model is complemented by ample public respite spaces such as a healing garden overlooking Biscayne Bay and an extensive museum-like art program.

Rethinking cancer care design is important to confront both the rising number of people being diagnosed with cancer, and the unique physical, emotional and mental journey each patient goes through. Keeping the “human factor” at the forefront of cancer care — whether that’s making care centralized or creating a healthier and sustainable cancer center — is the common denominator.