ccording to
the American
Cancer Society,
it's estimated
that there were
over 1.6 million
new cancer diagnoses in the U.S.
in 2014, with the number increas-
ing globally each year. With this
number of cases, it is reasonable to
assume that regional health cen-
ters will be expanding facilities to
provide services to accommodate
these patients. A community-based
approach to the delivery of health-
care also suggests the best way to
treat these patients is by providing
service in their own areas — mini-
mizing the expense and stress of
going to a larger, perhaps unfamil-
iar, metropolitan location for care.
Healing Gardens…
Therapeutic Gardens…
Contemplative Gardens…
Ecotherapy Gardens…
All manner of terms have arisen in
recent years to describe land-
scapes being incorporated into
healthcare facilities. There is
considerable research indicat-
ing that measurable positive
outcomes can be achieved when
patients have access to nature.
Blood pressure, stress levels,
requests for pain medication and
hospital stays can all go down,
so it is logical that these spaces
have an important place in the
healthcare environment, and
particularly a cancer center.
Tips for designing
today's cancer center
gardens
By Lydia Kimball
to Harmony
Small water elements can be easily incorporated into a garden. > Perennials, such as daisies,
provide a familiar and cheerful garden detail.> Visible from all levels, the gardens are a
welcoming presence. As trees mature, they will provide privacy to people in the garden.
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