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42 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2017 | MCDM AG.COM Role of repurposing Repurposing a facility will depend on multiple factors, such as location, prox- imity to other facilities, site amenities, age of building, construction type and occupancy, etc., as well as adhering to patient satisfaction needs in areas such as design elements for a soothing environment and incorporating certain technologies including real-time loca- tion services for an expedited patient visit and improved experience. In a scenario where the existing cancer center is freestanding and off site, it might be best to divest the asset rather than convert. In a scenario where the building is connected to the hospital chassis, the problem becomes much more complex with multi-faceted solu- tions. As an example, investing in a more stringent construction type initially will provide greater occupancy fl ex- ibility when repurposing. Conversely, planning around a reduced building lifespan would minimize upfront costs and provide a quicker ROI so future demolition may be more feasible. Planning a new facility based on the rapidly increasing use of oral medica- tions presents a diff erent challenge. It is unrealistic to assume that oral medi- cations will replace traditional infusion services in the near future. However, it is reasonable to assume care delivery will almost certainly continue to shift toward oral medications. Traditional chemotherapy infu- sion, once a cornerstone of the cancer care program, could change over time. Planning and designing a facility able to grow into this reality is paramount to a successful cancer center of the future. One way to alleviate anxiety caused by this shift is to integrate the oncology clinic and infusion depart- ments. "Flexibility within the facility is an extremely important factor when building infusion centers today," said Dr. Sumeet Bhatia, Community Cancer Center North hematology and oncol- ogy specialist. A design team collaborated with oncologists at MD Anderson Cancer Network's Community Cancer Center North in Indianapolis, Indiana, to plan for this fl exibility. Traditionally, infusion and clinic spaces have been considered as inde- pendent departments that preferred a close proximity. Eliminating this distinction provides a means to expand the clinical exam space by converting private infusion bays back to exam, as the potential for infusion services wane. This provides long-term facility fl exibility but has the added benefi t of reducing travel and increasing produc- tivity of the medical oncologist. It is also fair to consider oral medi- cations might reduce the amount of time a patient needs to have treatments administered. In this scenario, it is worth considering alternate wellness options for patients in lieu of added exam room space. Role of wellness Amenities and alternate wellness op- tions are being implemented in today's cancer care environments, geared to A calm and soothing environment develops a positive experience for patients and helps to lessen anxiety.