Medical Construction & Design

JAN-FEB 2017

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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24 Medical Construction & Design | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2017 | MCDM AG.COM BY JASON SCHROER A ccording to the National Cancer Institute, 15.5 mil- lion children and adults with a history of cancer were living in the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2016. The NCI reports that by Jan. 1, 2026, the population of cancer survivors in the U.S. will rise to an estimated 20.3 million. Due to the prevalence and unique characteristics of this disease, specialty build- ings are being created to address the needs of cancer patients and their caregivers. To design facilities re- sponsive to these needs, it is important to realize how the disease aff ects those whose lives it touches and how the physical environment can sup- port eff ective cancer care. Operational considerations The NCI recognizes three types of cancer centers: com- prehensive cancer centers, cancer centers and basic laboratory cancer centers. According to the NCI, there are 69 NCI-designated centers in the U.S. — 45 comprehen- sive cancer centers, 17 cancer centers and 7 basic laboratory cancer centers. A typical cancer center pro- gram covers three main treat- ment areas: surgical, medical and radiological services. In addition, cancer centers often provide support services, such as nutrition or alternative therapies. The services being delivered at a center deter- mine the programming and operational fl ow of its design. Surgical cancer care is centered on the identifi cation and removal of tumors. The programmatic design chal- lenge is the majority of freestanding cancer centers do not include surgery suites. Because many tumor identi- fi cation and removal proce- dures are considered inpatient services, cancer centers must be associated with or connect- ed in some way to a hospital. If the surgical platform is not physically connected with the cancer center facility, con- nectivity through telemedicine or other means of team care coordination is important so that surgeons can contribute to patients' follow-up care. Medical oncology involves clinical space and treatment space for infusion services, as well as laboratory and pharmacy space. The location of the laboratory is infl uenced by operational considerations. Providers are split about 50/50 on the optimal placement of the laboratory. Some provid- ers want the laboratory in a central location where most if not all blood draws take place. CREATING UNIQUELY RESPONSIVE CANCER CARE ENVIRONMENTS Designs that address the needs of patients and caregivers 1 2 SPECIALTY CARE ISSUE FOCUS

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