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MCDM AG.COM | M A RCH /A PR IL 2017 | Medical Construction & Design 47 Patient privacy In my opinion, patient privacy is one of the most frequently discussed, yet least thoughtfully executed elements in health- care facility design. Physicians discuss cancer and other major illnesses every day with pa- tients, perhaps as nonchalantly as someone giving directions in a foreign country, taking for granted that this is a completely new and unfamiliar subject matter. However, as a patient dealing with a new normal and uncertain future while absorb- ing new information about a diagnosis and treatment plan, this is a very delicate time. It's challenging to deal with a new diagnosis, not to mention shar- ing it with the world before you are used to the idea. I remem- ber sitting in my general physi- cian's offi ce just three days after fi nding out I had cancer. I was numb with anxiety and fear. Sitting on the paper-lined table in a small exam room, I could very clearly hear her chatting with patients in the adjacent rooms. Then, in one loud, swift motion, my physician entered the room, sat down and in a booming voice said, "Well, we know it's cancer." All I could think about was the patient in the room next to me, soaking in my news through the thin walls while they waited for their anti- biotics or annual physical. CHALLENGE: From a patient's perspective, I would strongly argue insulation not be on the list of budget cuts. Ample, quality sound barriers in patient rooms will increase patient well-being and are well worth the cost. Access to daylight, nature Prior to my cancer experi- ence, the only cancer facil- ity that stood out in my mind was Cancer Center for Adena Health in Chillicothe, Ohio. Floor-to-ceiling windows en- case the exterior of the building as patients' chairs face toward green space and a healing gar- den just outside. That was my only look inside an infusion room prior to my diagnosis. The treatment room where I received chemo had the treatment chairs arranged with their backs to the exterior walls in a U-shape, with the nurses' station in the center. The building was surrounded by a parking lot and I wouldn't consider the views to the outside as serene or calming. Despite this, looking back at the time spent in that chair, I would have preferred to look outside rather than my only view being that of other patients and their families. CHALLENGE: Studies have shown the incredible impact of views to nature and sunlight on a patient's health and recovery time. Even if a facility's location does not allow for signifi cant views to surrounding nature, consider alternative methods to bring the outdoors in. So, what now? Put yourself in the shoes of a patient entering that facility for the fi rst time. Take the time to listen to someone who has fi rst- hand experience in specifi c healthcare spaces. Understand their sensitivity to sound and privacy and look for opportuni- ties to bring daylight in and pro- vide views to nature. The next time you approach a project, study a patient's path through the building and their fi rst im- pressions. Does the space build confi dence in the quality of care they will receive? It goes without saying that it's easier to approach work through the lens of our own ex- periences. Planning and design- ing healthcare facilities may become so routine that it's easy to look at these spaces strictly as a designer or administrator or even a marketer. My experi- ence with cancer has certainly changed the lens through which I see these treatment spaces. In the process of planning and managing a project's schedule, scope and budget, I only ask that you take time to consider the ways in which design can positively aff ect the well-being of patients. As the marketing manager for DesignGroup in Columbus, Ohio, Kendra Brown is responsible for manag- ing the fi rm's brand, thought leadership and marketing communications. Top: Finding ways to incorporate nature into the treatment areas of a facility can be challenging, but it is worth prioritizing to improve the patient experience and recovery time. Shown: Adena Cancer Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. Right: Sound barriers and insulation are often underestimated elements of design. Cancer patients deserve the utmost in privacy, including privacy between exam rooms. Shown: Patient exam room at Neuse Valley Internal Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina.