Top Design Considerations for Modern Cancer Centers

Just as modern medicine has made tremendous advances in cancer treatment, oncology clinics are also improving the patient experience. A new emphasis on person-centered design helps relieve anxiety and promote feelings of agency and empowerment during a stressful time.

What does person-centered design entail, and why is it important? Here’s how modern healthcare facilities make their oncology wards feel more comfortable.

Why Person-Centered Design Matters

A cancer diagnosis is often a scary and overwhelming experience. When the patient attends an oncology clinic for treatment, these feelings may intensify. It doesn’t help that traditional healthcare design has revolved around procedural needs rather than the patient experience. This can create an environment that seems bleak and oppressive.

In other words, patients feel disempowered, which increases their anxiety. This may actually contribute to negative outcomes. The goal of any healthcare environment, then, must be to reduce patient stress whenever possible. Moreover, it should empower patients by helping them reclaim their agency and maintain some control over their experience.

For example, chemotherapy treatments require patients to remain seated for lengthy periods, and are often an uncomfortable process. Having access to beverages, mobile devices, and personal items provides a sense of empowerment. Even if small, it can have a measurable effect on patients’ mood and stress levels.

Person-centered design acknowledges this benefit and strives to create comfort whenever possible. Rather than organizing spaces or crafting furniture to support tasks or procedures, it emphasizes human activities and needs.

Helping Oncology Patients Reclaim Agency

As previously mentioned, cancer patients often feel helpless. It doesn’t help that many of the medical devices and seating options they encounter are restrictive, uncomfortable, or downright scary. This all contributes to an alien environment, one in which the patient feels out of place and intimidated.

The healthcare design community has increasingly embraced the homey aesthetic seen in the hospitality industry.  When interior design is biophilic, meaning that it draws inspiration from nature, people tend to feel more at ease. Thus, medical facilities are embracing design elements that reflect the comforts of home.

It’s not just about looks, though. When patients perceive a homier environment, they may feel less stressed and more in control. This sense of empowerment is crucial in oncology spaces. Experts recommend soft textures, earthy colors, and curved lines whenever possible.

Creating Comfier Seating Solutions

Oncology patients need and deserve to be as comfortable as possible during treatments and consultations. Modern medical recliners draw upon that homey aesthetic while offering some bonus features, such as built-in heat and massage. While not inherently therapeutic, these features help patients feel secure and supported, which may contribute to better outcomes.

Ideally, the recliners are highly adjustable and suitable for a broad range of body types. They should be easy to get into and out of—and sturdy yet flexible enough that patients can maneuver within them. For example, Champion’s Alō Treatment recliner supports all body types and offers built-in heating, massage, and personal-item accessories for ultimate patient comfort.

This sort of human-friendly furniture design complements the new approach to oncology wards, with treatment bays that allow easy caregiver access while maintaining privacy. It can be challenging to strike that balance, which is why person-centric oncology seating is so important.

Champion Provides a Solution for Modern Cancer Centers

Interior designers and architects for oncology clinics must prioritize human needs—especially patient comfort. A person-centric approach cultivates a sense of security and agency that becomes crucial to their recovery. From biophilic design to homey accents, healthcare designers can support better outcomes with human-friendly furnishings and layouts.

Champion’s versatile and comfortable patient seating solutions can help bring their visions to life. Explore our premium products that support oncology and infusion clinics.