Southeast Medical Center Cancer Center

Approach

Rare for a community hospital, OhioHealth Southeast Medical Center in Cambridge, Ohio, offers full cancer treatment programs for a variety of cancers providing everything from precautionary screenings to surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology—including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy. Continuing to provide these services to their community allows residents to get treatment closer to home.

In order to continue to provide the best cancer services for their community, a new, larger, state-of-the-art facility was needed with upgraded equipment—including a new linear accelerator. Knowing that patients, along with their loved ones will be spending a lot of time in the building while they are receiving treatment, the project team at MA designed the spaces to address not only a patient’s physical well-being but their mental and social well-being as well.

From the moment a person walks through the doors of the entrance where the compressed vestibule opens up into a two-story space filled with daylight, care was taken to design a comfortable, up-lifting and empowering environment. Materials and furniture were selected to lower anxiety and provide calming support to the patient and loved ones. An efficient layout of the spaces support staff workflow for patient-focused care.

While the separate entrance allows cancer patients to directly access the facility, the center is attached to the main hospital through an interior space with a ramp that allows for easy access to the compounding pharmacy as well as connectivity to the other services provided if needed for a patient. A healing garden adjacent provides an exterior place of calm for patients and caregivers to use to recharge.