Cancer diagnosis is often a life-changing moment for any patient. Procedures and treatments with multiple specialists can be intimidating and confusing—for both the patient and family members. As clinical procedures continue to improve, many healthcare organizations are increasingly emphasizing an overlooked but equally important aspect of cancer care—the patients’ emotional wellbeing.
This emphasis on patient-focused wellbeing drove the planning and design of ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. Connected to an existing ambulatory care center on a 53-acre campus, the 84,000-square-foot, two-story Cancer Center designed by HGA integrates state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment, radiation and infusion services with wellness programs that address a range of physical, nutritional and emotional needs to support wellbeing.
“When planning the Cancer Center, we kept the patients’ needs front-and-center,” said Keith J. Novenski, Project Lead at ThedaCare. “The Cancer Center evolved from a shared desire to develop a comprehensive cancer center that consolidates services scattered throughout the existing Medical Center campus. With the new facility, we wanted to move to a collaborative team model that really emphasizes patient value. Collaborative care drives our philosophy—it is about bringing experts together to better serve the patient and their family.”