Cancer care is changing- patient needs can no longer be met by traditional models alone. A cancer diagnosis reshapes every part of a patient’s life. For many, the greatest challenge is not only the disease itself but the burden of traveling long distances to receive specialized treatment. At the same time, hospitals face space constraints and rising demand for advanced therapies that require highly specialized environments. These pressures are pushing health systems and their architects to rethink where and how care happens. The result is a shift away from a single, large hospital campus as the only solution, and adapting to provide what best fits the community: patient-centered model that brings high-quality treatment closer to home while maintaining safety, dignity, and support. This shift is being driven by several converging forces:

  • Rising incidence of early-onset cancers, especially among young adults. National Cancer Institute. 2025. “Early-Onset Cancer Rates Rise for Some Types in People Under 50.” National Cancer Institute. January 29, 2025
  • Immunotherapy is often delivered in infusion suites that look quite different from traditional chemo bays. These suites require more flexibility to accommodate long stays, emergency readiness for adverse reactions, advanced air handling for immunocompromised patients, and amenities for both patients and families. The result is a more nuanced care environment one that balances high-acuity clinical needs with dignity, comfort, and adaptability.
  • A growing emphasis on survivorship and the transition from acute treatment to long-term health management.

 

Beyond housing advanced equipment, thoughtfully designed spaces can ease anxiety, support families, and give clinicians the tools they need to deliver safe, complex treatments. Whether it’s infusion suites tailored for immunotherapy, wellness spaces for survivorship, or flexible layouts that adapt to future therapies, design choices directly shape the patient journey. By aligning infrastructure with human needs, facilities leaders and designers bridge the gap between clinical innovation and lived experience.

 


Designing for Access: A Cancer Center Without Walls

A “cancer center without walls” is not a single building; it’s a connected network of spaces, technologies, and processes that enable seamless care delivery. In practice, this could mean:

  • Screening and diagnostic hubs embedded in primary care or community health settings.
  • Satellite infusion suites closer to patients’ homes to minimize travel burden.
  • Virtual care platforms for follow-up visits, survivorship check-ins, and multidisciplinary consultations.
  • Mobile units that bring cancer screening or clinical trial enrollment to rural communities.

From a facilities perspective, designing these elements requires a shift from “flagship-first” thinking to a distributed, flexible care model that balances capacity, quality, and patient experience.

 

Human-Centered Transitions: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

Care transition points are among the most critical and often overlooked steps in a patient journey. The moment a patient walks in for their first infusion can be intimidating. What if they could take a virtual tour, meet their care team online, and see their exact chair ahead of time? This level of familiarity reduces anxiety, builds trust, and sets the tone for treatment adherence. Facilities leaders can cultivate this culture by incorporating:

 

  • Spaces for patient and family education at the point of diagnosis.
  • Child and young-adult friendly environments that also work for older patients.
  • Flexible rooms that can adapt for clinical trials, patient navigation, or family meetings.
  • Private areas for difficult conversations alongside community spaces for peer support.

 

Supporting the Care Team

Cancer centers are only as strong as the teams that sustain them. Design must also consider staff well-being and efficiency:

  • Onsite respite spaces for clinical teams facing emotional fatigue.
  • Layouts that reduce travel time between treatment areas.
  • Dedicated workrooms for trial coordination and patient navigation.

Facilities leaders can improve recruitment and retention by creating spaces that respect both the emotional and operational demands of cancer care.

 

The Facilities Leader’s Takeaway

For architecture and planning professionals, the future of cancer care will be defined by flexible networks, human-centered transitions, and technology-enabled continuity. The goal is not to replace the flagship cancer center, but to extend its reach ensuring that every patient, regardless of zip code, receives comprehensive, connected, and compassionate care.

HCM is partnering with healthcare systems to reimagine cancer care delivery through evidence-based design, operational insight, and a deep commitment to patient and staff experience.

 

Meet The Expert

Rhonda Malone Wyskiel, RN, MSN, EDAC is a highly respected healthcare leader with over 27 years of experience spanning clinical practice, performance improvement, patient safety, and healthcare design. As a Principal in the Healthcare Studio at Hord Coplan Macht, Rhonda brings the voice of the clinician directly into the planning and design process, offering a rare and invaluable perspective that elevates outcomes for patients, staff, and health systems.
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