The Karmanos Cancer Center Patient Care Project involves the renovation of all of the nursing units for Cancer Treatment at Harper University Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

With units servicing each of the cancer specialties, the concept is to provide an environment fostering care, compassion, residential warmth, dignity and a sense of wellness. Wellness is critical; patients who are being treated for this most serious of illnesses need to have an uplifting environment.

The resulting design treats all of the patient rooms as residential suites. The nursing stations project an image of a hospitality concierge. Physician and staff areas are open to patients and families. Staff and hospitality areas are integrated onto the floors. Significant amounts of glass and an uplifting color palette focus on well-being. Very instrumental in the positive attitude is the integration of a major art program, with images representing the goodness of life.

Development of the project involved all staff and committees of current and past patients in workshops with the design committee. Dr. William Peters, Administrator of the Program was instrumental in making these areas welcoming and alive.

The result is statistical. Evaluation of the first anniversary of the units demonstrates an 18% improvement in clinical outcomes and a 4% reduction in the use of narcotics on these units. This is testimony that the clinical environment is vitally important to the healing process.