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would allow patients to feel confident in a calm, healing space. "We set out to create an environment of healing for patients and their families as well as an efficient and effective place for physicians and clinical staff to provide their care," says Claudio Ferraro, Executive Leader of Oncology Services for Via Christi's Wichita hospitals. "This facility is in line with that goal." The new facility, which spans the north side of the seventh floor and encompasses 40,700 square feet, incorporates a warm palette, nature-inspired décor and residential design elements to create a stress-reducing environment. "The result is an environment that is calming and relaxing and promotes healing of the mind, body and spirit," says Patti Moser, Administrative Nursing Director for Oncology Services at Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis. The institute was developed, in part, using feedback from oncologists and focus groups with cancer patients and their families, with elements that incor- porate the comfort of the patient with enhanced clinical usability. Design features — such as increased use of natural light, larger rooms and convertible sleepers to accommodate family members, sound-diffused work- spaces, and integrated technologies for remotely operating beds, lights, window shades and communication — were all purposeful, patient-driven inclusions. "There are many features and accom- modations that make a patient's stay feel more inclusive and therefore less isolated. For example, patients can even order their meals from a room service menu, and their food will be delivered to them in 45 minutes or less, and family members can have a guest tray delivered to the room as well for a $10 fee," Moser says. Bassam Mattar, M.D., FACP, Medical Director of Via Christi's Bone Marrow Transplant Program, agrees. "Patients can come from whatever distance and have the support of an excellent staff, state-of-the-art rooms and equipment, a beautiful hotel atmosphere, along with all the amenities needed for family visits, such MDNEWS.COM MD NEWS Greater Kansas | 9 as family rooms and a laundry facility," he says. "So patients can fight the fight supported by loved ones." The new design also features an integrative therapy center with yoga, art, music and massage therapy rooms and a media room where patients and their families can enjoy movies together. Relationships Play Central Role Cancer treatment should consider much more than purely clinical aspects, and the strong belief in the value of incor- porating emotional support is central to the cancer institute's new design. "Via Christi recognized the value of peer and family support, as well as the need for privacy. The new cancer institute meets both these needs through considerate designs, such as an ambula- tory infusion center with four private and three community treatment bays," explains Moser. "This affords patients the opportunity to build relationships with others receiving treatment and gain emotional support in a natural, nonthreatening way, creating a positive atmosphere of solidarity that goes well beyond the treatment process." "We also believe in the power of spiritual support in healing," continues Moser. "Our spiritual reflection room offers patients quiet space to cope with their situations. Patients and family can also share in our Spiritual Strengths Cancer Care program, which was designed to help people discover their inner strengths in a time of need." Progressive Strategies Cancer treatment is among the most rapidly advancing technologies in modern health care, and the Via Christi Cancer Institute was designed to embrace and evolve with this technol- ogy and create greater collaboration among staff members. "From a patient perspective, there is an enormous amount of medical equipment associated with treatment, all of which can induce a significant amount of stress," Moser says. "Warm colors make the cancer institute more inviting, and with nonessential equip- ment tucked away, the space is much less intimidating for the patient and Via Christi music therapy services offer comfort and relaxation to aid in patients' healing.