Kirkland Cancer Center Brings New Hope to Patients

The vision of better care for cancer patients in West Tennessee that started nearly four years ago with a $5 million gift is now a reality. The Alice and Carl Kirkland Cancer Center has opened its doors in Jackson on the medical campus of West Tennessee Healthcare. The 82,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility provides not only more treatment options and support for patients, it is also providing new hope in a setting unlike any in the region.At the heart of the three-story center, are the patients it will serve. “We were very strategic and intentional in every detail of this project to insure that everything about this building is designed around the patient and the patient experience. Patients were included in focus groups on various aspects of the center such as the types of chairs used in treatment areas,” said Catherine Kwasigroh, vice president of Hospital Services for West Tennessee Healthcare. “The Kirkland Cancer Center provides the same level of care received in a hospital environment but delivers it in a spa-like environment. We utilized the Disney concept of keeping support and staff work areas behind the scenes to minimize the impact on the patient experience.”As the Center’s staff and family members play a large role in the patient’s experience, their needs were also considered in the design. “Working with cancer patients takes special people and many see it as a calling that they take very seriously. To allow them some downtime, each floor has areas away from patients and patient care areas for staff members,” said Gina Myracle, executive director of the Kirkland Cancer Center. “Family members are often here for every visit so we wanted their experiences to be positive as well. We added lots of little extras like Wi-Fi, rocking guest chairs in treatment areas and amenities in personal patient dressing rooms to make family members more comfortable.”To enhance the spa experience, the center utilizes lighting, textured walls and colors reflective of water. “We could not physically bring water elements into the interior design of the building,” said Myracle. “But that did not stop us from incorporating components that have the relaxing and calming effects of water such as a wave element that is prevalent throughout the interior design of the building.” In the main lobby of the center is a retail pharmacy for cancer patients, a boutique, resource center, chapel and support services. The Inspirations Boutique addresses the special needs of cancer patients, especially breast cancer patients. The boutique, which will be open during the Center’s normal business hours, will be staffed with certified fitters experienced in fitting breast forms, mastectomy bras, post-surgical camisoles, swimsuits, lymphedema sleeves and other mastectomy apparel.Just outside the side doors of the main lobby is the Healing Garden. This serene space includes a water feature and an inspirational sculpture that will serve as an honorarium. Located on the third floor are a conference room and community room for meetings as well as a café. No detail was left to chance; even the parking garage has a decorative brick motif on the exterior to mask it being a garage. Each parking space in the garage is visible by security cameras. The center’s radiation oncology clinic located at the back of the first floor, includes three linear accelerators, one of which will be a new state of the art linear accelerator which will provide more options and capabilities of treatment types for the administration of radiation therapy than are currently available. The accelerators are housed in identical suites featuring hardwood wall and ceiling tiles, wood grain flooring and soft lighting. Supplies and equipment are hidden from the patient’s view, as are staff work areas. In-floor scales ease accessibility for patients. Private patient dressing rooms include televisions and are designed for a family member to remain there during a patient’s treatment. Once a patient has completed their final radiation treatment, they will ring a captain’s bell to celebrate the milestone. For patients requiring chemotherapy, the infusion area on the second floor has four private rooms, 21 semi-private treatment areas and two community treatment areas with a total of twelve chairs. “Patients can choose to receive their chemotherapy in one of our individualized treatment bays that has an inspiring name such as ‘Hero’, ‘Champion’ and “Superstar’ or choose to socialize in one of our group treatment settings.  All bays have TVs and a majority of the bays have natural sunlight and feature large windows, providing views of the center’s atrium or Healing Garden,” said Kwasigroh. “To celebrate patients’ milestones in treatment, we have a 24-inch gong on the floor that they get to strike with a mallet after their last treatment allowing the entire floor to hear the beautiful, majestic sound vibrations. We spent a lot of time theming the building around victory with the goal of providing hope for every patient to win in the battle against cancer. ”The medical clinic on the third floor has some unique design features that focus on privacy for the patient while keeping staff workspace hidden. “Patient rooms have two doors, one from the hallway that the patient will use to enter the exam room. The other door is from an interior work area that physicians and staff will use,” said Myracle. “Physicians will also have office space in the clinic.”  The layout of the center is very simple by design so that visitors can easily find their way to their destination. “Upon entering the building, patients and family members check in at the same place before proceeding to the patient care areas,” said Myracle. “We have made it as straight forward as possible for patients to move through the building. Once a patient comes off the elevator, they will enter the waiting room for that floor’s services. Even the flooring throughout the building is designed to help patients find their way.”The opening of the Kirkland Cancer Center marks a new level of cancer care in West Tennessee. All the oncology services and resources needed by a newly diagnosed patient or long-term survivor and their caregivers are now housed in the same building. One of the goals of the Kirkland Cancer Center is to help patients and their families through the entire process of care from diagnosis to treatment decision components. A patient navigator will serve as an advocate to assist patients, families, and caregivers throughout their course of care. “We visited centers around the region, took away the best of what we saw but knew we wanted to raise the design to a higher level. Our architect and design firms were on board for that as well,” said Kwasigroh. “Our team was kept small on purpose and consisted of just ten people who were all on point on this project as to what we wanted to accomplish. We were striving for perfection and landed on excellence. We are very happy and proud of the building and are excited about sharing this project with the community.” Photo of Kirkland Cancer Center