Design of a Cancer Infusion Center: Results from a Pre- and Post-Occupancy Evaluation

Abstract

Purpose

The current study performed a post-occupancy evaluation on a new cancer infusion center with pod-like layout and compared results to a pre-occupancy evaluation to investigate the impact of different cancer infusion center designs on staff efficiency and patient and staff satisfaction.

Background

The new cancer infusion center opened in October 2020 and replaced two previously existing infusion centers, in the same healthcare system.

Methods

The study used a similar mixed-method approach as the pre-occupancy research, which included staff shadowing, medication delivery shadowing, and staff and patient questionnaires.

Results

The new infusion center improved staff efficiencies by reducing nurse travel time compared to pre-occupancy infusion centers. Results also showed an increase in satisfaction with different aspects of the new infusion center including patient privacy, by both patients and nurses. The pod design allowed for better audio and visual privacy for patients, provided a higher amount of worksurface and availability of workstations, reduced noise levels, and enhanced nurse concentration at workstations. Findings indicated that nurses who had prior experience working in the pre-occupancy infusion centers expressed significantly lower levels of satisfaction in the new infusion center, especially in the ability to connect with nurses in other pods.

Conclusions

Although the new pod design had limitations in terms of collaborative opportunities across pods, it showed to provide a more efficient work environment for the staff and increase staff and patient satisfactions. The results also highlight the importance of effective change management strategies when nurses transition to a new work environment.