High-tech comfort: What to expect in the new cancer pavilion’s patient rooms

Video Transcript

The rooms that we're in now are our prototype rooms.

The goal of the patient rooms was to make it feel more, of a hospitality feel.

We wanted them to feel more at home as they go through their journey.

Before we enter into the prototype and patient room, I want to call out this digital door sign. This sign will allow for our care team to get the information that they need right at a glance before having to enter the room.

We do have this nice glass touch panel, which we put a lot of effort into.

We have our hand washing sink here.

This is our nurse station as well.

We’ll have our computer and scale.

One of the cool, unique features that we have is not only that this sofa turns into a bed. It also has a desk as well as this foot rest for comfortability.

With this camera that will be in every inpatient room, patients will be able to video conference in family members who may not be able to come into the room, but then providers will also be able to have video conferencing with other providers that can weigh in on the care of our patients.

When receiving cancer treatment, patients don’t want to feel like they’re stuck in a hospital. It’s why the 80 private inpatient rooms at the University of Chicago Medicine’s AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion are designed to provide a retreat for healing.

“We approached the design with hospitality in mind, creating spaces that feel warm, welcoming and comfortable,” said LaToya Hood, program director for facilities operations at UChicago Medicine, which will open the pavilion in April 2027. “We want patients to feel more at home and at ease in an environment that supports them throughout their care journey.”

Each room will offer thoughtful features that include:

Bedside tablets to order food, call nurses and control lighting and shades
Digital door signs to share information quickly and reduce disruptions
75-inch televisions with streaming and gaming capabilities
Digital “whiteboard” function in TVs to share schedules, care teams and details
AI monitoring to support staff workflows and patient safety

Elements inspired by nature are found in the rooms and throughout the 575,000-square-foot pavilion.

Wood accents and curved furniture promote a soothing atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow daylight to stream in, boosting mood and circadian rhythms. And a simple color palette has a dual purpose: to support calm and make navigation easy.

Every part of the pavilion is “being designed around the patient experience so that every patient and family can enter feeling welcomed, supported and confident that there is a clear path forward,” said Mitchell C. Posner, MD, Chief Clinical Officer of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) and the health system’s cancer services line.

Family-focused room design features for cancer patients

Many cancer patients receive care with loved ones by their side, whether in person or virtually. The pavilion’s rooms were designed to help visitors stay rested and connected.

Benefits include:

Telehealth-enabled videoconferencing for doctors and family
Convertible couches that can become a bed, a recliner or a two-person desk
Mini fridges to keep perishable items cold
Plentiful electrical outlets and USB ports

A host of other spaces at the pavilion will be available to guide the healing journey. Among them: private infusion rooms, a wellness education center, a teaching kitchen, and outdoor garden and terraces.

Staff input guided the cancer pavilion patient rooms

Some ideas for the rooms came from UChicago Medicine staff who deeply understand the needs of cancer patients. They offered feedback on layout, technology, color choices and more during the planning phases.

They also weighed in on how little details — like wall cabinets to reduce clutter, or even extra floor space — can improve the care experience, Hood said.

A lighting control panel in each room offers adjustable brightness. Staff may turn on a soft nightlight, for example, so they won’t disturb a sleeping patient. (The pavilion will be one of the nation’s first hospitals to have this kind of in-room system, Hood said.)

Many functions boost efficiency and safety. By communicating with tablets and digital signage outside a room, a nurse might avoid having to gown up twice if an immunocompromised patient simply wants a cup of water.

“It helps them improve the quality of care they provide so they can spend more time focusing directly on the patients,” Hood said. “It uses our resources in a better way.”

Tours of a prototype room have been offered to UChicago Medicine employees. Reactions are enthusiastic, Hood said, with staff excited to see their ideas brought to life.

“For our team to help come up with such an innovative room, it’s uplifting and encouraging,” said Angela Yates, a 17-year patient care coordinator at UChicago Medicine’s Breast Center. “It’s a big, beautiful change.”