Ottumwa Regional Health Center - Cancer Treatment Center

As the first in a multiple phase project, the Heery design for the Ottumwa Regional Health Center’s Cancer Treatment Center set the tone for the hospital’s new image and identity.  Patients arrive under a covered canopy, reminiscent of historic structures found elsewhere in Ottumwa, known throughout the region as the “City of Bridges.” 

“Putting patients first” was the project’s underlying theme.  A cancer survivor committee was organized to help play an integral role in the design process.  Location, facility flexibility, effective siting, and space that functions for a team approach to treatment were critical elements of the facility’s design.

Heery designed separate circulation paths to lead patients and their families back to either medical or radiation oncology areas.  Shared support and administrative functions serve both areas, which enable the staff to provide more cohesive, patient-centered treatment.  Integrated pharmacy and lab components, as well as a dual-sided team workroom, provide additional staffing efficiencies.