CHILDREN'S CANCER HOSPITAL FROM THE STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE. NOVEL APROACH

In recent years, cancer becomes more, and more the disease of affluence. Although cancer has been diagnosed and treated for a long time we are still learning to fight it effectively. This disease requires a different approach to the patient and his treatment, especially if the child is treated. This raises the need to design the building, which in addition to medical care will provide the appropriate conditions for the intellectual, physical, and spiritual development of the child. Research has been conducted in two Polish facilities: Institute of Oncology in Gliwice and Chorzow Pediatrics and Oncology Center. By observing the patients (the path that they have to pass during the hospital stay) and interviews with the staff it was possible to learn about different user groups and their needs. In addition, we have analyzed the functional systems of foreign hospitals. On the basis of the acquired knowledge we made the overall functional diagram of the child's oncology hospital. It became the starting point for student projects - hospitals in Ruda Slaska Godula and Radziszow. In the proposed hospitals we focused mainly on the needs of the children and their carers. An important issue was the easy orientation in the building. Were introduced the guiding themes that allow to distinguish different parts of the hospital. Colored marks and themes are used to find the way through associations and improve the image of the hospital.