Novant Health, Agnes Binder Weisiger Breast Center

The Agnes Binder Weisiger Breast Center meets a growing need for comprehensive women’s health services near Novant Health’s urban campus. Funded through philanthropic gifts, the project exceeded initial fundraising goals due to its thoughtful design, compelling renderings, and strategic naming opportunities.

Enhancing the Patient Experience with Spa-Like Comfort

To provide an inviting and stress-reducing atmosphere, the design team focused on each stage of the patient journey. Arrival, transition, staff interaction and departure are all opportunities to impact the patient’s experience. In collaboration with patients, staff and stakeholders, each of these stages are designed with a calm, spa-inspired aesthetic rather than a traditional clinical feel. For example, the breast center’s thoughtful placement of mirrors, lighting, and finishes creates a warm and comfortable environment instead of the harsh features often found in other medical settings.

Strategic Patient Flow in a Breast Center Reduces Anxiety

It was critical for our team to understand the emotional stress patients face. Once we had that understanding, we designed the Novant Health Breast Center to prioritize privacy and efficiency:

• Separate waiting areas for patients on different journeys. For example, the diagnostic patients are not in the same waiting area as screening patients who have shorter appointments.
• A dedicated entrance and waiting room for male patients offers additional privacy.
• An onstage / offstage corridor layout hides staff movements, fostering a sense of calm.
• Two dressing rooms per screening room minimize wait times and expedite mammogram appointments.