The document describes initial research conducted for the Mark Morris Dance Group partnership with MSK Brooklyn, including exploring opportunities for outdoor space, movement programs, and ways to welcome patients to foster a sense of community. Ideas generated were to have a mobile garden, organize arts activities, and facilitate a partnership for patients to volunteer at a nearby botanical garden.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Service Design Project. Brooklyn, NY.
1. Mark Morris Dance Group
BAM
3rd ave
State St Flatbush Ave
MSK Brooklyn
Hanson Pl
Botanical
ve
ntic A
Atla
4th ave
Pacific St
Library
Brooklyn High School of Arts
Friday, May 7, 2010
2. Key Concepts
Welcome Kit: This includes material that
allows patients access to community resources
& welcomes them to MSK Brooklyn
MyHealing: A way for patients to document
their healing process
Community Outdoor Space:
Personal and/or group involvement in public
gardens for a change in atmosphere and
alternative spaces to relax and recover
Movement group:
Fostering exercise, stress relief, and peace of
mind through instructor-led classes
Friday, May 7, 2010
4. Strong sense of community in the library
Public Library community garden nearby
volunteer groups
senior book delivery
• Remembered how during the last snow storm, all
the neighborhood children were playing outside the
library.
• Knew many people personally, knew the locals.
• Crowd is very diverse
• Said that the neighborhood was always so full of
people coming and going with the subway right Ivy
there
• Volunteer groups in the area hold meetings at the
library
•Favorite lunch place is Flying Saucer
• Offers a delivery service for seniors • Likes the community garden nearby*
• Likes to have quite places to go on her lunch.
• Feels that area would benefit from more park /
outdoor areas
i.marvel@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
Friday, May 7, 2010
5. Flying Saucer
“a tight-knit and diverse
community” she thinks it is
segregated by class
Regulars: Writers, programmers, families,
stay-at-home moms with kids, teachers,
employees from Wells Fargo, and the nearby
hospital
Middle aged working class demographic
Emily has been working there for 3 years
but the café has been there for 10-11
Emily " we are
“There is a divide between the area near crazy and
Wyckoff gardens and the newer development” unreliable
here"
“Small stores keep popping up on the block”
feels there is a strong sense of community
Friday, May 7, 2010
11. MSK Movement Group
Description:
Lindsey is a 50-year-old resident of Fort Greene who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year at
MSK. The cancer spread and for some time she was bed ridden. Recently, however, she has healed and
regained strength to do the things she loves, like walk her dog in the park. Lindsey’s doctor
recommended she continue her treatment at the new MSK Brooklyn center, which is a few blocks
from her apartment. Upon arrival for her first treatment at MSK Brooklyn, a man at the front desk,
Carlos, greets Lindsey. He hands her a welcome kit, one of the items being an invitation to join a
movement group at Mark Morris Dance Group. “Can you tell me more about this?” Lindsey inquires,
showing him the card. Carlos explains that there is a group of patients at MSK Brooklyn who attend a
free movement class at MMDG every Thursday. “You’re welcome to join them this week, if you’d like,”
He offers. Lindsey remembers the fun she had in ballet class as a small girl. “I think I’ll give it a try,” she
confirms. Lindsey begins attending the class and finds that the movement helps her feel better and
more connected to her body and healing process. She also feels a bond with the other patients in the
class that she never felt while she was at MSK at 53rd street. After a month of attending class, Lindsey
relates her experience: “I always saw the Mark Morris building around here but never thought to step
inside. It’s such a wonderful resource in this community and I’m glad I could become a part of it.”
Components:
Invite card, MMDG studio classroom
Actors:
MSK BK front desk staff, MMDG instructor, other MSK patients
Friday, May 7, 2010
13. Patients request books and the library delivers them to MSK
for Delivery
MSK HOME LOG OUT
Daily Delivery to MSK Cancer Center
Friday, May 7, 2010
14. MSK Welcome Kit
Description:
Nicole is 30 years old. She lives with her husband in Manhattan. Nicole was diagnosed with cancer about a
year ago, and is going to be coming to MSK Brooklyn to receive treatment. Being so young, cancer was the
last thing on her mind before the diagnosis, this transition from her old life to her new life has been incredibly
difficult and scary. Nicole does not know Brooklyn especially well and has mixed feelings about coming to the
new center for treatment because she is used to going to the 53rd street building closer to her home.
On arrival to MSK Brooklyn, Nicole is immediately greeted by an especially kind woman at the front desk,
and is handed a special “Welcome Kit”. Nicole smiles and suddenly feels a little bit more at ease. Nicole
opens the gift and finds several items; inside is hand-written encouragement note written especially for her
by a MSK staff member/ volunteer, she also finds a gift certificate for the floral shop next door that allows
her to go pick out a “free gift of choice” after or before her treatment. Included in the kit is also a “My
Preferences” card, in which Nicole can fill out regarding her specific wants/needs when coming for chemo at
MSK Brooklyn. Next, she finds another card that enables her to take a free movement class at the Mark
Morris Center down the street. Inside is also a journal and camera, that will allow Nicole to document this
process in whatever way she likes. Finally, Nicole finds a small package with a variety of herbal teas for her to
enjoy.
After opening her gift, Nicole is still stressed and anxious about treatment, but feels less alone, and feels like
the people treating her truly care about her. The encouragement note gives Nicole that extra little bit of
strength she needs, and the gift certificate for the flowers makes her feel like she has a special treat to be
excited about.
Components:
-Welcome Kit : Encouragement note
Gift Card for Floral Shop
Invite Card for dance center
Journal, Camera
“My Preferences” form
Teas
Actors: MSK Front Desk Staff Patient
Friday, May 7, 2010
15. MyHealing:
personal documentation Individual
Personal Notebook
blog and camera
Documenting the
High tech Low tech
healing process
Shared Shared wall/
group blog bulletin board
Collective
Friday, May 7, 2010
16. MSK/Botanica Green Space Partnership
Description:
John is 52 and lives right near MSK Brooklyn. He started his first chemo treatment strongly. Before
being diagnosed with cancer he spent a lot of time outside as a park official. Being stuck inside all day
was tiresome. To his surprise, inside the MSK BK Welcome Kit there was instructions on how to sign
up for gardening sessions next door. He was very happy to have the ability to spend some time in a
garden and help plant this seasons flowers. John shared with other patients “It’s like I am at work, and
thats great because I love my job. I thought I would never work in a park again because I’ve been so
weak.”
Components:
Sign up sheet, Botanica nursery
Actors:
MSK BK front desk staff, Botanica staff, MSK Patients
Friday, May 7, 2010
17. MSK
Planting team. Sign
MSK Signs individual
up for group
up for a time slot in
gardening at the co-
co-op garden.
op around the corner
Individual GreenSpace Group
Partnership with
Patient goes to
Botanica to do group
Botanica to spend
planting or
time in their green
volunteering in the
space.
nursery
Botanica
Friday, May 7, 2010
19. Mobile trees, bring them out during the
day, in after hours.
Through partnership with flower
shop next door, create mobile
sidewalk garden space.
Friday, May 7, 2010
21. Scheduled Activities
Arts,
Lectures,
Gardening,
Walks,
readings,
yoga/dance
classes,
etc.
Example
Friday, May 7, 2010
22. MKS | Botanica
Partnership for
group planting in
the nursery
Friday, May 7, 2010
23. Quick Review of initial research
Community & Outdoor Space:
The Antic
AALDC
Atlantic Ave betterment Association
Public Library
Botanica Garden center
Sidewalk Garden
Regularly Scheduled Activities
Community Garden
Healthy Food Options
Flying Saucer
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Movement/Dance:
Dance and Yoga classes
Welcome:
Personalized Welcome, written notes, and flower arrangement
My Preferences
Camera & Journal
Friday, May 7, 2010
29. Life Essentials, A welcoming.
2- Nurses at MSK Brooklyn write letters to the patients coming in for their first visit.
3- Patient arrives for first visit. Next Appointment -
4- After check in process is complete, nurse at front desk gives Helen the Life Essentials.
The nurse explains to Helen that the box contains special items to help her through the
treatment process and tells Helen that she can open it whenever she feels like it.
14- The next week before treatment, Helen goes to the floral
shop next door to pick out her free gift with the card she received.
5- Since their is no wait time, Helen goes to receive treatment immediately.
15- Helen goes back to MSK BK for the next infusion.
6- During the infusion process, Helen decides to see what is in the gift. She feels a connection with the nurse ever since she was given the
- Inside Helen first finds a letter with her name on it, the letter says “read later...” letter. This also makes her feel like she is entering a community that
So Helen puts the letter aside. cares when she comes to treatment.
7- Helen looks through the rest of the box and finds aromatherapy samples, 16- Helen brings her eye mask with her that she recieved in her
herbal tea, a gift card for complimentary flowers, a pass for Mark Morris, Life Essentials box.
a deck of cards, sleep mask, luna bar, and journal.
8- Helen feels taken care of, and is excited to use the contents of her gift.
9- MSK BK stocks simple snacks and teas at the self surve center, so when patients
come to treatment they can have them if they choose. 17- Later that month, Helen decides to use her Mark Morris Movement pass.
At the class, she meets other people going through the same thing she is.
10- When leaving, the nurse tells Helen that she is able to request This makes her suddenly feel like she is part of a community.
a certain tea or snack they have for her next visit if she feels like it.
The nurse explains, this is only an option, and if Helen wants a different -Throughout this whole process, Helen is writing in her journal,
tea of snack when she arrives, they will happily get it for her instead. and uses it to help her sort out everything she is going though.
11-Later that night at home, Helen opens the letter. She sees that it is a note
from the nurse that was taking care of her that morning. She truly feels like
someone at the new center cares about her and knows who she is.
13- Helen experiments with the various aromatherapy oils at home,
she decides that she likes lavender the best, but she rarely uses it
because of sensitivity to smell.
Friday, May 7, 2010
30. MyPreferences
Customize each visit
At MSK every visit is about you
Comfort Hydrate
Blanket tea:___________
Pillow juice: __________
Ear Plugs water: fresh/sparkling
Eye Mask Other*________
Neck Pillow
Other*________
Aromatherapy Nourish
Lavender Fruit_______
Eucalyptus Saltines
Peppermint Luna Bar
Ginseng Cliff Bar
Lavender Other*________
Rosemary
Read Any other special requests?
Magazine____________ Let us know:
Newspaper___________ __________________________________
Books_______________ __________________________________
____________________ __________________________________
Other_______________ __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
*Note you will be charged for items we
have to seek outside of MSKBK
Friday, May 7, 2010
33. Persona
Helen is 39 years old. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and
two children. Helen was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and
has been in treatment at the 53rd st. location. She switched to
MSK BK because of the lack of wait time. Helen was a day care
teacher before the diagnosis, she can no longer work and is
usually to sick to leave the house. Helen is very close with her
family and has a large extended family that has helped her a lot
through the process. Helen's favorite things to do when she feels
well include spending time with her children, reading, cooking,
and gardening in her yard.
The Illness has take a huge toll on her and the family but she is
strong and determined to Fight for it.
Friday, May 7, 2010
34. Entry pass for a free movement
class card for MSK Mark Morris Classes
Hand written welcome note
Herbal Tea Samples
Flower arrangement gift card
Journal
List of options to customize your visit Play
Aromatherapy Samples
Friday, May 7, 2010
36. Solution to Design Brief
Welcome: Warm first impression, openhearted, &
personal
Transition: Brings the patient to a healing
atmosphere, reoccurring every visit
Sendoff: Patients go home with thoughtful life
essentials
Friday, May 7, 2010
37. Taking care of patients who are new to the space and
making them feel more comfortable by creating a
lasting, thoughtful, and warm welcome.
Friday, May 7, 2010
41. Helen
•39 years old.
•She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and
two children.
•Helen was diagnosed with cancer a year
ago and has been in treatment at the 53rd
st. location.
•The Illness has take a huge toll on her and
the family but she is strong and determined
to Fight for it.
Friday, May 7, 2010
63. When leaving...
Katie tells Helen that she is able to request a certain
tea or snack for her next visit. There is also the option
to fill out a preference form and have the contents
waiting on her next arrival
Friday, May 7, 2010
66. Helen fills out the preferences, hands it to Katie
Katie then walks to the refill station and prepares her
welcome kit for her next visit
Friday, May 7, 2010