Tips for your visit to MD Anderson
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While You're Here
From gardens to libraries to worship spaces, MD Anderson has many places for patients, families and caregivers to relax, learn and reflect between appointments or during their stays.
Hospitality Center
Visit with cancer survivors and caregivers who are myCancerConnection volunteers. In these comfortable settings, survivor and caregiver volunteers offer coffee, along with understanding, friendship and hope. The Mays Clinic location offers a separate room where patients can rest and relax.
Location 1
Main Building, Floor 2, near Elevator B
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Phone: 713-792-2553
Location 2
Mays Clinic, Floor 2, near Elevator T, ACB 2.1002
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Phone: 713-792-2553
Kim's Place
Kim’s Place provides a respite for adolescent and young adult patients and their guests, ages 15-30. Enjoy video games, a pool table, jukebox, computers with Internet access and free snacks.
Location: Main Building, Floor 2, in The Park, B2.4309
Hours: Hours vary daily, depending on staff and volunteer availability. Call for current hours of operation.
Phone: 713-563-3075
Kim's Place
Libraries
Patient/Family Library
The Patient/Family Library, a program of Volunteer Services and Merchandising, offers leisure reading books (including foreign language books), magazines, newspapers and audio books. Volunteers also replenish reading materials throughout the Main Building waiting areas.
Location: Main Building, Floor 1, near The Aquarium, R1.2212
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone: 713-792-1080
Learning Center Libraries
The Learning Center is a free consumer health library with the latest information on cancer care, support, prevention and general health and wellness issues. Staff members provide skilled, personalized service to MD Anderson patients, caregivers and the public. Find out more about The Learning Center.
The Learning Center
Observation Deck
This area provides a quiet environment for patients and visitors, with great views of the Texas Medical Center and downtown Houston. The observation deck features tables, sofas, desks with power outlets, vending machines, and a grand piano that is played by volunteers throughout the day.
Location: Main Building, Floor 24, near Elevator F (Take elevator F to Floor 22, then transfer to a dedicated elevator for Floor 24)
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Patient/Family Center
Volunteer Services and Merchandising offers a convenient place for patients and family members to relax or manage personal business needs between outpatient appointments or during inpatient stays. The center features a quiet space with recliners, computers, printers, telephones, fax machines and a copier. Volunteers offer help with directions, institutional resources and computer access.
Location: Main Building, Floor 2, between Elevators D and E, Room B2.4314
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekends, 9 a.m.-noon
Phone: 713-745-8000
My dad has been a patient at MD Anderson since July 2015, receiving treatment for stage IV renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Our family has taken turns accompaying him to many doctor appointments, scans and a few in-patient hospital stays. Along the way, we’ve discovered some special places at MD Anderson – a place to decompress, a place to be with nature, a place to socialize and even a place off the beaten path.
As my dad approaches his third year of treatment, I find myself visiting these places often and even discovering new ones. Caregiving is a special gift that has to be nourished, and MD Anderson offers many wonderful places to re-charge.
Below are a few that I recommend.
Observation Deck
Location: Main Building, Floor 24, near Elevator F
Hours:
Daily, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
When Dad has scans scheduled, instead of waiting in the general waiting area, I grab a cup of coffee at one of the cafes and head over to the Observation Deck. Being a native Houstonian, I still find myself appreciating the vast expanse of Houston and the magnitude of the size of the Texas Medical Center from 24 floors in the sky. The space is generally very quiet and allows time for my brain refresh itself after the hustle and bustle of getting to and from appointments.
The Learning Center
Locations: Main Building, Floor 4, near Elevator A; Mays Clinic, Floor 2, near The Tree Sculpture; Jesse H. Jones Rotary House, Floor 1
My sister has two young girls. The oldest is 6 years old, and we worried about how much and what to tell her about Dad. My sister was able to find an age-appropriate book to read with her daughter about Dad’s cancer. The Learning Center allowed us to leave some of our fear at the door by replacing the fear with information. And the staff was great at recommending the right book.
myCancerConnection Hospitality Center
Locations: Main Building, Floor 2; Mays Clinic, Floor 2, near
Elevator T
Hours: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday-Friday
On days when I need a boost of energy or just a warm smile, I head over to the myCancerConnection Hospitality Center. The volunteers are always gracious and offer a smile that lights up the room. Coffee is available, and if you feel your sweet tooth aching, there are usually cookies. This is where I also find out about many of the events happening around MD Anderson.
Off the beaten path: Holistic Garden
Location: UT School of Public Health, Michael & Susan Dell
Center for Healthy Living Holistic Garden
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3
p.m., Monday-Friday
When Dad and I walk across the skybridge from the Main building to Mays Clinic, we often wonder about the vegetable garden down below. Earlier this year, while Dad was receiving treatment and required a two-day in-patient hospital stay, I decided to stray off the beaten path and discovered the Holistic Garden at the UT School of Public Health. It is quite a gem and a great place to learn about the benefits of gardening.
Caregiving is a silent gift that doesn’t come up often in discussion during appointments. However, as a caregiver, I’ve found it’s important to take care of yourself so you can provide support as it’s needed. Sometimes that means it’s OK to not wait in the waiting area. Sometimes it’s OK to take a walk and discover something new at MD Anderson. And it’s even OK to veer off the beaten path.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789
