Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 104)
Washington, D.C. 20402
March 2007
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PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 104: Spinal Cord Injury /
Disorders Center. It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA).
B. A Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders Center is a specialized medical facility designed to
provide care and treatment for spinal cord injury patients, and to ensure that they
receive maximum benefit from trained staff in a specialized, mission-oriented facility.
Spinal Cord Injury care can occur in three phases Acute Care, Sustaining Care,
Long Term Care - and SCI/D Center designs must provide for their differing needs.
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DEFINITIONS
A. Concept of Operations: A user-developed guide to the functional operation of the VA
healthcare facility. It defines the function of the facility and the scope of services to
be provided in the new or remodeled space.
B. Departmental Net to Gross (DNTG) Conversion Factor: A parameter, determined by
the VA for each space planning criteria chapter, used to convert the programmed Net
Square Foot (NSF) area to the Department Gross Square Foot (DGSF) area. The
DNTG Departmental Conversion Factor for Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders Center is
1.70.
C. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): A staffing parameter equal to the amount of time
assigned to one full time employee. It may be composed of several part-time
employees whose total time commitment equals that of a full-time employee. One
FTE equals a 40 hours per week.
D. Functional Area: The grouping of rooms and spaces based on their function within a
clinical service. Typical Functional Areas are Reception Areas, Patient Areas, Support
Areas, Staff and Administrative Areas, Residency and / or Educational Program
Areas.
E. Input Data Statement: A set of questions designed to elicit information about the
healthcare project in order to create a Program for Design (PFD) based on the criteria
parameters set forth in this document. Input Data Statements could be Mission
related, based in the project's Concept of Operations; and Workload or Staffing
related, based on projections and data provided by the VHA or the VISN about the
estimated model of operation. This information is processed through mathematical
and logical operations in VA-SEPS.
F. Lithotripsy: A procedure where kidney stones or gallstones are pulverized by means
of a lithotripter.
G. Program for Design (PFD): A space program based on criteria set forth in this
document and specific information about Concept of Operations, workload projections
and staffing levels authorized.
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