Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 100)
Washington, D.C. 20402
December 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines space planning criteria for Chapter 100: MS&N Patient Care
Units. It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. MS&N Patient Care Units are dedicated area for inpatient accommodations, providing
direct acute health care, support facilities, and institutional services. MS&N Units can be
classified as follows:
1.
General Medical Patient Care Unit
2.
General Surgical Patient Care Unit
3.
Orthopedic Patient Care Unit
4.
Neurological Patient Care Unit
5.
Step-Down Patient Care Unit
6.
Rehabilitation Medicine Patient Care Unit
C. Refer to the following chapters for additional programming data:
1.
Chapter 410 Lockers, Lounges, Toilets and Showers
2.
Chapter 402 Educational Facilities
3.
Chapter 274 Quarters, On Call
4.
Chapter 102 - Intensive Care Nursing Units
2
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 medical services
to be provided in the new or remodeled space.
B. 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.
C. 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, and Residency Program.
D. General Medical Unit (M): This unit provides care for the patient with a medical (non-
surgical) disease or illness.
E. General Surgical Units (S): This unit provides care for the patient whose primary
treatment was an invasive procedure.
F. Input Data Statements: 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 for the facility. This information is processed through mathematical and logical
operations in VA-SEPS.
MS&N Patient Care Units (Chapter 100): Page 2 of 15
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