Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 102)
Washington, D.C. 20402
December 2006
to the Department Gross Square Foot (DGSF) area. The NTDG Departmental
Conversion Factor for Intensive Care Nursing Unit is 1.65.
G. Program for Design (PFD): A space program generated by VA-SEPS based on criteria
set forth in this document and specific information entered about Concept of Operations,
Workload projections and Staffing levels authorized.
H. SEPS (VA-SEPS): Acronym for Space and Equipment Planning System, a digital tool
developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs
to generate a Program for Design (PFD) and an Equipment List for a VA healthcare
project based on specific information entered in response to Input Data Questions. VA-
SEPS incorporates the propositions set forth in all space planning criteria chapters. VA-
SEPS has been designed to aid healthcare planners in creating a space plan based on a
standardized set of criteria parameters.
I.
Workload: Workload for nursing units is projected number of bed days of care (BDOC).
The total workload applied to departmental operational assumptions will determine
overall room requirements by modality.
3
OPERATING RATIONALE AND BASIS OF CRITERIA
A. Workload Projections or planned services / modalities for a specific VA medical center,
hospital or satellite outpatient clinic project are provided by the VA Central Office
(VACO) / VISN CARES Capacity Projection Model. The workload projections are
generated by methodology based upon the expected veteran population in the
respective market / service area. Healthcare planners working on VA medical center,
hospital or satellite outpatient clinic projects will utilize and apply the workload based
criteria set forth herein for identified services and modalities to determine room
requirements for each facility.
B. Space planning criteria have been developed on the basis of an understanding of the
activities involved in the functional areas of the Intensive Care Nursing Units and its
relationship with other services of a medical facility. These criteria are predicated on
established and/or anticipated best practice standards, as adapted to provide
environments supporting the highest quality heath care for Veterans.
C. These criteria are subject to modification relative to development in the equipment,
medical practice, vendor requirements, and subsequent planning and design. The
selection of the size and type of Intensive Care Nursing Units equipment is determined
by VACO and upon Veterans Health Administration (VHA) anticipated medical needs.
D. The minimum number of patient beds, of all types, to generate one Intensive Care
Nursing Unit is eight. The maximum number of allowable patient beds per Unit is twelve.
4
PROGRAM DATA REQUIRED (Input Data Questions)
A. Mission Input Data Statements
1. Is a General Intensive Care Nursing Unit authorized? (M)
Intensive Care Nursing Units (Chapter 102): Page 102-3 of 13
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