Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 104)
Washington, D.C. 20402
March 2007
L. SCI/D Sustaining Care: The second phase of care for the SCI/D patient. Once back
in the community, SCI/D patients may develop complications requiring hospitalization.
It is the Sustaining Care Unit, which enables that patient to regain his or her
independence. These units also offer to the independent patients discharged from
Initial Rehabilitation Units the care needed to maintain the functional level achieved
during their primary rehabilitation phase. The length of stay for inpatients may vary
from several days to several months depending on the reason for admission. The
more common reasons for admission include annual routine physical exams;
treatment for bedsores; treatment for GU (genitourinary) complications; fractured
limbs and respiratory complications; and additional rehabilitation training. The same
specialized care provided for Acute (Initial Rehabilitation) is applicable to Sustaining
Care.
M. SCI/D Long Term Care: The third phase of care for SCI/D patients. Those patients
who cannot live outside of the SCI/D environment because of socio-economic
reasons or lack of community and/or family support systems are cared for in the
Long-Term SCI/D Unit. It is common for these patients to stay until the end of their
lives, and thus historically this has been an elderly population. However, that is not
an exclusive demographic as many SCI/D injuries occur with younger patients.
Therefore, the Long Term Care population may be younger and longer termed.
N. Urodynamics: The term that describes a series of diagnostic tests used to evaluate
bladder function and voiding disorders.
O. Workload: Workload is the anticipated number of procedures or suite stops that is
processed through a department/service area. For inpatient units Workload is
determined by the calculated projected number of beds. 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 and VACO SCI/D Program
input. 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 Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders Center 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 Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders Center equipment is
Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders Center (Chapter 104): Page 4 of 23
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