Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 202)
Washington, DC 20420
November 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 220: Substance Abuse
Clinic. It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. Substance Abuse Clinic is a special medical outpatient program which provides for
the care and treatment of drug dependent veterans no longer in need of inpatient
care. A variety of treatment methods are employed, including individual and group
therapy, psychiatric counseling, methadone maintenance, and social and vocational
rehabilitation techniques. The clinic is staffed by a variety of professional and
rehabilitated former substance abuse patients working as counselors, offering a
range of medical and counseling services.
2
DEFINITIONS
A Alcohol Dependence: Any use of alcohol that produces a pattern of pathological use
causing impairment in social or occupational functioning or producing physiological
dependency evidenced by physical tolerance or withdrawal.
B 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.
C Clinic Stop: A clinic stop is one encounter of a patient with a healthcare provider. Per
these criteria, the clinic stop is the workload unit of measure for space planning. One
individual patient can have multiple procedure / suite stops in a single visit or in one
day.
D Clinic Visit: The visit of an outpatient to one or more units within one calendar day.
(VA Directive 2002-023).
E Detoxification (Detox): Process, to rid the body of a toxic substance. Non-medical
detox refers to the fact that the body will rid itself of drugs (including alcohol). Medical
detox refers to a wide variety of detoxification techniques used by the medical
professional. These techniques range from simple observation by professionals while
an individual rids itself naturally to medical intervention, which may include
tranquilizers or other drugs that reduce the symptoms caused by the withdrawal from
the addictive drug.
F
Encounter: An encounter is a professional contact between a patient and a
practitioner vested with primary responsibility for diagnosing, evaluating and/or
treating the patient's conditions (VA Directive 2002-023).
G 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.
H 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.
I
Group Room : Room where patient activities and counseling sessions are performed.
A typical group room is sized for 10 to 12 patients.
Substance Abuse Clinic (Chapter 202): Page 202-2 of 8
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