Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 208)
Washington, DC 20420
December, 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 208: Chaplain Service. It
applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. VA Chaplains are the professional health care providers on the interdisciplinary
health care teams that are qualified, employed, and endorsed by their faith group
endorsers to provide spiritual and pastoral care. VA chaplains have a three-fold
responsibility to the patients at every VA facility; to ensure that patients (both
inpatients and outpatients) receive appropriate clinical pastoral care, to ensure that
hospital, domiciliary, and nursing home patients' constitutional right to free exercise of
religion is protected, and to protect patients from having religion imposed upon them.
The spiritual dimension of health must be integrated into all aspects of patient care,
research, emergency preparedness, and health care education. Chaplains minister
to the patients' family and loved ones, as appropriate and may provide limited
counseling services to VA staff members through employee assistance
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 or
optometric 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 Chaplain Service is 1.30.
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
specific service. Typical functional areas for Chaplain Service include Reception
Area, Staff and Administrative Area, Chapel / Worship Area, and Education / Training
Area.
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 SEPS.
F. 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.
Chaplain Service (Chapter 208): Page 2 of 8
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