Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 212)
Washington, D.C. 20402
December 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning criteria for Chapter 212: Pulmonary
Medicine. It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA).
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Blood Gas Analysis: A test which analyzes arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide
and bicarbonate content in addition to blood pH. Used to test the effectiveness of
respiration.
B. Bronchoscopy: A procedure that involves placement of a viewing instrument into the
trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (airways) to diagnose or treat lung and airway
problems. This procedure is typically performed to investigate abnormal chest x-rays
or to collect or biopsy bronchial or lung secretions or to help diagnose and evaluate
upper respiratory issues.
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: Patient arrival (stop) at the main reception desk. Patients may have
multiple Clinic Stops during one Clinic Visit.
E. 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.
F. 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 Pulmonary Medicine is 1.50.
G. 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.
H. Functional Area: The grouping of rooms and spaces based on their function within a
clinical or clinical support service. Typical Functional Areas are Reception Areas,
Patient Areas, Support Areas, Staff and Administrative Areas, and Residency
Program.
I.
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.
Pulmonary Medicine (Chapter 212): Page: 2 of 12
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