Operating Rationale and Basis of Criteria

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Space Planning Criteria (218)

Washington, DC 20420

December 2006

beyond the planned operational practices of the room. This factor may be adjusted

based on the actual and/or anticipated operations and processes of the room /

department.

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 VA 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.

Workload: Workload is the anticipated number of procedures or suite stops that is

processed through a department/service area. The total workload applied to

departmental operational assumptions will determine overall room requirements by

modality.

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 Veterans Assistance Unit 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.

PROGRAM DATA REQUIRED (Input Data Questions)

A. Mission Input Data Statements

1. Is a Secretary FTE position authorized for Veterans Assistance Unit? (M)

B. Staffing Input Data Statements

1. How many Veterans Assistance Unit Cleriacl FTE positions are authorized? (S)

2. How many Veterans Assistance Unit Benefits Counselor FTE positions are

authorized? (S)

C. Miscellaneous Input Data Statements

1. Is standard furniture authorized? (M)

2. Is systems furniture authorized? (M)

Veterans Assistance Unit (Chapter 218): Page 3 of 6