Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 222)
Washington, D.C. 20402
November 2006
1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This document outlines space planning criteria for Space Planning Criteria for Chapter
222: Dental Service. It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA).
2. DEFINITIONS
A. 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.
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. Dental Laboratories: Maxillo-Facial, Dental Prosthetic, Oral Pathology: The Maxillo-
Facial Laboratory is equipped to fabricate maxillo-facial prostheses. The Dental
Prosthetics laboratory is equipped to fabricate oral prostheses. An Oral Pathology
Laboratory is for training Oral Pathology residents in the applied science of oral
pathology.
D. Dental X-Ray: Intra-oral, Panoramic, Cephalometric: Cephalometric X-Rays capture
a radiographic image of the entire head, usually in profile. Intra-oral X-Rays provide
an image of several teeth at a time, and panoramic X-Rays generate a "wrap-around"
image of the patient's mouth.
E. 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.
F. 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.
G. 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 VA-SEPS.
H. Maxillo-Facial Treatment Room: This room is used for prosthetic treatment of
patients with abnormal conditions of the face and oral structures.
Dental Service (Chapter 222): Page 222-2 of 12
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