Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 261)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines space planning criteria for Chapter 261: Day Treatment Center.
It applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. The Day Treatment Center (DTC) is an outpatient treatment program that provides a
supportive learning environment in which patients having chronic difficulties with
community adjustment, interpersonal relations and vocational or educational problems
may receive help. Such patients often have long periods of hospitalization, and need
continuing monitoring of their general health and medication needs. The DTC offers a
therapeutic experience for a patient who requires clinical assistance and support for as
much as six to eight hours per day, five days per week, but does not require
hospitalization. The program permits patients to remain within their social and family
environments concurrent with their treatment program.
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Biofeedback: (also known as Neurotherapy or Neurofeedback) A method used to teach
a person control of different bodily functions in order to increase feelings of calm and
relaxation as well as reduce pain and discomfort. Biofeedback is the use of electronic
equipment to reflect the physical state of the individual while the person learns
techniques to regulate the body's systems and to reduce unwanted symptoms. This is
typically done by the use of an EEG (electroencephalography). . The Biofeedback
Laboratory is used to treat patients with a wide variety of disorders such as anxiety,
headache, hypertension, irritability, tachycardia, ulcers, insomnia, and musculoskeletal
problems.
B. Compensated Work Therapy Program: Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) provides
therapeutic work rehabilitation for inpatients and outpatients through the use of
renumerative work. Industrial business practices are utilized to simulate realistic working
conditions, with therapy as the objective. Range of activities include simple packaging to
complex assembly of computer parts.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. Clinic Visit: Patient arrival (stop) at the main reception desk. Patients may have multiple
Clinic Stops during one Clinic Visit.
F. 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.
Day Treatment Center (Chapter 261): Page 300-2 of 10
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