Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (265)
Washington, DC 20420
June 2006
5. Volunteer Sign-in Area (OFA03) ............................................. 60 NSF (5.6 NSM)
Provide one if in Concept of Operations
Space for the following functions should be considered only when a Voluntary
service Offices is staffed full-time at the clinic:
6. Organization Workstations (OFA03) .................................. 120 NSF (11.2 NSM)
Provide one per Voluntary Service Officer position authorized.
7. Volunteer Multipurpose Room (WRCH1) ........................... 150 NSF (13.9 NSM)
Provide one per Voluntary Service.
8. Storage (SRS01) ...................................................................... 80 NSF (7.4 NSM)
Provide one per Voluntary Service.
6. PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG) for Outpatient Clinic is 1.65. This number,
when multiplied by the programmed net square foot (NSF) area, determines the
departmental gross square feet (DGSF).
B. Provide 2.5 examination rooms per each Outpatient Care Provider. Refer to Tables in
Section 3 OPERATING RATIONALE AND BASIS OF CRITERIA for calculations for
number of exam rooms and clinic modules. Refer to VHA Directive 2004-031.
C. Minimize walking distances for patients from building main entrance to clinical
destination and from clinical waiting area to clinical exam or procedure space.
D. Centralize check-in/check-out for more efficient use of staff.
E. Per HIPPA, patient confidentiality should be maintained when providing personal
information to interview clerks and/or other staff.
F. Configure patient waiting areas to provide clustered seating in order to eliminate
expansive waiting rooms, reduce noise and confusion, and improve the general patient
environment.
G. Locate the Travel Office in vicinity of main check-in/check/out or other central location.
H. Patient care functional areas should be designed to provide flexibility in order to
accommodate the widest variety of patient visit types. Treatment modules should be
configured to provide the opportunity for other service teams to use adjacent space not
currently being used as patient demand fluctuates.
I.
Create clinic modules with connecting corridors to allow internal circulation of patients
and staff, avoid crossing public circulation patterns to the greatest extent possible.
J. Exam rooms require a minimum clear dimension of 10'-0". Minimum corridor width is 6'-
0".
Outpatient Clinic (Chapter 265): Page 63 of 65
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