Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Handbook 7610 (276)
Washington, DC 20420
June 2006
6
PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG) for Radiology is 1.60. This number, when
multiplied by the programmed net square foot (NSF) area, determines the departmental
gross square feet (DGSF).
B. Radiology imaging services should be strategically located in order to:
1. Maximize efficiency in use by other services (i.e., maximizing the use of high cost
equipment).
2. Plan to accommodate the high probability that the area may require expansion in the
future.
3. Avoid the substantially higher cost of enlarging a Radiology Suite through relocation
rather than expansion.
4. Locate soft spaces such as administrative/conference areas adjacent to the high
technology/diagnostic equipment areas that have a higher probability to expand.
C. Corridors should be designed a minimum of 8 feet in width, to accommodate passage of
two stretchers and/or wheelchairs, equipment or beds.
D. The main Radiology Suite should be readily accessible to both inpatients and
outpatients and in proximity to the central patient vertical transportation system serving
nursing units. For patient convenience, the suite should be near Ambulatory Care,
Nuclear Medicine, and Outpatient and Ambulance entrance areas. It should be
functionally organized to separate staff and patient circulation as much as possible.
1. Patient waiting and public areas should be organized in conjunction with patient
circulation, which provides separate access to diagnostic rooms and dressing
rooms.
2. Centralized check-in/check-out for all imaging modalities for more efficient utilization
of staff.
3. Locate holding area adjacent to modalities that have a higher volume of inpatients
and adjacent to the inpatient access point.
E. In planning a Radiology Suite, centralized staff administration and support should be
considered to the greatest extent possible to maximize staff and space efficiency. Either
a central work core or cluster design configuration is preferred:
1. The central work core design with central film processing (if applicable) convenient
to each radiology room (Functional Diagram 1, 2) is ideal for suites containing 12 or
less diagnostic rooms (both general purpose and special procedures). This design
is compact, minimizing the amount of walking for patients, technicians, and the
radiologists.
2. The cluster design is recommended for suites containing more than 12 diagnostic
rooms. In this scheme, basic areas consisting of radiography, fluoroscopy,
Radiology Service (Chapter 276): Page 21 of 28
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