Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 280)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
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.
I
Service Organizations (Department): The department within the medical center that
provides facilities for representatives of national service organizations recognized by
the Department of Veterans Affairs such as American Legion, Disabled American
Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW), etc.
J
Service Organization Representative: Representatives of national service
organizations recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Service
Organization representatives provide veterans, their dependents and survivors with
information, advice and assistance regarding the availability and acquisition of
veterans' benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and
other agencies. They also assist in the preparation of claims and represent the
veteran, his dependents or survivors during an appeals process, when such action is
necessary.
K 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.
3
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 Service Organizations 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.
C These criteria are subject to modification relative to development in the equipment,
medical practice, vendor requirements, and subsequent planning and design. The
selection of the size and type of Service Organizations equipment is determined by
VACO and upon Veterans Health Administration (VHA) anticipated medical needs.
Service Organizations (Chapter 280): Page 3 of 6
Previous Page
