Department Of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 287)
Washington, D.C. 20402
November 2006
opaque internal organs. Images produced by this modality include upper and
lower gastrointestinal series, cystography, pyelography and esophageal mobility
studies.
J. 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.
K. 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.
L. Gastroenterology Laboratory: Used for performing such tests as gastric analysis
and esophageal manometry. It would be included in the Endoscopy Suite when
approved by the authorized program official.
M. 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.
N. Net-to-department gross factor (NTDG): A factor that, when multiplied by the
programmed Net Square Foot (NSF) area, determines the Departmental Gross
Square Feet (DGSF). The NTDG factor adopted for Endoscopy Suite is 1.50.
O. Procedure / Suite Stop: A procedure / suite stop is one encounter of a patient
with a healthcare provider. Per these criteria, the procedure / suite 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.
P. Program for Design (PFD): A space program based on criteria set forth in this
document and specific information about Concept of Operations, workload
projections and staffing levels authorized.
Q. Provider: A medical professional, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or
physician assistant, who provides care to patients.
R. Room Efficiency Factor: A factor that provides flexibility in the utilization of a
room to account for patient delays, scheduling conflicts, and equipment
maintenance. Common factors are in the 80 to 85% range. A room with 80%
room efficiency provides a buffer to assume that this room would be available
20% of the time beyond the planned operational practices of the room. This
factor may be adjusted based on the actual and/or anticipated operations and
processes of the room / department.
S. 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
Digestive Diseases Endoscopy Suite (Chapter 287): Page 287-3 of 16
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