Department of Veterans Affairs
Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 290)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
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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.
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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.
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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 the Voluntary Service 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 Voluntary Service equipment is determined by VACO
and upon Veterans Health Administration (VHA) anticipated medical needs.
D Administrative space is based on the following rationale:
1. Staffing requirements from the Quarterly Name Listing of VHA personnel in Pay
Status.
2. Provisions for CRT and printer space to accommodate the automated records
system used by Voluntary Service to collect and tabulate data for reporting
information pertaining to Voluntary Services Programs Served and Status of
Regularly Scheduled Volunteers.
3. Voluntary Service policy that one volunteer sign-in area be available in
administration.
E Space for the VAVS Organization Area is based on field visits and survey data
demonstrating:
1. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center management provides
space for unpaid representatives (reps) or veteran and non-veteran service
Voluntary Service (Chapter 290): Page 3 of 9
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