Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 312)
Washington, DC 20420
December 2006
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines space planning criteria for Chapter 312: Domiciliary. It applies to
all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Domiciliary program represents that segment
of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care continuum which provides
rehabilitative and long-term health maintenance care for veterans who require minimal
acute medical care. A recipient of this care is called "Domiciliary patient." These
patients do not require the level of clinical intervention, bedside nursing care or
observation routinely provided to other categories of patients such as medical,
psychiatric, intermediate or nursing home patients. They do, however, require a full
range of rehabilitation services, which may include, as authorized: Domiciliary Care for
Homeless Veterans (DCHV): Center for Addiction Treatment Program (CAT), Health
Maintenance Program (HMP), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Residential Rehabilitation
Program (PRRP), and Traumatic Brain Injury.
C. Domiciliary programs provide a safe, secure, therapeutic, home-like environment
designed to facilitate attainment of each patient's optimal level of functional
independence through active participation in individually developed treatment plans.
Domiciliary patients typically possess multiple chronic medical, psychological and social
problems; are economically disadvantaged; are currently unemployable and are limited
in their ability to provide adequately for themselves in the community. Many fall in the
category of "homeless".
D. Domiciliary care has been shown to be a clinically appropriate, cost effective alternative
to the unwarranted utilization of scarce and more costly acute care resources in meeting
the rehabilitative and health maintenance needs of chronic care patients. The ultimate
goal of the Domiciliary Program is the return of the patient to independent or semi-
independent life in the community. At the same time, it has to be recognized that there
are a small proportion of patients who require a "sheltered environment" for an indefinite
period of time. For those patients, the Domiciliary Program provides the physical, social,
cultural and vocational ingredients necessary for them to achieve and maintain the best
possible quality of life within their capability.
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Communications Center: The central control point for the patient unit.
B. Concept of Operations: A user-developed guide to the functional operation of the VA
healthcare facility. It defines the function of the facility and the scope of medical services
to be provided in the new or remodeled space.
C. Center for Addictions Treatment (CAT): The CAT is an alcohol and drug rehabilitation
program. Addiction services includes detoxification (1-3 days), pre-programming
evaluation (1-14 days) and an intensive 28-day component designed to impact the
veteran's denial system and present the patient with an array of recovery tools. CAT
also offers the Cornerstone Track and the Balanced Living Track to teach veterans to
apply the learned recovery tools.
Domiciliary (Chapter 312): Page 2 of 16
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