Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 316)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 316: Dialysis Center. It
applies to all medical facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
B. The Dialysis Center is a facility providing a highly specialized program for the
treatment of renal insufficiencies, serving either or both inpatients and outpatients,
utilizing both single-patient and multi-patient hemodialysis systems.
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Clinic Stop: A clinic stop is one encounter of a patient with a healthcare provider.
Per these criteria, the clinic stop is the workload unit of measure for space planning.
One individual patient can have multiple Clinic Stops in a single visit or in one day.
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. Bariatrics: The branch of medicine which deals with the causes, prevention, and
treatment of obesity. The Dialysis Center must accommodate, in its equipment and
design, a high percentage of bariatric patients, many of whom are disabled or non-
ambulatory.
D. Departmental net-to-gross factor (DNTG): This number, when multiplied by the
programmed net square foot (NSF) area, determines the departmental gross square
feet (DGSF) The DNTG factor adopted for Dialysis Center is 1.50.
E. Dialysate: A solution of water and chemicals used in dialysis. Dialysate shall be
provided in both single-patient and multiple-patient mixtures as determined by the
medical staff.
F. Dialysis: A type of renal replacement therapy which is used to provide an artificial
replacement for lost kidney functions. There are two main forms of dialysis,
Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis, both of which are life support treatments; but
dialysis does not treat kidney diseases. Dialysis may be used for very sick patients
who have recently lost kidney functions (acute renal failure) or for stable patients who
have permanently lost kidney functions (chronic or end-stage renal failure).
G. Dialysis Center: A highly specialized program which provides facilities for the
treatment of patients with irreversible renal insufficiencies. Treatment procedures
require professional supervision by staff experienced in renal pathophysiology. The
Dialysis Center may serve either or both inpatients and outpatients, depending upon
the medical facility type, and may provide self-dialysis training for Peritoneal Dialysis
in addition to on-site assisted dialysis, i.e., Hemodialysis. The Dialysis Center
administers both single-patient and multi-patient hemodialysis systems.
H. 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.
Dialysis Center (316): Page 2 of 15
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