FINAL DRAFT- 10/31/95
REVISED January 1997
Market Segment
Duplication of facilities is minimized by using
ambulatory facilities accommodating inpatients
VA ambulatory care facilities need to compete
and outpatients in the same setting.
with other sectors both to maintain and to
expand their patient base
Human Needs
While the Veteran is of primary concern, there is
Patient dignity and self-determination are
an increased effort to include the Veteran's
accommodated while considering operational
family.
efficiencies.
Sharing agreements, joint ventures, and
Patient's vulnerability to stress from noise, lack
referrals will sometimes include members from
of privacy, poor lighting and other causes, and
the general public.
the subsequent harmful effects it can have on
the healing process is well known and
Other Requirements
documented phenomenon.
Special Requirements must be evaluated and
An inherent opportunity exists in the design of
applied on a project basis. Such requirements
Ambulatory Care Facilities to address the above
may include, teaching, program mission and
issues and to put forth creative solutions that
coordination of hospital, clinical and support
enhance patient comfort and contribute to
services.
positive outcomes.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
A prime architectural objective should be to
Current CDC requirements for design of public
de-emphasize the institutional image of
areas within the building to accommodate
traditional health care facilities and to surround
Microbactium Tuberculosis patients must be
the patient (and family members) with finishes
addressed by architectural and mechanical
and furnishings that are familiar and
disciplines. Check current requirements with VA
non-threatening.
task force on transmission of mycrobacterium
tuberculosis and TB Criteria in the HVAC
Good planning and design appeal to the spirit
Design Manual for Hospital Projects.
and sensibilities of patients and care providers
alike.
Space Planning & Design
Flexibility
Ambulatory Care facilities should be healing
The design of health facilities must respond to
environments that allow the building itself to
changing workloads, business objectives and
become part of the therapy. The technical
technologies.
requirements should be addressed in an
integrated manner that supports these concepts.
Spaces
are
universally
designed
to
accommodate a range of related functions.
Patient privacy is accommodated
without
sacrificing facility utilization.
Generic plans are developed to respond to
changes in use and assignment.
Security is addressed by planning, design, and
detail considerations.
Special spaces are designed and grouped to
accommodate a range of functions and to
Handicapped access is accommodated by the
accommodate change where possible.
application of UFAS and ADA design standards
to space and fixed equipment layouts.
Efficiency
The design of Ambulatory Care Facilities must
Functional Relationships
limit resources to accommodate increasing
Work Flow
health care demands.
The Functional Diagrams reflect function,
Support spaces are designed to be shared
organization, flow, and operational issues and
where possible.
should not be interpreted as preconceived floor
plans.
Functions with similar system requirements are
grouped or combined.
VA DESIGN GUIDE
AMBULATORY CARE (Hospital Based)
PAGE 2-3
Previous Page
