First Draft 6-28-97
General Considerations
Narrative
OVERVIEW
Clinic programs are determined by several
Current Direction
factors:
With the recent change in direction of the VA
from an inpatient oriented service to a
Total number of annual Inpatient and
primarily outpatient service many new and
outpatient clinic stops.
innovative approaches to service have been
The Medical Center complexity level.
inaugurated. One result of the changes has
The need for a full or part time clinic..
been the location of smaller clinics in
neighborhoods to better serve the veterans.
Planned staffing.
The majority of patients will be ambulatory
Staff requirements for offices.
and the work will be treating everyday needs
Whether an Argon and/or Yag laser
The basic eye care program is available at all
room has been authorized.
VA Medical Centers and clinics. Routine eye
exams, disease evaluation, preventative eye
Besides being more user friendly there is a
health care, health screening and health
real effort to reduce costs throughout
education are all part of the services to be
government; and this is leading to more,
found.
smaller buildings with
equipment and
capabilities to match levels of use.. The urban
The larger eye clinics mainly in VA Medical
center will have all the basic refractive
Centers will treat both inpatients and
equipment but also include instruments that
outpatients while neighborhood clinics will be
ophthalmology would share with the satellite
primarily concerned with local outpatients.
offices. The satellite clinics would then
Levels of service will be determined by needs
schedule /refer/ consult those patients to the
and complexities of disorders and this in turn
urban clinic as needed. Both optometry and
will affect the size and location of new clinics
ophthamology would share offices, with
VA Trends
usually at least two fully equipped
The present trend is to make all these
examination rooms.
Within these exam
services more "user friendly".
rooms would be the chair, stand , light,
phoropter, slit lamp keratometer and
There are four levels of clinic size with level
tonometer. In larger clinics a visual field
one being the largest and most complex and
room, photography room, ultrasound room,
level four the smallest
and eye procedure room will be required.
When a procedure room is required clean
and soiled utility rooms are also necessary.
VA DESIGN GUIDE
EYE CLINIC
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