FINAL DRAFT 9/6/95
UPDATED NOV. 1996
Narrative
Functional Considerations
Good planning and design appeals to the
The
patient
process
flows
from
spirit and sensibilities of patients and care
registration and waiting and/or holding, to
providers alike.
gowning
(if
required),
through
dosing/radiopharmacy, to "hot" waiting, to
A Nuclear Medicine facility should be a
procedure rooms, and back to waiting for
non-threatening environment that allows the
discharge.
building itself to become part of the therapy.
Integration of the technical requirements must
A functional plan accommodates patient
support these concepts.
flow with minimal staff direction.
Patient privacy and facility utilization can
Staff and Administrative Functions:
coexist without sacrifices.
Patient traffic areas should not contain
Planning,
design,
and
detail
staff and administrative areas.
considerations
should address
security
Staff functions may be located within the
issues.
department, or in a convenient location
The application of UFAS and ADA design
shared with another department.
standards, for space and fixed equipment
Patient Records/Work Orders/Specimens:
layouts, satisfies handicapped accessibility
issues.
Many ancilliary services such as
Consultation, Exam, Storage, Records,
Reception, Waiting etc., should be a part of
Technical and Environmental:
any project scope. The Design Guide reflects
The design of Nuclear Medicine facilities
only major elements of Nuclear Medicine.
should consider the separation of non-
radioactive areas from radioactive sensitive
Patient records and work orders
activities. Such consideration can reduce or
should move among the administrative,
eliminate the need for excess radiation
clinical film processing, viewing, and
protection. Such segregation also ensures
interpretative functions. Actual patient traffic
the integrity of radiation-sensitive imaging and
should not come into contact with these
quantitative techniques in both the nuclear
documents wherever possible.
imaging and the lab settings.
In-vitro specimens received from outside
Dosed patients awaiting procedures
the department require access to the lab by
should have dedicated waiting and toilet
cart or hand delivery. Box conveyors and
facilities. This protects other individuals from
pneumatic tube systems cannot be justified by
unnecessary exposure to low and short-lived
volume and may affect the quality of the
levels of radiation.
specimen.
Functional Space Relationships:
In-vitro specimen traffic should not mix
with outpatient traffic.
Work Flow:
If the department performs blood drawing
and/or biopsies, account for specimens within
Patient:
the patient work-flow (as required).
A singular point of control for inpatients
Clean and Soiled Materials:
and outpatients can be provided while
maintaining convenient outpatient access.
VA DESIGN GUIDE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE SERVICE
PAGE 2-5
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