FINAL DRAFT 9/6/95
UPDATED NOV. 1996
Narrative
Technical Considerations
Utensils:
Inpatient and outpatient traffic should be
kept separate where possible.
Reusable utensils include bed pans,
Inpatient access from hospital service
urinals, emesis basins, and other stainless
elevators is required.
steel items that are used in exam and
treatment areas. They are transported to the
Shared control points occur for inpatients
soiled
utility
room
where
they
are
and outpatients.
reprocessed, if steam washers are available,
Inpatients access patient holding through
or collected for transport to the Sterile
a dedicated route separate from outpatient
Processing Department for reprocessing.
waiting.
Radioactive Materials and Waste:
Staff:
Radioactive waste is generated within the
Staff access should be separated from
Radiopharmacy, the Radioimmunoassay Lab,
patient waiting and holding areas.
and the Patient Dose Area (as well as other
Staff lounge and locker areas should be
areas of the hospital).
away from inpatient and outpatient traffic.
A small room with shelves to hold
Records:
radioactive waste for decay may be required.
Access to commercial waste disposal is
Nuclear Medicine utilizes digital imaging
limited and expensive. Decay-in-storage is the
and retrieval techniques that may reduce the
waste disposal of choice. Need for space is
need for storage and retrieval of films.
determined by the amount of materials
Nuclear Medicine film records are usually
prepared on-site vs. procurements from
not the standard 275 mm x 350 mm (11"x14")
commercial radiopharmacies to which waste
format and are stored locally.
is ordinarily returned.
Nuclear Medicine volumes usually do not
justify pneumatic tube of automated box
Transportation:
transport access to Medical Records; these
transport modes may be located where
Patient:
shared use is possible.
Outpatient:
Provide data communication access at
viewing, interpretation, and video image
Provide convenient access from patient
manipulation areas.
parking to the primary care entrance.
Specimens:
Provide passenger elevator access to
Nuclear Medicine facilities off main entrance
Specimens are collected locally or are
levels.
hand transported to the department.
Use techniques, including clear access
Specimens
are
received
at
the
routes, public spaces, landmarks, and
radioimmunoassay lab and are held there in
signage, to facilitate way-finding.
refrigerators or freezers as required.
Inpatient:
Specimens are discarded as medical or
radioactive waste as appropriate.
Access for stretcher and wheelchair
patients in inpatient areas should be provided.
VA DESIGN GUIDE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE SERVICE
PAGE 2-14
Previous Page
