Tag Archive for: Minneapolis VA Health Care System

 

Pharmacy Innovations & Amputation Prevention at the Minneapolis VA

In this episode of Minnesota Military Radio, we explore two critical advancements in Veteran healthcare at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System: a major shift toward digital pharmacy services and a proactive approach to limb preservation.

Guests Include:

Part 1: The Move to Paperless Pharmacy

Chief of Pharmacy Dr. Lisa Anderson and Program Manager Stephanie Walek discuss the new transition to digital prescription information.

  • What’s Changing: Starting in early 2026, the Minneapolis VA is replacing bulky paper inserts with QR codes on prescription labels.

  • Why It Matters: This initiative reduces waste (saving over 34,000 sheets of paper annually) and provides Veterans with 24/7 access to instructional videos and medication guides via their smartphones.

  • Veteran Choice: Paper copies remain available upon request for those who prefer them.

Part 2: Programs focused on limb preservation.

Dr. Wei Li, the new Chief of Vascular Surgery, introduces us to two Nurse Practitioners Dawn Strief and Shanon Harper who share information about life-changing initiatives that use tele-health and focus on limb preservation.

  • PAVE: Prevention of Amputation in Veterans
  • FIRM: Follow –up Initiative for the Recovery, Retention and Management of Patients

Minneapolis VA Patient Advocate Team

This week, we meet members of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System’s Patient Advocate Team and learn that the Patient Advocacy Program is for all Veterans and their families who receive care at VA health care facilities. What can the patient advocate do? What are their limitations? And what do patients bring into the relationship when it comes to resolving an issue they may have in the country’s largest health care system. Guests include:

Veteran Suicide Prevention Month

This week on Minnesota Military Radio: We’re sitting down with top experts from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota National Guard, and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education to spotlight veteran suicide awareness, essential prevention resources, and game-changing collaborations that shatter stigma and uplift service members and their families. Guests include:

Ribs for the Ribbon and VA Vaccine Insights

This week: Dive into the Ribs for the Ribbon event from Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, chat with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System about flu and COVID vaccines. Guests include:

 

Click here to learn more about Minneapolis Navy Retired Activities Office (RAO) 

National Veterans Wheelchair Games

This week, we’re recorded live from the National Veterans Wheelchair Games! Join us as we connect with leaders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, explore logistics and medical support with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, and meet two inspiring athletes. Guests include:

Vettes for Vets is hosting an exciting event on August 10th at the Savage, MN American Legion.

Click Here for more information.