Tag Archive for: Minnesota Military Radio

Pharmacy Innovations and Amputation Prevention at the Minneapolis VA

 

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
/by

2025 Legislative Year in Review – Bipartisan Wins for Veterans & Looking Ahead to 2026

2025 Legislative Year in Review – Bipartisan Wins for Veterans & Looking Ahead to 2026

In this year-end legislative wrap-up, host Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham sits down with key leaders to reflect on major accomplishments for Minnesota veterans in 2025 and priorities moving into 2026.

The episode features insightful conversations with:

  • Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud, Chair of the Veterans Subcommittee) – Discussing funding boosts for veterans homes, expanding Meals on Wheels for Greater Minnesota, addressing food insecurity, protecting veterans from predatory “claims sharks,” and future ideas like farm-to-veterans programs to support aging vets and local farmers.
  • Representative Matt Bliss (R-Pennington, Veterans Committee member) – Highlighting the creation of a dedicated veterans omnibus bill process, increased focus on homelessness and suicide prevention (a top priority amid rising rates), family involvement in mental health support, and bipartisan collaboration to keep politics out of veterans’ issues.
  • Governor Tim Walz – Praising the unanimous passage of veterans funding (including new homes, cemeteries, National Guard bonuses, and hunting/fishing license benefits), progress toward ending veteran homelessness, executive actions on food insecurity, and the importance of separating veterans issues from broader partisan debates.

Key 2025 Highlights Discussed:

  • Historic funding for veterans homes to staff new facilities and reduce waitlists.
  • Expanded efforts on food insecurity and home-delivered meals.
  • Strong progress on veteran homelessness (nearing functional zero in most counties).
  • Emphasis on suicide prevention, family support, and eliminating stigma around seeking help.
  • Bipartisan approach: Veterans issues handled first, with no partisan bickering—resulting in real wins like retention bonuses keeping Minnesota competitive nationally.

Looking to 2026:

  • Continued focus on suicide prevention, food programs, and claims protection.
  • Potential supplemental funding to offset federal cuts (e.g., domiciliary care).
  • Codifying successful initiatives into law for long-term stability.
  • Gratitude to veterans, families, and caregivers—no one serves alone.

This episode showcases how Minnesota continues to lead in supporting those who served—through collaboration, empathy, and putting veterans first.

/by

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs: 2025 Year in Review & Vision for 2026

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs: 2025 Year in Review & Vision for 2026

This week we kick off our annual series of Year-in-Review shows with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. In a full-hour conversation, the Commissioner, Brad Lindsey walks us through the major accomplishments of 2025 and lays out priorities for 2026, including:

  • Three new State Veterans Homes now open and serving residents in Preston, Montevideo, and Bemidji
  • Minnesota reaching functional zero on veteran homelessness in nine of ten continuums of care (only Ramsey County remains)
  • Community Health Navigators deployed to hospitals statewide as part of expanded suicide-prevention efforts
  • Launch of a new veteran food-insecurity program in partnership with Disabled American Veterans and the Minnesota Veterans Food Pantry
  • Continued aggressive hiring and in-house training for healthcare staff at all eight veterans homes. Click here to learn more
  • The official State Veterans Day ceremony now rotating to different regions of Minnesota each year
/by

34th Military Police Company Heads to the Middle East

34th Military Police Company Heads to the Middle East
This week on Minnesota Military Radio, we sit down with the Commander and First Sergeant of the 34th Military Police Company (Stillwater, MN) as the unit prepares to deploy in early January 2026 to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
Mission: Customs operations
The 34th will screen returning U.S. personnel and equipment for prohibited items and agricultural contraband across more than ten dispersed sites throughout the CENTCOM region — a unique mission that puts small teams of Minnesota Guard MPs in charge of critical checkpoints as troops and gear flow home. Guests include:
/by

Sailors in the Heartland and Minnesota National Guard Community Relations

Sailors in the Heartland and Minnesota National Guard Community Relations

This week, Twin Cities U.S. Navy recruiters share real stories from submarines and carriers — plus how Minnesotans can join today. Then, hear how the Minnesota National Guard teams up with the Vikings, Twins, Wild, Wolves, and local communities to honor service members. Guests include:

/by