Veteran Healthcare Archives - Minnesota Military Radio

This week, MMR was on the road for the Official Ribbon Cutting of the new Minneapolis VA Medical Center Women’s Clinic Friday, Jul. 24.

The clinic meets the unique needs of the approximately 10,000 women Veterans they serve. The Women’s Clinic, a comprehensive health center brings together primary care, gynecology, mental health, physical therapy, pharmacy, social work, dietician, and navigation services in a dedicated space, improving coordination and convenience of care.

The clinic was designed specifically for women Veterans, using patient-centered design to promote a positive, comfortable experience. The space also includes a lactation room, group therapy room, and state-of-the-art procedure rooms equipped with cutting-edge technology for gynecology services — creating a modern, private, and supportive experience. The new clinic will have its own exterior entrance and will double the on-site space dedicated to women Veterans.

Guests include:

Dr. Erin Krebs, Acting Women’s Health Medical Director for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Justin Barry, Engineer Tech, project lead for the Women’s Clinic Construction
Pat Kelly, Director, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Toni McWilliams, Veteran and Peer Specialist, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Jessie Rae Rayle, Veteran and Consumer Advisory Board Member, Minneapolis VA

Modernizing Care for Minnesota Veterans: Minneapolis VA's Federal Electronic Health Record Rollout and AI Enhancements

This week on Minnesota Military Radio, host Retired Command Sergeant Major Doug Wortham sits down with key leaders from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System for an in-depth look at advancements in Veteran care.

Guests include:

Dr. Mike Armstrong, Chief of Staff, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Dr. Rob Bayer, Associate Chief Health Informatics Officer, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Dr. Adam Bock, Chief of Informatics, Minneapolis VA Health Care System

The episode opens with an update from Minneapolis VA Medical Center Director Pat Kelly, who shares news of a recent ribbon-cutting for the Polytrauma System of Care, ongoing efforts to combat Veteran suicide and an upcoming Resource Fair and Claims Clinic in Chippewa Falls on March 24th.The main focus shifts to VA’s Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization. Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Bayer explain how this modern, 21st-century platform will create a seamless, shared health record across federal systems. Benefits for Veterans include:

Real-time access to records
Elimination of paper copies, CDs, faxes, and duplicated tests
Improved scheduling, standardization of care across sites
A more modern patient portal with better secure messaging and apps

Dr. Bock joins to discuss the exciting integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, like ambient AI scribe. This HIPAA-compliant technology documents clinical appoints, with patient consent, so clinicians can focus more on the Veteran and less on the computer. AI output is reviewed by the provider, ensuring accuracy. This episode highlights how the Minneapolis VA is modernizing to deliver even better, more efficient, and compassionate care to Minnesota’s Veterans.

To learn about upcoming events visit https://www.va.gov/minneapolis-health-care/events/. For more information on the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization visit https://digital.va.gov/ehr-modernization/about/. For more on AI in the clinic rooms visit https://news.va.gov/143486/powered-by-ai-improving-veteran-care-experience/.