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Description

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ABOUT US Who We Are
Minneapolis VA Health Care SystemVAHCS is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services with stateoftheart technology as well as education and research Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care tertiary care and longterm care in areas of medicine surgery psychiatry physical medicine and rehabilitation neurology oncology dentistry geriatrics and extended care

Our hospital longterm care behavioral health and home care programs are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations JCAHO In addition our rehabilitation programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities CARF Our laboratory and pathology services are recognized by the College of American Pathologists CAP We are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer

Mission Vision and Values
Mission
The Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System exists to Honor Americas veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and wellbeing

Vision
To be a patient centered integrated health care organization for veterans providing excellent health care research and education an organization where people choose to work an active community partner and a back up for national emergencies

Values
Trust

Respect

Excellence

Commitment

Compassion

Empowerment

Continuous Improvement

Collaboration

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History

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History
The history of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center begins in 1921 when the United States Veterans Bureau leased the Asbury Hospital in Minneapolis and the Aberdeen Hotel in St Paul to provide for hospitalization of World War I veterans from Minnesota and adjoining states

In 1925 an executive order of President Calvin Coolidge transferred a 160acre tract of land from the Fort Snelling Military Reservation and a Veterans Administration Facility was erected there Original cost of the building which provided for 557 hospital beds was 1277725 The building opened in March 1927 and by that June 520 patients were receiving treatment

At the end of World War II the facility had grown to no fewer than 36 separate structures These included five hospital buildings a recreational building an administration building nurses home attendants quarters one single and three duplex physicians residences a warehouse laundry garage power plant and a building housing a fire department

Even with additions and remodeling adding capacity of over 1000 beds a 1974 Veterans Administration survey found that the Minneapolis VA Hospital had the most serious space deficiencies in the entire VA system The decision was made to replace 90 percent of the Medical Center on its present site with a fourstory structure proximity to the airport limited the height of the building designed to house 845 beds Construction of this structure began in 1983 and was completed in 1987 Transfer of patients to the new facility Building 70 took place in 1988