Jenny Kouri

DOS 752
November 6, 2015
Successful Strategic Planning of a Department
The Minneapolis VA Medical Center dates back to 1921 when the U.S. Bureau combined a local
hospital in Minneapolis and a hotel in St. Paul to provide hospitality and shelter for World War I
Veterans in Minnesota and the surrounding northern states. Four years later, ground was broken
for a new facility that housed 557 hospital beds for the price of $1,277,725. Since War World II,
expansions have been made to accommodate more workers and a larger campus. Since day 1,
the VA has grown to become one of the largest health care systems worldwide. The Minneapolis
VA passionately strives to provide new treatments and programs in support of posttraumatic
stress disorder, suicide prevention, women veterans, etc. The mission of the VA Health Care
System in Minneapolis, Minnesota is to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional
health care that improves their health and well being. [1] Their vision is 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. [2]
Successful strategic planning of a department involves the ability to highlight their
strengths, improve their weaknesses, harness all opportunities, and combat any threats. The VA
is a big time player as a teaching hospital, which allows for state of the art practices, minds, and
comprehensive research. In affiliation to the University of Minnesota, more than 700 residents,
interns, and students clinically rotate through the VA. This is a major strength for the VA as
veterans can receive quality care with advanced technology. Four years ago and 20 million
dollars later, a Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Center was added to the Minneapolis
campus to provide acute rehabilitation, primary care, and chronic care for those with injuries to
the spinal cord. [3] The VA has had a strong presence in the media over the past year about their
patient wait list as veterans are not being seen by physicians in a timely manner. Many
opportunities are given to students to pursue careers within the VA after completion of their
education. 2016 Presidential budget cuts pose as a vital threat to the VA as this could decrease
the number of veterans to receive VA care, less staff with the ability to improve access to care,

delays in research and advancements, eliminate funding for facilities, and eliminate funding for
cemetery expansions.
More on a radiation oncology department level (as the student sitting on the front porch
looking in) the greatest strength at the Minneapolis site is the departments teamwork.
Communication, encouragement, and consistently willing to double check co-workers treatment
plans are abundant. A weakness, once again from a student standpoint, is that there are very few
women who are treated. I have probably have seen less than 5 females treated. I believe in the
future the patient demographics will be more diverse. I have had numerous hands-on
opportunities from the very start of my rotation and was able to jump right into treatment
planning and participating in team meetings. For example, our department is beginning the first
of many phases of reconstruction and there has been many road bumps in reconstruction process
of buying a new CT simulator. My preceptors have allowed me to sit in on meetings to become
familiar with these types of departmental/business situations. I am drawing a blank on threats...
thats probably a good thing ;) Abe Lincoln promised to care for those who shall have borne the
battle, and for their families and their survivors. [1] With the SWOT technique, the VA can
continue to hold true of Lincolns promise.
On a side note, I am proud to have had the opportunity to work at the VA and be
alongside veterans who love sharing their stories, especially during simulation or when I pass
through the patient lounge. God bless America and Happy (early) Veterans Day!

References
1. Minneapolis VA Health Care System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
http://www.minneapolis.va.gov/about/history.asp. Updated: June 25, 2013. Accessed: November
4, 2015.
2. Mission, Vision, and Values. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
http://www.minneapolis.va.gov/about/mission.asp. Updated: June 25, 2013. Accessed: November
4, 2015.
3. About the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
http://www.minneapolis.va.gov/about/index.asp. Updated: May 20, 2014. Accessed: November 4,
2015.