Expanding care for active-duty service members

We are in the process of expanding the impact of the Minneapolis VA, one of five regional polytrauma centers of excellence in the United States, to provide even more specialized care.  

The Polytrauma System of Care encompasses specialized rehabilitation programs dedicated to serving Veterans and service members with both combat and civilian-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and polytrauma as well as stroke or other acquired brain injuries. These programs include: the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, (a comprehensive, acute, inpatient rehabilitation program), the Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program (a residential program designed to facilitate community integration), and the Intensive Evaluation and Treatment Program (a new residential program focusing on intensive inpatient evaluation and treatment). 

Minneapolis VA Rehabilitation Director Rebecca Vogsland stated, “The renovation is going to be a game-changer for patient care.  By modernizing our spaces for inpatient rehab services we're not only updating the look, but we’re also enhancing the therapeutic environment by providing a space where patients and their loved ones can fully participate in the rehabilitation journey.”   

Renovations are underway across a combined unit that will serve our acute rehab programming (TBI, stroke, amputation), our transitional brain injury program, and our new high-level intensive evaluation and treatment program. The new program focuses on active-duty service members with an emphasis on special forces.  

“We’re providing single-occupancy patient rooms that are designed to look inviting while still maintaining full medical capabilities, and flexible spaces for creative programming.  We have designed rehabilitation spaces to engage Veterans and active-duty service members across the rehab continuum and programs. Bringing all our inpatient rehab programs to the same area offers increased opportunities for collaboration between teams and more efficient use of our resources,” said Vogsland. 

The polytrauma team is an army of physicians, specialists and nurses, as well as speech, occupational, physical and recreation therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and other medical professionals that intertwine to provide the latest, scientifically backed care unlike anything seen in the civilian community. 

The project will be completed in three phases. The first “phase” of this project is slated to be completed in late September of this year.  Design work for the next two areas (4J/4L) will be completed in fiscal year 2026 with construction to begin in 2027.   

For more information visit: https://www.polytrauma.va.gov/