OACA interns

OACA Interprofessional Internship Highlight: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System

Colton Cannon, BS, from the School of Dentistry and Claire Knutson, BS, from the School of Public Health are working with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System to observe how the recently implemented tiered huddle system is operating. The hope is to expand these huddles across the organization and help to develop and implement tools to scale up this work, including development of an objective method to monitor the lifecycle of the tiered huddle system and monitor team alignment. Cannon and Knutson are working to better understand how to measure the success of the program, while finding ways to better serve the organization. 

“We have learned just how unique every aspect of our health care system is. Each team in a hospital has its own identity, objectives, operations, and needs. Being able to adapt our understanding to the culture of the team has been a valuable experience,” said Cannon and Knutson. They have seen value in the establishment of team culture and the importance of including diverse perspectives of all members of the health care team.

They added, “Very often we can get stuck in the status quo. Looking into a system with fresh eyes has been a very worthwhile experience for us, and we hope to bring a fresh perspective to the organization and the project.”

Other News

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota
13 grants totaling $4.3 million to support regenerative medicine-based innovations to improve human health.
Cathy Chavers, Laura Palombi, and Pamela Hughes next to a public health vending machine
Public health vending machines stocked with free, lifesaving items ranging from Narcan and fetanyl testing strips to socks and flashlights…
group holding hands in circle
By listening to and acting on the voices of Minnesotans, the University of Minnesota is uniquely positioned to truly transform health.