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About VISN 23
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Our Mission
Honor America's veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Our 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 backup
in National emergencies.
Our Values
Trust, respect, excellence,commitment, compassion, empowerment, continuous improvement and collaboration.
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VISN 23 serves veterans residing in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The veteran population is 1,025,000. The eastern half of the VISN is more densely populated than the rural and highly rural areas of the Dakotas and Nebraska.
The VA health care systems in VISN 23 are the Black Hills (Fort Meade and Hot Springs); Central Iowa (Des Moines and Knoxville); Nebraska/Western Iowa (Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island); Iowa City; Minneapolis; St. Cloud; Fargo; and Sioux Falls.
VHA sites of care include 8 health care systems; 47 community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs); 2 outreach clinics; and 14 vet centers.
All sites provide inpatient medicine and surgery except St. Cloud which offers ambulatory surgery services and refers all inpatient surgery to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Inpatient care capacity is adequate to meet Veterans' needs.
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| Number of Square Miles |
392,561
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| Number of States |
Primary = 5
Border = 5
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| Number of Senators |
19
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| Number of Congressmen/Congresswomen |
28
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| Number of VBA Regional Offices |
4
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| Number of VA Cemeteries |
4
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Who do we serve?
Simply stated, VA employees have the honor of serving the men and women of America who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Specifically, the mission of the VA Midwest Health Care Network is to maintain and improve the health and well being of enrolled Veterans who live within our service area.
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| Data as of July 2009 |
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| Patients Served |
290,485 |
| Women Veterans Served |
18,343 |
| Outpatient Visits |
2,514,579 |
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How can veterans apply for VA health care benefits?
Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10ez, Application for Health Benefits. The application can also be obtained by visiting, calling, or writing any VA health care facility or veterans' benefit offices. Forms can also be requested toll free from VA's Health Benefits Service Center at
1-877-222VETS (8387)
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Useful Links
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Specialized Programs
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- Rural Health Resource Center (Fargo and Iowa City)
- Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation (Minneapolis)
- Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (Minneapolis)
- TBI Regional Center (Minneapolis)
- Regional Kidney Transplant Center (Iowa City)
- Bariatric Surgery Program (Nebraska/Western Iowa Health Care System)
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| Research Centers |
- Health Science Research and Development Center (Minneapolis)
- Brain Sciences Center (Minneapolis)
- Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes (Minneapolis)
- Center for Research in the Implementation of Innovative Strategies in Practice (CRIISP) (Iowa City)
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