VA Black Hills Health Care System

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; and an active community partner and 

partner with the Department of Defense and Health and 

Human Services for National emergencies.

VHA Vision Statement: 

At the VHA National Planning Conference in July 2010, the 

VA Under Secretary for Health released VHA‘s new vision 

statement:

VHA will continue to be the benchmark of excellence and 

value in healthcare and benefits by providing exemplary 

services that are both patient centered and evidence based. This care will be delivered by 

engaged, collaborative teams in an integrated environment that supports learning, discovery and continuous improvement. It will emphasize prevention and population health and 

contribute to the nation‘s wellbeing through education, research and service in National 

emergencies.

Our Values:

Trust, Respect, Excellence, Commitment, Compassion, Collaboration, Empowerment, 

and Continuous Improvement

Our Services:

We provide health care for approximately 19,100 Veterans residing in South Dakota and 

portions of 

Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota and Montana:

primary and secondary medical and surgical care

psychiatric inpatient and outpatient mental health services 

Community Living Center (CLC)

Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (RRTP)

Together:

We support services at the Black Hills National Cemetery; the Veterans Outreach Centers 

in Rapid City and Martin, SD; and serve as the primary health care provider for the State 

Veterans Home in Hot Springs. We also have sharing arrangements with Ellsworth Air Force 

Base, South Dakota National Guard, and many other community partners.

Cover photos courtesy US Army, VA MediaNet and SD Dept. of Tourism
Our Goals

6 Key Goals for FY 2011

Take Care of our people

Veterans

Employees

Improve Organizational Performance

Expand Rural Health

Eliminate Veteran Homelessness

Increase Success with Patient Aligned 

Care teams (PACT)

Evaluate, seek input, plan and implement 

the future of VABHHCS to provide quality 

care and meet the diverse needs of our 

Veterans
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

1

Director‘s Message

Welcome to the first VA Black Hills Health Care System Annual 

Report. We hope to share with you a snapshot of the VA Black Hills 

Health Care System‘s Fiscal Year 2010 accomplishments. Our staff 

are committed to providing outstanding health care to our Veterans, 

and I hope you find that commitment reflected on these pages. 

Through expanded use of technology and evidence-based clinical 

practice, I believe we are making progress toward our goal of being 

a patient-centered, integrated health care organization. We are also 

striving to achieve our goal of providing services where our Veterans 

live: expanding our Home Based Primary Care services and increasing outreach services to homeless Veterans. We are pleased with the 

progress we have made in offering enhanced services to those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Veterans of our most recent 

conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, we are implementing a Patient Aligned Care Team 

(PACT) model that is transforming the way that primary health care is provided by involving Veterans in 

the health care decision-making process and adding pharmacists, social workers, psychologists and 

other professionals in the care team.

I am extraordinarily proud of the Staff of the VA Black Hills Health Care System for the high quality 

care and service that they provide, and I, along with our 1100 men and women, am honored to help 

carry out what I continue to feel is the most noble mission of any federal agency – To Care for Him Who 

Shall Have Borne the Battle.

Sincerely,

Peter P. Henry

Peter P. Henry, FACHE

Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System 
Peter P. Henry, FACHE- Director

It is an extraordinary privilege to serve as Director of any VA healthcare facility; to 

serve as the CEO of the VA Black Hills Health Care System, however, is a particular 

honor. We are blessed with exceptional staff who go out of their way to provide 

exceptional, compassionate care. My job is to eliminate as many obstacles to their 

caring efforts as possible, to make sure we hire new staff worthy of our Veterans and 

current employees, and to help us visualize the exciting future of VA BHHCS!

2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

2

Meet Our Leadership Team

Craig Fischer, DDS - Acting Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff (COS) provides advice and counsel in defining and accomplishing 

the facility's mission and goals and ensuring that high quality patient care is 

delivered. The COS promotes the development of healthcare professionals through 

counseling, mentoring and teaching. The COS also promotes an effective mix, 

coordination and support of clinical programs by evaluating current and potential 

patient needs, clinical workload, resources and special programs/mandates. The COS 

upholds standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which are maintained 

through compliance with the credentialing and privileging processes, monitoring and 

evaluation of clinical practice, peer review, and quality assurance activities.

I chose to work for the VA after completing a General Practice Residency with the VA in 1984. I find the 

experience both professionally fulfilling and enjoyable. The types of cases, the integrity of the staff 

and the wonderful patients we treat can be found nowhere else.

Gloria O’Neill, RN, BSN, NE-BE - Acting Associate Director of Patient Care Services

Having worked at the VA for over 26 years, first as staff nurse then moving on to the 

Nurse Manager role and Acting ADPCS/Nurse Executive, I can tell you that the VA is 

a place I choose to work. I have had the opportunity to impact the care that we 

provide. Veterans are the heart and soul of our health care family. Every day we 

come to work and everything we do is in honor of the Veterans who have served their 

country. Our Veterans deserve the very best and the staff at Black Hills Health Care 

System are committed to giving the best health care anywhere. Thank you everyone 

for what you do to care for our Veterans and to make VA Black Hills Health Care 

System a great place to work.

Stephen R. DiStasio, FACHE, CNA - Associate Director for Operations

After 32 years as a member of the Armed Services health care team it was absolutely 

the right next step to join the VA health care team to continue to take care of  ̳those 

who have borne the price of battle.‘ I chose the VA because of its mission, its 

excellence and its commitment to improvement. The employees who make health 

care happen here are among the best I‘ve ever seen. Your reputation for excellence 

is known throughout VA. My role is to continue to help you be more successful. We, 

as Executive Leaders, are  ̳here to care about you‘, and  ̳you‘ means both our 

Veterans and our staff. 
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Highlights 

The following list is a sampling of the many accomplishments we‘ve seen at VA Black Hills Heath Care 

System in 2010:

VA BHHCS received Full Accreditation status by the Joint Commission in September 2010. In 

June 2010, an unannounced triennial visit was completed that included primary and extended 

care and community-based outpatient clinics under the Hospital, Long Term Care, Home 

Care , and Behavioral Health program standards. The healthcare system also has full accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Commission on Accreditation 

of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The Research Program has National Committee for Quality 

Assurance (NCQA) accreditation. 

In FY 2010, Performance Measures were, a continued organizational priority. Measures for 

inpatient quality measurement include Diabetes, Ischemic Heart Disease, Behavioral Health, 

Prevention, and Tobacco. The inpatient measurements include the provision of discharge 

instructions to the patient admitted with Ischemic Heart Failure, and the evaluation of PTSD, 

positive alcohol misuse, and depression screens. The VA BHHCS met the performance targets 

in each of the 5 composite measures during FY 2010.

Patient Services have doubled the number of means tests being completed from last year 

and have improved the efficiency on how they are received from the Community Based 

Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

VA BHHCS paid an average of 98% of all medical claims received within 30 days of receipt.

Call Center Implementation

Scottsbluff and Gordon, NE CBOC converted to five day a week Contract Clinics.

VABHHCS Pharmacy was accredited by the American Society of Health Systems and currently 

is the only Pharmacy Residency Program in western South Dakota. 

Department of Health and Human Service Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesDialysis Unit Accreditation

Controlled Expenditures for non-VA care while expanding local access.

Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) Implementation

Facilities Improvements

Remodel of Hot Springs Primary Care area

New MRI Dock in Hot Springs

Flooring replaced at Fort Meade

Remodel of Mental Health area at Fort Meade
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Our Service Area

As part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23), VA BHHCS serves Veterans from four states in

an area covering over 100,000 square miles. In addition to our Community Based Outpatient Clinics 

(CBOCS) we also provide mental health care in Wessington Springs, SD. Primary medical care is provided 

to Veterans at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home located in Hot Springs, SD. Sharing 

agreements with Indian Health Services, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota Army National Guard and others 

allow us to provide health care to active duty and Veterans who can benefit from our care.
Primary Care provides a full scope of care to all eligible 

Veterans seeking on-going health care available at 9 

CBOC access points and 2 Medical Centers. Health care is 

provided in inpatient and outpatient settings, in focused 

programs tailored to Gulf War and Women Veterans, via 

modalities including Telehealth (Care Coordinated Home 

Telehealth, Conference Video Telehealth), Chronic 

Disease Management and Specialty referrals within VHA 

and community specialty services.

Each Veteran receiving primary care is assigned a single 

primary care provider. This encourages the relationship 

between patients and providers and improves the 

likelihood that patients will participate in preventive 

health screenings, take active and educated roles in 

decisions affecting their health, and ultimately become 

more independent in managing their own health.

Patients are able to obtain medical advice when they 

seek it, whether for urgent problems, minor concerns, or 

chronic conditions.

Primary care providers and team members coordinate 

care and support to meet the health care needs of the 

individuals assigned to them; if not through their own 

scopes of practice, then by referral to specialty services.

Specialty Care & Surgical Service encompasses most 

surgical disciplines across a multi-campus facility, 

including General, Vascular, Thoracic, Orthopedics, 

Optometry, Ophthalmology, Urology, ENT, Audiology and 

Podiatry. Each is a high volume clinic operation and 

provide both ambulatory (outpatient) and inpatient 

surgery programs.

Extended Care and Rehabilitation is comprised of 

several disciplines. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 

(including Neurology, Physical, Occupational and Kinesiotherapy), Speech Therapy, Community Living Centers, 

Home and Community Care (including Home Based 

Primary Care), Hospice and Palliative Care, Polytrauma/

Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury. This year 

a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) was established at 

Hot Springs. Hospice and Palliative Care continues 

working to expand services and partner with community 

resources for Veterans in their last days.

2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Patient Service Lines
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Patient Service Lines (cont.)

Mental Health Service provides quality, comprehensive 

mental health care based upon best practices and evidence-based interventions in a variety of settings within 

the Black Hills Health Care System. Services include: 

Addictive Disorders Service Residential and Outpatient 

Addiction Treatment Programs; Inpatient Mental Health; 

residential and case management services for those with 

serious mental illness (Living Skills for Success (LSS) and 

Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM)); Organizational and Community Employment Services 

(Compensated Work Therapy, Supported Employment, 

Incentive Therapy); Outpatient Mental Health; Residential Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Outpatient 

PTSD; Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV); 

Transitional Residences (TR); Housing and Urban Development/VA Supported Housing (HUD/VASH); Grant and 

Per Diem Housing; Pastoral Counseling, Recreation Therapy, and Suicide Prevention. 

Mental Health Service provides care in the following 

communities: 

Hot Springs, Pine Ridge, Fort Meade, Rapid City, Eagle 

Butte, McLaughlin, Pierre, and Rosebud, South Dakota; 

Newcastle, Wyoming; and Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Community Outreach Programs

Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New 

Dawn Reaches Out to Area College Students

The VABHHCS OEF/OIF/OND Program has partnered with western SD and NE 

institutions of higher learning to support student Veterans. In an effort to bring 

the service to the Veteran where they live, work and educate, OEF/OIF staff 

provide monthly office hours at Veteran outreach centers at 4 educational 

institutions. OEF/OIF/OND staff also network continuously while on monthly 

community outreach with Veteran representatives at our educational institutions in NE. These efforts 

have lead to increased enrollment and utilization of VA health care services. Additionally, by working 

collaboratively with our Veteran service partners at these institutions, Veterans who are struggling 

with school, work, and/or at home have been assisted in a variety of creative ways to remove 

barriers, reduce stigma, facilitate understanding and cross communication and make educational 

modifications where helpful to the Veteran student in achieving success.

VABHHCS provided over 75 outreach activities and 

events to Veterans during FY 10. Outreach continues 

to be a high priority for our health care system. We 

provide outreach to all Veterans within our service 

area with a special focus on Women Veterans, 

Minority Veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom and 

Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, homeless 

Veterans, Veterans in transition, Veterans with spinal 

cord injuries, Veterans at risk for suicide and 

Veterans with PTSD. Our outreach programs continue 

to focus on the needs of all Veterans considering age, 

era, gender, conflict, ability, etc. The Outreach 

Committee goal is to reach ALL Veterans. 
The goal of the VA Black Hills Health Care System‘s Minority Veterans Program is to 

provide and promote the use of VA programs, benefits, and services by minority 

Veterans; to make benefits and services more accessible to minority Veterans; and 

to evaluate current programs and make recommendations on how the VA can better 

serve minority Veterans.

2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Minority Veterans Program

The Minority Veterans Program (MVP) assures that minority Veterans:

 Receive equal service regardless of race, origin, religion, or gender

 Do not encounter barriers in their attempt to access VA services

 Are treated with respect and dignity by VA staff

Who We Serve

As required by Congress in 1994, under Title 38 

Public Law 103-446, the primary emphasis is on 

the following minority Veterans:

° African Americans ° Asian Americans

° Native Americans ° Hispanic Americans 

What Does the Minority Veteran Program 

Coordinator (MVPC) Do?

The MVPC services as the principle advisor to the Medical Center Director on issues and concerns related to services that affect minority Veterans.

Promote the use of VA programs, benefits and services

Make benefits and services more accessible to minority Veterans

Educate Veterans and their family member about VA benefits and services available in their area

Target outreach efforts to minority Veterans through community organizations

Evaluate current programs and make recommendations to VA to better serve minority Veterans

Support and initiate activities that educate VA staff about the unique needs of 

minority Veterans

Advocate on behalf of minority Veterans by identifying gaps in services and 

make recommendations to improve service

Assess the needs of minority Veterans and make recommendations for improving the delivery of services to them

Black

3%

0%

American 

Indian/Alask

a Native

0% 59%

Asian

0% 3%

Native 

Hawain/Paci

fic Islander

0%

0%

2 or more

12%

0%

Hispanic

23%

0%

0%

Minority Veteran Population Residing 

in VA BHHCS Service Area

For more information, contact the Minority Veterans Program at: 1.605.745.2885

Or visit us on the web at: www.blackhills.va.gov/Minority_Veterans_Program.asp
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Women Veterans Program 

Women Veterans requesting VA care are assured of:

Comprehensive primary care by a proficient and interested 

 primary care provider

Privacy, safety, dignity, and sensitivity to gender-specific needs

The right care in the right place and time

State-of-the-art health care equipment and technology

High-quality preventive and clinical care, equal to that provided 

 to male Veterans

Who We Serve

VA began providing medical and psychosocial services for women in 1988, when women represented 

4.4 percent of all Veterans. The current projected percentage of U.S. Veterans who are women is 8 

percent. Women make up about 20 percent of today's military. 

1286 unique female Veteran visits to VA Black Hills in FY 2010

Average age was 54 years old

62 females were under the age of 25 and 106 were over the age of 85

VA BLACK HILLS HCS WOMEN'S VETERAN PROGRAM NEWS: 

17 Babies on the way: In 2010 VA Black Hills had 17 women Veterans with the diagnosis of pregnancy. 

VA pays for obstetrical care through the fee basis program. The Veteran receives care from the provider 

of her choosing in her own community. Recent benefit increase includes 7 days of newborn care for the 

infant.

VA Black Hills received funding for enhancement of the environment for female Veterans: Hot 

Springs campus received $97,854 to renovate and improve the female Veterans quarters area of the 

domiciliary. Included are carpet, air conditioning and security and privacy improvements.

Fort Meade Campus received $170,584 for renovation of quarters #144 located on the medical center 

grounds. This will provide first class Hoptel lodging for female Veterans receiving health care at 

VABHHCS, Fort Meade campus. This will provide 4 sleeping rooms, including one room with 2 beds for 

family or spouses to stay when appropriate.

Specialized training: Offered nationally in summer 2010 and again in March 2011 for designated women 

Veteran health care providers in the form of mini-residencies. This allows providers to remain current 

and proficient in their care of the special needs of women.

Site Assessment: VA Black Hills will have a site assessment in May 2011 regarding the physical accommodations, privacy and security related to female Veterans

ER and urgent care nurses and providers: Fort Meade and Hot Springs providers have been trained in 

the treatment, collection and documentation process of female victims of sexual assault.

VABHHCS top female diagnosis: PTSD, Diabetes, and Obesity, substance abuse including alcohol, 

Depression and musculoskeletal pain.

Women of War Project (WOW): Facility for homeless Veterans and their children being built in Belle 

Fourche with grant per diem monies. First building will have 1 large dorm and 2 apartments for families. Second building will have 9 dorm rooms. This will be a transitional housing project which will include living skills and assist females return to the job market. Projected opening date is October 2011.

Photo courtesy US Army

For more information, contact the Women Veterans Program 1.605.347.2511 ext. 7247 

Or visit us on the web at: www.blackhills.va.gov/WomensHealth.asp
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program

The Mission of Health Care for Homeless Veterans is to end homelessness among Veterans by providing a 

full continuum of specialized services. 

PREVENTIVE SERVICES

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1.877.424.3838

Free 24/7 access to trained counselors thru hotline.

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/NationalCallCenter.asp

 

At VA BHHCS call: 605.490.2404

Veterans Justice Outreach Program/ Veteran Reentry Progra

This program is designed to address the community re-entry 

needs of incarcerated Veterans, and to avoid the unnecessary 

criminalization of Mental Illness and extended incarceration and 

the justice-involved Veterans have timely access to VHA mental 

health and substance abuse services. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/Reentry.asp 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/VJO.asp 

At VA BHHCS call: 605.490.8322

HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

Department of Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing. The HUD and VA 

Supported Housing (HUD/VASH) Program provides permanent housing and ongoing case 

management treatment services for homeless Veterans who require these supports to live 

independently. HUD has allocated over 20,000 ―Housing Choice‖ Section 8 Vouchers to 

Public Housing Authorities (PHA‘s) throughout the country for eligible homeless Veterans. 

Evaluation of an earlier, similar program demonstrated that most Veterans participants 

remained permanently housed. 

 www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp

 Contacts: 

Fort Meade-568- Meade Co HA-35 vouchers: 605.490.2404

Hot Springs-568A4 -Pennington Co HA-35 vouchers: 605.490.1310

Rapid City CBOC-568GA-Pennington Co HA-35 vouchers: 605.490.8014

Grant and Per Diem. The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is offered annually by the 

VA to fund community-based agencies providing transitional housing or services centers for 

homeless Veterans. Under the Capital Grant Component VA may fund up to 65% of the 

project for the construction, acquisition, or renovation of facilities or to purchase van(s) 

to provide outreach and services to homeless Veterans. Per Diem is available to grantees to

 help off-set operational expenses. 

 www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Homeless Veterans Program

VHBHHC’S Grant Per Diem (GPD) Programs:

Standing Rock Reservation

GPD award 1996-- Project # 96-79-SD-16 beds—Warrior Lodge, McLaughlin SD

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Service Center award 1996—Project #96-77-SD—Veterans Building, Rose Bud SD

Oglala Sioux Tribe

GPD awarded 2003—Project #03-217-SD-12 beds—Oglala Veterans Shelter, Pine Ridge SD 

Cornerstone Rescue Mission

Per Deim only awarded 2004—Project #04-46-SD- 28 male beds—Cornerstone Veterans Program, 

Rapid City SD, (withdrawn by CMS 2010)

Cornerstone Rescue Mission

GPD award 2006-Project #06-41-SD- 60 male Beds—Cornerstone Veterans Program, Rapid City SD

Veterans Fund of the United States

GPD awarded 2006—total 28 beds--Project #06-35-SD-12 male beds-Promise SD (not yet operational) 

and Parade 16 female beds (not yet operational).

Community Volunteers in Service of our Neighborhood (C-VISN)

GPD awarded 2010-not yet operational

TREATMENT SERVICES

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV). 

The Core mission of HCHV is to perform outreach provided by VA social workers and other mental health 

clinicians, to identify homeless Veterans who are eligible for VA services and assist these Veterans in 

accessing appropriate healthcare benefits. In addition to its initial core mission, HCHV also functions as a 

mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless Veterans. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/HCHV.asp

HCHV contract for 7 female Veterans residential treatment beds at Cornerstone Woman/Children 

Group Home-Rapid City SD 

VA BHHCS Contact 605.490.2404

Veteran Stand Downs. 

Veteran Stand Downs are typically one to three day events 

providing services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, benefits counseling, and 

referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as 

housing, employment and substance abuse/mental health 

treatment. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/StandDown.asp

VA BHHCS usually participates in 4-5 stand downs per year 

that includes Rapid City SD and participation with the 

Reservations in our catchment area. 

VA BHHCS Contact 605.890.2782
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Homeless Veterans Program

Homeless Veteran Dental Assistance. 

The Homeless Veterans Dental Program increases accessibility to quality dental care to homeless Veteran patients and 

to help assure success in VA-sponsored and VA partnership 

homeless rehabilitation programs throughout the US. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/dental.asp 

VA BHHCS Contact 605.490.2404

Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans. 

The Domicilary Program is designed to provide state-of-theart, high-quality residential rehabilitation and treatment services for Veterans with multiple and severe medical conditions, mental illness, addiction, or psychosocial deficits. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/DCHV.asp

VA BHHCS Hot Springs campus has 50 Homeless Veterans Dom beds. 

VA BHHCS Contact 605.890.2782

Drop-in-Centers. 

Drop-in Centers provide a daytime sanctuary where homeless Veterans can clean up, wash their clothes, and 

participate in a variety of therapeutic and rehabilitative activities. Linkages with longer-term assistance are 

also available.

VA BHHCS has funds and is in process of planning a drop in center. 

VA BHHCS Contact 605.490.2404

EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING

Compensated Work Therapy. In VA‘s Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) Program, disadvantaged, at-risk, and homeless Veterans live in CWT/TR community-based supervised group 

homes while working for pay in VA‘s CWT Program (also known as Veteran Industries). 

www.cwt.va.gov

VA BHHCS Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence Program: 605.490.2404

OTHER RESOURCES

Chaleng. Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) 

for Veterns, an innovative program designed to enhance the continuum of care for homeless Veterans provided by the local VA and its surrounding community service agencies. The guiding principles behind the 

Project CHALENG is that no single agency can provide the full spectrum of services required to help homeless Veterans become productive members of society. Project CHALENG enhances coordinated services by 

bringing the VA together with community agencies and other federal, state, and local governments with 

who provide serves to the homeless to raise awareness of homeless Veterans‘ needs and to plan to meet 

those needs. 

www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/chaleng.asp

For more information, contact the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program 1.605.718.1095 
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Enhanced Communications

Call Center 

This year we opened our new Veteran Call Center.

The Call Center serves Veterans throughout the VA 

Black Hills Health Care System, including western South 

Dakota and portions of Nebraska, Wyoming, North 

Dakota and Montana. 

The Call Center line is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am until 6:00pm at 877-339-6837. 

The line is available to Veterans as a Nurse Advice Line, to schedule (re-calls) and/or reschedule 

appointments and for pharmacy refills/renewals. (For all other calls; 

administrative, employment and general information Veterans and 

their families should continue to use VA Black Hills telephone lines. 

At Hot Springs VAMC, 605-745-2000 or 800-764-5370 or at Fort 

Meade, 605-347-2511 or 800-743-1070.) 

―The Veterans Call Center line allows Veterans who need assistance 

on health care advice, scheduling appointments and pharmacy refills 

to speak with a staff person immediately,‖ said Dianne Christiansen, 

VA Black Hills Call Center Manager. ―The goal of the Veteran Call 

Center is to provide accurate and consistent information to our 

Veterans without waiting for a return phone call.‖ 

Web/Facebook/Twitter

Our website (www.blackhills.va.gov) underwent a web enhancement 

project this year, resulting in a home page with a fresher look and 

regularly updated information.

Our newest ―frontier‖ in communication is the addition of Social 

Networking. This year we launched a Facebook page as well as a 

Twitter feed. Utilizing this new medium has allowed us to quickly 

get information out to Veterans, employees, and the general public 

about benefits, weather issues, health tips and more.

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/VABlackHills 

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VABlackHills
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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Telehealth

VA Black Hills Health Care System consists of two medical centers 

located at Fort Meade and Hot Springs and nine CBOCs. We serve 

Veterans in the highly rural areas of Western South Dakota, 

Northwest Nebraska, Eastern Wyoming, and areas of Montana and 

North Dakota. This geographic area, which encompasses over 

100,000 square miles, can be challenging to our Veterans in terms 

of travel, time and personal resources. Telehealth naturally lends 

itself as a way to provide medical attention as well as counseling 

and education services to our rural Veterans in a very cost effective 

and efficient manner.

One of our Telehealth goals for FY10 was to increase Veteran 

access to our pharmacists in doing med reconciliation. It also 

happens that Joint Commission‘s National Patient Safety Goal #8 is 

to accurately and completely reconcile medications across the 

continuum of care. One of our pharmacists at Fort Meade initiated 

a program of Telehealth giving the Veterans at our Pierre CBOC the 

opportunity to speak with a pharmacist over the video units about 

their medications. Since our official launch in the 1st quarter of 

FY09, our Pharmacy Telehealth program has steadily increased to 

the point that we are now seeing about 35% of the Pierre CBOC 

Veterans for med reconciliation.

In addition to 

our Pharmacy 

p r o g r a m , 

Black Hills Telehealth now works in our CBOCs 

with Diet and Nutrition Individually and in Groups, 

Mental Health visits, PTSD visits, MOVE Individual 

and Groups, and Speech. We are utilizing 

specialists from the Minneapolis and Omaha 

facilities to see our Veterans via Telehealth in areas of Oncology, Pulmonologist, Infectious Disease 

and Orthopedics. In total, we have increased our 

Telehealth visits over 300% from FY09 to FY10.

We are growing and expanding and with this, 

giving our Western Veterans better access to 

needed healthcare. Looking to the future, we are 

adding Cardiology and Neurology to our 

specialty areas from Omaha and Minneapolis in 

the upcoming year, as well as increasing in our 

current specialty areas. 

During Secretary Shinseki’s visit to VA Black 

Hills, a patient and his wife ,along with health 

care providers demonstrated a Telehealth call.
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

15

By The Numbers

Resources – Budget

Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Report

Total Expenses $176,020,864

Salary & Benefits $93,529,768 

Total Drug Expenses 

$15,843,404

Supplies & Services $56,983,115

Equipment, Non-Recurring 

Maintenance $9,664,576

Third Party Insurance 

Reimbursements (MCCF) 

$15,968,741

Monetary Donations $47,945

In-Kind Donations $175,793
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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By The Numbers

Number of Patients Served at VABHHCS

20,300

20,400

20,500

20,600

20,700

20,800

20,900

21,000

FY 07 FY08 FY09 FY10

20,544

20,661 20,640

20,955

Black Hills HCS, SD

Black Hills HCS, SD

Rank County Per Capita

Income

1 Buffalo County, South Dakota $5,213

2 Shannon County, South Dakota $6,286

3 Starr County, Texas $7,069

4 Ziebach County, South Dakota $7,463

5 Todd County, South Dakota $7,714

6 Sioux County, North Dakota $7,731

7 Corson County, South Dakota $8,615

8 Wade Hampton, Alaska $8,717

9 Maverick County, Texas $8,758

10 Apache County, Arizona $8,986

11 Dewey County, South Dakota $9,251

VA Black Hills Catchment 

Area contains 7 of the 

top 11 Poorest United 

States Counties by per 

Capita Income
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

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By The Numbers

VA BLACK HILLS WORKLOAD TRENDS

Veterans* FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010

Fort Meade 11,066 11,363 11,775 13,195

Hot Springs 7,910 7,536 7,973 7,974

Rapid City 4,361 4,628 5,170 5,455

Scottsbluff 1,005 1,079 1,077 1,310

Pierre 1,821 1,793 1,714 1,677

VA BLACK HILLS AVERAGE DAILY CENSUS

FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010

Surgery – Fort Meade 4.2 2.8 2.0 1.7

Psychiatry – Fort Meade 5.2 4.4 5.3 3.5

Domiciliary – Hot 

Springs 77.3 72.8 75.9 86.7

Medicine

 Fort Meade 7.6 8.1 8.4 9.1

 Hot Springs 5.3 5.2 4.6 4.7

CLC

 Fort Meade 66.5 67.5 61.2 56.9

 Hot Springs 3.6 4.9 4.7 5.0

VA Black Hills Health Care System

FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010

Total Discharges 1,592 1,558 1,645

Outpatient Visits 201,793 203,729 216,992

Laboratory Tests 778,862 827,099 867,441

Pharmacy Fills 916,610 921,938 926,649

Major Surgical Procedures 785 700 608

*Veterans may access VA Black Hills HCS at multiple points and as a result may be counted more than once.
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

18

Accreditations & Affiliations

Accreditations

American Psychological Association

Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protections Programs (AAHRPP)

American Association of Blood Banks

College of American Pathologists (CAP)

The Joint Commission

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)

Mathmatica

Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)

Office of Medical Inspector (OMI)

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

External Peer Review Program

Information Technology Office of Compliance (ITOC) 

Office of Research Oversight (ORO)

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

Long Term Care Institute

System-Wide Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy (SOARS)

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

Affiliations

South Dakota State University—School of Nursing

South Dakota School of Mines & Technologies

University of South Dakota—School of Medicine

Western Dakota Technological Institute

Various Affiliations in Psychology, Podiatry, Optometry, & many other disciplines
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

19

Community Partnerships/Stakeholders

VA Black Hills Health Care System would not be 

able to provide the quality of care to Veterans 

without the support and teamwork we are fortunate to enjoy through a partnership of numerous 

Veteran Service Organizations, County and Tribal 

Veteran Service Officers, Congressional representatives, volunteers, community organizations, public 

officers and the public in general.

VA Black Hills Health Care System holds bi-monthly 

forums with all partners providing an opportunity 

for partners to share news, concerns and questions 

as well as a time for VA Black Hills staff to educate, 

answer questions and concerns and provide new information at the local, regional and Department of 

Veterans Affairs level.

Volunteers:

Volunteers contributed 41,355 regularly scheduled (RS) hours to serve 

our Veterans in FY 10. 

To supplement RS hours, occasional volunteers contributed an additional 4061 hours, bringing the total hours of volunteer service to 

45,416 hours. 

Without the assistance of our volunteers and the volunteer service organizations they represent, we simply would not be able to provide the 

level of personal care that we can to our Veterans at VA BHHCS .

To volunteer or donate, contact Voluntary Services at 605.745.2000, 

Or visit us on the web at: www.blackhills.va.gov/giving/
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

20

Human Resources

Here at VA Black Hills Healthcare System, 

we care for America‘s Heroes.

If you‘re looking for a rewarding career with 

VABHHCS, visit us on the web at 

www.blackhills.va.gov/careers/

or call 605.745.2000 ext 2018

During Fiscal year 2010, Black Hills Health Care System saw minor growth in hiring new employees. 

In contrast to previous years, hiring for FY 2010 lacked the large number of nationally mandated 

positions. A concerted effort to identify key vacancies helped BHHCS manage budget concerns.

Staffing History and Current Levels
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

21

The Black Hills Advantage

We get to live, work & play where others go for vacation. 

In the state that in 2010-2011 is:

 10th Most Livable State in the Country

 7th Safest State in the Nation

 47th Lowest Crime Index in the Nation

 7th Lowest Cost of Living Index

 No state income tax

 Has a 13.8 Minute Average Commute Time 

 Home to one of GORP‘s Top Ten National Forests 

 Home to one of GORP‘s Top Ten Scenic Drives

 One of the Top Ten places to Snowmobile

 Home of Outdoor Life‘s Top City for Outdoor 

 Enthusiasts 

 Home of the World Famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

We get to live, work & play in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

We get to enjoy stunning landscapes such as Harney Peak, Bear Butte, the 

Badlands, Sylvan Lake, the Needles Highway and more. 

Rich history, from Mammoths to Prehistoric Civilizations to Wild Bill Hickok,

Crazy Horse...and beyond. 

Where wildlife abounds, sometimes in our own backyard. Where rush hour 

may mean waiting for elk to cross the road.

A place of year round outdoor recreation of all kinds. Hiking, fishing, rock 

climbing, canoeing, waterskiing, golf, snowmobiling, hunting, bicycling, sightseeing, camping, cross country skiing, spelunking, horseback riding, sailing, 

rock hounding, swimming, rock climbing, motorcycling, star gazing, and 

more.

Where local and national theatre groups perform, movies are filmed, national 

powwow competitions are held, international dance troupes take the stage, 

symphony orchestras and concert bands play, concerts happen. Where Native 

and traditional art galleries and antique shops are in almost every town. 

Where you can see auto races, college sports, semi-pro hockey, and some of 

the best in rodeo. 

We get to live, work & play where we can be a hero to a hero. 

Join us. Work at VA Black Hills Health Care, where we‘ve been caring for 

America‘s Heroes for over 100 years.

See our career opportunities

VA Careers: www.vacareers.va.gov 

USA Jobs: www.usajobs.gov

Photos courtesy SD Dept. of Tourism
2010 VABHHCS Annual Report

22

Notes
Fort Meade Campus

113 Comanche Road

Fort Meade, SD 57741

605.347.2511 | 800.743.1070

Hot Springs Campus

500 North 5th Street

Hot Springs, SD 57747

605.745.2000 | 800.764.5370

www.blackhills.va.gov

Community Based Outpatient Clinics

Eagle Butte | Faith | Isabel, SD

8000 Highway 212

PO Box 860

Eagle Butte, SD 57625

Phones:

Eagle Butte 605.964.8000

Faith 605.967.2644

Isabel 605.466.2120

Rosebud | Mission, SD

153 Main Street

Mission, SD 57555

Phone: 605.856.2295

Winner, SD

1436 East 10th Street

Winner, SD 57580

Phone: 605.842.2443

Pierre, SD

1601 North Harrison, Suite 6

Pierre, SD 57501

Phone: 605.945.1710

Gordon, NE

300 East 8th Street

Gordon, NE 69343

Phone: 308.282.1442

Pine Ridge, SD

PTSD Building. Next to IHS Hospital

Pine Ridge, SD 57770

Phone: 605.867.2393 ext. 4033

Scottsbluff, NE

300 East 8th Street

Gordon, NE 69343

Phone: 308.282.1442

Rapid City, SD

3625 5th Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone: 605.718.1095

Newcastle, WY

1124 Washington Boulevard

Newcastle, WY 57555

Phone: 307.745.4491

National Suicide 

Prevention Hotline 

1.800.273.TALK (8255)

National Call Center for 

Homeless Vets 

1.877.4AID VET 

(1.877.424.3838) 

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