Whole Health Library
VA is advancing Whole Health to transform health care and improve the lives of Veterans and health care teams, including family and friends. Practicing Whole Health as a clinician means being part of a nationally-supported, grassroots movement intended to bring about system-wide transformation. It also means honoring all the reasons you chose a career in health care.
Implementation
VA offers resources specifically designed to help busy clinicians implement Whole Health in their workplaces and lives. Begin your Whole Health journey today!
Get Started with Implementation
Self-Care
Enhancing mindful awareness can improve all aspects of your life, especially self-care. The eight areas of self-care within the Circle of Health are interrelated—when you neglect one, others may suffer. For each area of self-care, there are research-based overviews and easy tools you can apply to patient care and to your own life.
Professional-Care
Whole Health applies complementary and integrative health approaches to treatment plans for specific conditions. This section offers evidence-based whole health overviews, clinical tools, and case studies on eighteen of the most common health conditions that Veterans face.
Learn More About Professional Care
Whole Health Tools
This section gives clinicians specific resources that can be used at the point of care. Tools can be a great time-saver: clinicians introduce a topic to Veterans during an appointment, and share the corresponding handout with practical information.
Explore Whole Health Tools for Clinicians
Circle of Health
The Circle of Health offers a visual map for Whole Health. Begin with “ME” at the center by asking, "What matters most?" Then incorporate mindful awareness, self-care, and conventional and complementary approaches to achieve Whole Health.
Connecting Employees to Whole Health Implementation
Successful Whole Health Systems are based on a partnership between Veterans and their health care team. To learn more about the benefits of whole health, view the videos below to learn more about empowered Veterans improving their health and well-being.
Connecting Employees to Whole Health Implementation
A short overview of the Whole Health approach for VA employees to better understand what it is and how each person may participate.
Skill Building to Promote Well-Being
This video examines the Well-Being Programs aspect of the Whole Health System model.
Traditional Inpatient Encounter
This traditional inpatient encounter video is designed to be watched with the Whole Health inpatient encounter to highlight the differences between the two styles.
Whole Health Inpatient Encounter
This Whole Health inpatient encounter video is designed to be watched with the traditional inpatient encounter to highlight the differences between the two styles.
Traditional Outpatient Encounter
This traditional outpatient encounter video is designed to be watched with the Whole Health outpatient encounter to highlight the differences between the two styles.
Whole Health Outpatient Encounter
This Whole Health outpatient encounter video is designed to be watched with the Whole Health inpatient encounter to highlight the differences between the two styles.
Whole Health Clinical Champions
VA clinical champions explain the need to shift the culture of health care.
A Perspective on Whole Health - David Rakel
Dr. Dave Rakel and Dr. Adam Rindfleisch describe VA's shift to Whole Health.
The Radical Redesign of Health Care
The Whole Health System is a radical redesign that includes conventional treatment but also focuses on self-empowerment, self-healing, and self-care.
VA's Whole Health System Launch with Dr. Carolyn Clancy
Dr. Carolyn Clancy discusses the launch of Whole Health.
Partnering with Vets in a Personal Health Planning Approach
Learn how primary care physicians and other providers are a key partner for Veterans as they discover and work toward Whole Health.
A Critical Moment in the History of Medicine (20:27)
Dr. Tracy Gaudet explains how VA has reached a moment when health care can be personalized, proactive, and patient-driven.
The Cultural Transformation of Health Care, Section 1: What Matters Most: Personalized, Proactive, Patient-Driven Care
Learn how this new patient centered model gives Veterans care and support to help them achieve their mission for health and well-being.
The Cultural Transformation of Health Care, Section 2: Change the Practice: Why Patient Centered Care
Dr. Tracy Gaudet gives a brief history of modern health care systems and describes the future and approach of an evolved, patient centered system.
The Cultural Transformation of Health Care, Section 3: Patient Engagement
Dr. Tracy Gaudet explains how increased patient engagement and use of a personalized health approach supports VA's Blueprint for Excellence.
The Cultural Transformation of Health Care, Section 4: What Does Our Cultural Transformation Look Like?
Dr. Tracy Gaudet explains and outlines a model for patient centered care.
The Elements of Patient Centered Care
This video offers examples of the personalized, patient centered experience from both the clinical and patient perspective.
Elevating Outcomes through Professional Care
Hear how patient centered care has transformed the experience and practice of traditional health care from both Veterans and VA clinicians.
Discovering the Arts and Healing in VA
Hear Veteran stories about the impact art therapy has had on their lives, and how VA is working to implement complementary approaches to care.
Interactive Patient Care: Bringing Whole Health Care to Life
VA is using technology to empower Veterans to participate in their care and achieve their goals.
The American Veteran: Integrative Health Coaching
A pilot program using Whole Health Coaches puts Veterans in control of their wellness and health care.
An Overview of the Patient Centered Approach
Learn how improving one area of life can benefit all other aspects of your life—including your overall physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Community
Learn how improving your connection to community can benefit your overall physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Professional Care
Prevention and treatment of illness or disease and traditional and complementary medicine are part of professional care. It is important for Personal Health Plans to include both.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Spirit and Soul
A sense of meaning and purpose in life is important to many people and impact health and well-being.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Surroundings
Explore how a person's environment can affect health and well-being.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Recharge, Rest, Sleep
A good balance between activity and rest improves your health and well-being.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Power of the Mind
Learn to use the connection between your body, brain, and mind.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Personal Development
No matter where you are in life, your personal and work life is very important and can affect your happiness and health.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Working Your Body
Exercise gives you energy and strength and is also good for your mind. Regular exercise can lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
A Patient Centered Approach To: Family, Friends, and Coworkers
Positive social relationships are healthy and can be a source of strength. It's good to talk to people who care about you and listen to you.
Practicing What Matters Most: Fostering Healing Relationships
Healing relationships are vital in helping Veterans achieve their health care goals.
Practicing What Matters Most: Prosthetics and Rehabilitation
VA provides prosthetics and rehabilitation programs for Veterans that help them achieve their individual goals.
Practicing What Matters Most: Integrative Health
Veterans talk about VA's alternative pain management programs available at some VA facilities and how these have direct, positive impacts on their quality of life.
Practicing What Matters Most: Recharge, Rest, Sleep
VA offers programs designed to minimize stress and optimize relaxation, allowing Veterans to recharge and refuel.
Practicing What Matters Most: Volunteer Programs
Veteran volunteers provide a helping hand to others seeking VA care.
Practicing What Matters Most: Rewards and Recognition
VA's dedicated staff members work hard every day to help Veterans achieve their health care goals.
Practicing What Matters Most: Creating Healing Environments for Women
VA has created environments that cater to women's personalized health care.
For VA Clinicians - by Dr. Gaudet (8:09 mins.)
This podcast is for the VA Provider or a member of the health care team seeking to gain a greater understanding of the concept of Whole Health and how to use the Personal Health Inventory.
