Post by Admin on May 16, 2018 19:34:04 GMT -5
We got the following today from the VA. While this "Mindful (Me) Awareness" sphere below was published a couple years ago deep in some internal VA documentation, the Good Ship VA has finally pushed this model of care to center stage with today's announcement. The VA also listed those VA facilities which are going to spearhead this shift by the VA from a 'treat the disease' classical disease-centered medical model , to a more holistic, integrative approach which considers all parts of the veterans life. So, not only is the VA plan to treat the patient's body but to do so through a systems theory lens -- the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This 'Whole Health' approach has an emphasis on personalizing -- individualizing -- treatment plans around the narrative and whole reality of each veteran. Read the full VA announcement below for full explanation.
Note that at the center of the sphere below is the phrase "MINDFUL AWARENESS". We Wilmington VA veteran graduates of Dr Tedesco's Mindfulness(MBSR etc) training (since 2009) were made aware of this holistic approach long ago. Hundreds of us have benefitted from what the VA is now saying will be its model of care. We celebrate and applaud this move by the VA, as we know how much this mindful patient-centered approach has helped us and feel it will surely help others as it is slowly integrated into the VA system.
Note that at the center of the sphere below is the phrase "MINDFUL AWARENESS". We Wilmington VA veteran graduates of Dr Tedesco's Mindfulness(MBSR etc) training (since 2009) were made aware of this holistic approach long ago. Hundreds of us have benefitted from what the VA is now saying will be its model of care. We celebrate and applaud this move by the VA, as we know how much this mindful patient-centered approach has helped us and feel it will surely help others as it is slowly integrated into the VA system.
Personalized Plan Puts Veterans in Control of their Health Care
Yesterday the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the names of 18 facilities designated VA Whole Health Flagship sites, which are spread around the country within the VA health-care system and are focused on empowering and equipping Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being.
Whole Health For Life
As VA shifts from a health-care system focused primarily on treating disease to one guided by a personalized health plan that considers the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental needs of Veterans, the Whole Health System acknowledges that health care involves more than the physical human body.
“VA’s Whole Health approach helps Veterans live their lives to the fullest,” said VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie. “By developing a personal health plan that integrates many areas of their lives, Veterans can truly take charge of their well-being and improve their health all around. I’m pleased to recognize these VA facilities that are helping our Veterans do just that.”
The following facilities have been designated Whole Health Flagship Sites:
VA Boston Health Care System (Massachusetts)
VA New Jersey Health Care System (East Orange)
Erie VA Medical Center (Pennsylvania)
Beckley VAMC (West Virginia)
W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center (Salisbury, North Carolina)
Atlanta VA Health Care System (Georgia)
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (Tampa, Florida)
Tennessee Valley Health Care System (Nashville and Murfreesboro)
Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center (Saginaw, Michigan)
Tomah VA Medical Center (Wisconsin)
St. Louis VA Health Care System (Missouri)
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (Little Rock)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System (San Antonio)
Salt Lake City VA Medical Center (Utah)
VA Portland Health Care System (Oregon)
Tucson VA Medical Center (Arizona)
VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (Omaha, Nebraska)
Palo Alto VA Medical Center (Livermore, California)
In addition to the naming of the flagship facilities, VA also announced new sites that will serve as Whole Health Design Sites beginning in 2018 as well as the VA facilities designated as Whole Health Design Sites in 2016 and 2017.
The VA Whole Health Design Sites listed are focused on implementing specific elements of the Whole Health System and/or expanding their existing efforts to implement a more comprehensive Whole Health capability.
Additionally, every VAMC now offers an Introduction to Whole Health learning opportunity for transitioning service members, family members and currently enrolled Veterans. For information about the Whole Health System, flagship facilities or design sites, visit www.va.gov/patientcenteredcare.
US Department of Veterans Affairs, May 16, 2018
cited from:
www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/features/Expanding_the_VA_Whole_Health_System.asp
To get Components of Proactive Health & Well Being document (pdf) click HERE or below:
www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/docs/Components-of-Proactive-Health-and-Well-Being-final-508.pdf