Name
VA’s Commitment to Supporting the Whole Health of Veterans, Caregivers, Survivors , and Employees: Outcomes and Next Steps
Date & Time
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 2:10 PM - 3:10 PM
Description

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has successfully launched an organization-wide transformation to a Whole Health System of Care that ideally begins at the time of transition from military service through the end of a Veteran’s life. VA defines Whole Health as an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and to live their life to the fullest. VA’s cultural transformation efforts have been recognized by the US Surgeon General and the National Academy of Medicine as a model for the nation. This panel presentation will be provided by senior Veterans Health Administration leaders, including the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer who are responsible for VA’s current top Health Care Priority to Action: “Support Veterans’ Whole Health, their caregivers, and survivors” initiative. Specifically, the presentation will provide an overview of VA’s system-wide Whole Health approach to care and selected outcomes from formal evaluations for Veterans (e.g., reduction in opioid use, decrease in spinal procedures, improvements in perceptions of care, increased engagement, self-care, increased meaning and purpose in life and decreased levels of stress) and employees (e.g., decreased levels of burnout, stress, and turnover). The influence of the social and structural determinants of health will also be addressed and publicly available resources will be shared. Additionally, next steps related to implementation, sustainment, and evaluation efforts and an interactive Whole Health experience will be provided. Finally, synergies between the Military Health System’s Total Force Fitness and VA’s Whole Health approach in support of transitioning service members will be highlighted.

Location Name
National Harbor 2
View Slides Deck 1
Content Presented on Behalf of
VHA/VA
Learning Outcomes
•State at least two positive outcomes experienced by Veterans who received Whole Health services compared to those who did not receive Whole Health services in the VA.
•State at least two positive outcomes experienced by VA employees engaged in Employee Whole Health activities compared to those who were not engaged in Whole Health activities.
•State how transitioning service members can benefit from engaging in Whole Health services prior to discharge.
Session Type
Breakout
CE/CME Session
CE/CME Session
Dropdown Content Presented On Behalf Of:
VHA/VA