VA Whole Health

VA Whole Health is VA's approach to personalized, proactive, patient-driven care. Instead of focusing only on treating diagnosed conditions, Whole Health builds healthcare plans around your individual values, needs, and goals.

The core idea: "Whole Health supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you."

Whole Health started as a pilot at 18 VA "flagship" sites in 2018 (one per VISN). Following a successful three-year evaluation, VHA Directive 1445 (2023) mandated integration of Whole Health across all of VA. Even if your local VA is not a flagship site, many VA facilities nationwide now have Whole Health practices in place.

The Circle of Health is VA's framework for the Whole Health approach. It puts you at the center — you are the expert on your own life, values, and priorities, and you lead your health team.

Surrounding you are eight areas of self-care:

Three additional layers weave through the model: Mindful Awareness (present throughout all areas), Community (people and groups you connect with), and Prevention & Treatment (professional care including both conventional and complementary medicine).

The Whole Health Pathway is the entry point for veterans. It consists of several components that build on each other:

1. Orientation

Veterans are introduced to Whole Health and reflect on their Mission, Aspiration, Purpose (MAP) — what matters most to them. Orientation is available in person, through courses, or online.

2. Personal Health Inventory (PHI)

A self-assessment tool where you reflect on all eight areas of the Circle of Health. The PHI helps you identify where you're doing well and where you want to focus. It's available online through va.gov/wholehealth.

3. Personal Health Plan (PHP)

After completing the PHI, you develop a Personal Health Plan centered on your priorities and what matters most to you. This becomes the roadmap for your care.

4. Whole Health Partners (Peer Support)

Whole Health Partners are fellow veterans who have received additional training to help introduce Whole Health to other veterans and assist them in completing the Personal Health Inventory.

5. Health & Wellness Coaching

Health and Wellness Coaches use a coaching model to support veterans in creating and following through with their Personal Health Plans. VA research shows coaching interventions improve engagement, smoking cessation, mental health, stress management, and overall well-being.

6. Clinical Integration

Specially trained clinicians from multiple service lines work as transdisciplinary teams that communicate seamlessly to support your personal health planning across all healthcare encounters.

As part of Whole Health, VA provides eight required complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches. These are included in the veterans medical benefits package and available if deemed appropriate by your care team. No separate enrollment is needed.

How these services are delivered: VA facilities may provide CIH approaches internally, on-site, via telehealth, or in the community through volunteers, community partners, or the Community Care Network.

These services are governed by VHA Directive 1137 (Provision of Complementary and Integrative Health), recertified December 2022, which establishes national VHA policy for CIH approaches.

VA conducted a multi-year evaluation across 18 flagship medical centers. Key findings from VA research:

Opioid Reduction

• Veterans with chronic pain who used Whole Health services had a threefold reduction in opioid use
• Opioid use among Whole Health users decreased 38% compared to only an 11% decrease among those with no Whole Health use

Pain Management

• 42% reduction in invasive pain treatments at 3 months for chronic pain patients engaging in Whole Health
• 22% reduction in invasive pain treatments persisted at 18 months

Cost Savings

Outpatient pharmacy cost growth was significantly slower for Whole Health users:

Veteran Satisfaction

• Over 97% of veterans were somewhat interested, very interested, or already using at least one Whole Health service
• 33% increase in veterans reporting support for health goals
• 20% increase in veterans reporting providers actively helping with health care
• 21% increase in overall satisfaction among women veterans
• Veterans reported being able to manage stress better and described care as more patient-centered

Other Outcomes

• Blood glucose: 5% increase in optimal blood glucose control among Whole Health users vs. 2% among non-users
• Staff impact: Staff at flagship sites reported lower burnout and voluntary turnover, greater motivation, and were more likely to rate their facility as a "best place to work"

Eligibility

• You must be enrolled in VA health care
• CIH services are available if deemed appropriate by your care team
• No separate enrollment is needed beyond VA health care enrollment

Getting Started

• Start a conversation with your VA health team about Whole Health
• Contact your local VA and ask for the Whole Health Point of Contact
• Take the online course: "Introduction to Whole Health" or "Taking Charge of My Life and Health"
• Complete the Personal Health Inventory — available online

Online Resources

• VA Whole Health — Main program page with orientation and PHI
• Whole Health Library — Self-care resources, guides, and educational materials for each Circle of Health area
• Circle of Health — Learn about the eight self-care areas
• Evidence-Based Research — Evidence maps for acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, meditation, massage, and more
• VA Health Services Research on Whole Health — Detailed outcomes data from the flagship evaluation