Cultural Transformation in Healthcare: How well does the Veterans Administration vision for whole person care fit the needs of patients at an academic rehabilitation center?

Introduction/Rationale: The Veterans Administration (VA) has developed an innovative integrative health model called “Whole Health for Life”. The cornerstone of the model is the Personal Health Inventory (PHI), which introduces patients to a holistic framework of health and wellness while encouraging them to identify personal health goals. The goal of this study is to understand whether the VA’s model is a good fit for patients at the Center for Rehabilitation Care (CRC). Participant feedback will inform the development of integrative health services at the CRC. Methods: This mixed methods study recruited thirty participants to complete and evaluate the VA’s Personal Health Inventory (PHI). Thirty adults were recruited from an academic outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The heterogeneous patient population included patients seeking treatment for a variety of concerns, including obesity, chronic pain, and discrete injuries. Six participants completed the course “Taking Charge of My Life and Health”. Outcomes measured included personal responses to PHI, survey responses measuring clarity and feasibility of the PHI and participant feedback based on focus group data at the conclusion of the course. Results: Participants found the Personal Health Inventory easy to understand and they think it has potential to improve their health. The course, “Taking Charge of My Life and Health”, was well attended, but participants' expectations were not met. They expressed both enthusiasm with the model and frustration that standard health care experiences fall short of this vision. Conclusion: Participants valued the opportunity to express their opinions and their aspirations for health care transformation. While the course, Taking Charge of My Life and Health did not meet their expectations, they welcome the opportunity to engage further with whole person care. Master of Public Healt