Examining the Veterans Health Administration Whole Health Model of Care Within the Context of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The Veterans Health Administration’s Whole Health system of care focuses on offering veterans holistic health approaches and tailoring health care to individual’s goals and preferences. The present study assessed factors associated with Whole Health use and its potential benefits among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) receiving Veterans Health Administration care. This cohort study used retrospective electronic health records combined with survey data (baseline, 6 months) from 18 Veterans Affairs Whole Health pilot implementation sites and compared patient-reported outcomes between veterans who used Whole Health services versus those who did not, among veterans with (n = 1,326) and without (n = 3,243) PTSD. Patient-reported outcomes assessed were pain (PEG), patient-reported outcomes measurement information system physical and mental health functioning, and a one-item global meaning and purpose assessment. Veterans with PTSD were more likely to have used Whole Health (38% vs. 21%) than those without PTSD. Veterans with PTSD who used Whole Health services experienced small improvements over 6 months in physical (Cohen’s d =.12) and mental (Cohen’s d =.15) health functioning. Veterans without PTSD who used Whole Health services experienced small improvements in physical health (Cohen’s d =.09) but not mental health (Cohen’s d =.04). Veterans with PTSD were frequently connected with Whole Health services even though implementation efforts were not explicitly focused on reaching this population. Results suggest Whole Health may play an important role in how veterans with PTSD engage with health care.