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Whole Health Library

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Two veterans practicing tai chi in a bright indoor room, standing on exercise mats with arms extended in a balanced stance. Group of four clinicians in the hallway near the elevator conferring with each other. They appear to be reviewing information about a patient.

Welcome to the Whole Health Library

The Whole Health Library is designed for clinicians and VA employees who work with Veterans, but these resources can support everyone on their journeys toward optimum health. Whole Health supports patient-centered, proactive, whole-person care by focusing on what matters most to each of us.

This site contains Whole Health resources to provide clinicians and VA employees. We are a subsite of the Whole Health site, which delivers Veteran facing information. If you are a Veteran, click here.

The Library contains:

  • In-depth guides explaining the Whole Health approach, the various areas of the Circle of Health, and how to implement into your practice.
  • Peer-reviewed Overviews and research findings in mindful awareness and self-care areas, including healthy nutrition, activity, sleep, relationships, surroundings, and other areas of our lives that contribute to health and wellness.
  • Information on facilitating a Whole Health visit with tools to use at the point of care and in your personal life.

"The Whole Health approach equips people to take charge of their health. But this requires a change in how we think about health care—where clinical care is only one piece of the system, and not necessarily the centerpiece. This change of thinking is the transformation we're making across VA."

Ben Kligler, MD, MPH, Executive Director for the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, Veterans Health Administration

Time to start your Whole Health Library journey today!

Three individuals in the outdoors with their mountain bikes.

Whole Health for Everyone

Self-Care: This includes overviews from the eight areas of self-care on the Circle of Health, such as Food & Drink, Rest & Recharge, and more.

Learn More: Find more information about Whole Health course offerings, the authors of the library, and more.

An African-American Veteran wearing a red volunteers vest.

Whole Health for Veterans

Whole Health Site: A site designed for Veterans with a host of resources to support Veteran health and well-being.

Veteran Stories: Stories of Veterans across the country and how they use Whole Health approaches to improve their health and well-being.

Veteran Education Handouts: Created for Veterans from the different areas of the Circle of Health to support Veterans’ Whole Health journey. </

Whole Health Videos: Created for Veterans from the different areas of the Circle of Health to support Veterans’ Whole Health journey.

Three professionals in a clinical environment comparing notes and medical information.

Whole Health for Clinicians

Whole Health Clinical Tools: Tools to complement and enhance your encounters with Veterans.

Implementation: Evidence-Based Strategies for Implementing Whole Health Professionally and Personally.

Professional Care Overviews: Comprehensive overviews of health topics backed by evidence for Whole Health interventions.

Passport to Whole Health: An in-depth reference manual that explains the Whole Health approach, the Circle of Health, and how to implement Whole Health into your practice.

What some are saying about Whole Health

Whole Health improves health outcomes and clinician satisfaction.

Thumbnail image of a video entitled 'Whole Health Approach to Clinical Care'

Whole Health promotes health and well-being through skill-building.

Thumbnail image of an external Youtube video titled Skill Building to Promote Well-Being

These links go to an external website. By clicking on the links above, you will leave the Department of Veteran Affairs Website. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
For additional Whole Health videos, refer tothe VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation website.

The Circle of Health

The Circle of Health visually captures the richness of Whole Health. It can guide people as they reflect on their health and well-being and enhance conversations between patients and members of their care teams.

Circle of Health - Components of Proactive Health and Well-Being Model: The “Circle of Health” Large light blue circle that says “community”. Inside that circle is a dark blue circle that says “Prevention & Treatment” on the left and “Conventional & Complementary Approaches” on the right. Inside of that is a bright green circle. Overlaid on the bright green circle are smaller white circles. Clockwise from the top they say; “Moving the Body; Energy & Flexibility,” “Surroundings; Physical &Emotional,” “Personal Development; Personal Life & Work Life,” “Food & Drink; Nourishing & Fueling,” “Recharge; Sleep & Refresh,” “Family, Friends & Co-workers; Relationships,” “Spirit & Soul; Growing & Connecting,” and “Power of the Mind; Relaxing & Healing.” At the center of this graphic is a small blue circle that says “Me.” Above the circle it says “Mindful” and below the circle it says “Awareness.”

Whole Health Equation: consisting of five small circles beginning with “Me” in a blue circle. A plus sign. “Self-Care” in a bright green circle. A plus sign. “Professional Care” in a darker blue circle. A plus sign. “Community” in a light aqua blue circle. An equal sign. And finally, “Whole Health” in a blue circle.

The Circle of Health acknowledges each persons uniqueness, putting him or her at the center of it all. From there, they are empowered through mindful awareness and self-care. They are supported and guided by a team of professionals, who may draw from both conventional and complementary approaches. They are embraced by their community. Using the Circle of Health, patients and other individuals identify what matters most to them, and then they work with their Whole Health team to create a Personal Health Plan that will move them closer to what is important to them.