Agenda

Part 1:
The Veteran Health Indiana Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is developing strategies to integrate a Whole Health model of care that is inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community of veterans throughout the Indiana demographic area by focusing on the growing demands for clinical care, veteran outreach, Whole Health Coaching, and veteran benefits.  By integrating a Whole Health model of care with the LGBTQ+ veterans, VAMC can focus on key elements of care such as moving the body, rest and recharge, food and drink, personal development, family, friends and coworkers, spirit and soul, surrounds, and power of the mind.  LGBTQ+ veterans are now receiving health care that focuses on their Mission, Aspiration, Purpose (MAP) and what truly matters most to them.

Part 2:
As VA Whole Health National Education Champions, the presenters have collaborated to develop a national VA Whole Health for All comprehensive curriculum that focuses on fostering courageous conversations and accountability for the promotion of inclusive and equitable healthcare spaces.  Participants will be invited to identify drivers of health disparities and inequities, increase knowledge of population specific healthcare considerations, and practice mindfulness and relevant applied skills.  Strategies to dismantle institutional and interpersonal microaggressions that contribute to health disparities will be presented with case examples that highlight clinical considerations in service of Black, Indigenous and patients of color (BIPOC), LGBT+, disabled, people living in poverty and Gender minority veterans. Speakers will share ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and innovations within the Veterans Health Administration. 

Part 1:
In consideration of the collective whole, diversity is an important concept at play in all spheres of healthcare, this includes the integrative medicine specialty. Diversity, equity and inclusion is key in our clinical practice, educational foundations, research endeavors, and policy formation. Diversity is of great importance in the integrative medicine specialty. Do we as a specialty embrace diversity? Do our patients, students, and research population see themselves represented in our practitioners, educators, and leaders? Are the policies that support integrative medicine reflective of and pertinent to a fair representation of the diversity of those we serve? In terms of diversity, where have we come from, what is our present status, and where are we going in the future? Are the leaders in the clinical, educational, research, and policy-making realms inclusive leaders, that promote inclusion and equity for all in service to integrative medicine? What are we, as leaders doing to address health-care disparities for certain patient populations? The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health's Diversity, Equity Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, as a microcosm of the larger health care system, is striving to make DEI a working reality.  Join us for this engaging panel discussion where we explore Integrative Medicine's important role in leading the way to best practices.

Part 2:
Eliminating persistent disparities in health and healthcare is a public health priority. Integrative medicine can contribute to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity through whole person, culturally appropriate care for complex conditions that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. A growing evidence base supports this integrative approach to achieving health equity. For example, promising new research demonstrates the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for a range of physical and mental health conditions (including chronic pain, hypertension, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse) among racially and ethnically diverse populations. Acupuncture, integrative group medical visits, and yoga have been demonstrated to have similarly promising results for health outcomes and patient experience of care in safety-net settings serving primarily low-income and minority patients. As integrative medicine becomes more widely recommended for chronic pain and other conditions, it is essential that it be accessible to all who can benefit from it. Integrative health equity, which we define as the application of integrative health approaches to achieve optimal health for all, is a framework that can be used across integrative medicine programs. This session addresses strategies for using a health equity lens to view integrative medicine clinical, research, and education programs.

There is a growing recognition of the value of delivering primary care using an integrative medicine model. This model may be especially beneficial for patients residing in low-income communities and communities of color, as they have limited access to wellness and specialty services but are disproportionately impacted by chronic diseases best treated with an integrative approach. One major obstacle to offering integrative primary care is that there are few clinicians who are prepared to do this work and there are few training resources that emphasize embedding an integrative approach into a busy (and often low-resourced) primary care setting. This session will offer examples of two models that have been used to train medical practitioners in integrative health, within the primary care setting.

Model 1:The Healing Oriented Practices & Environment (HOPE) visit is a way to organize and operationalize Integrative Health (IH) in a clinical setting, making whole person care accessible to many more. We will introduce the IH model used, and present how to implement a HOPE visit, strategies used for teaching topics, and specific implementation considerations for underserved communities. We will share outcomes of the year-long learning collaborative. Since this strategy can be used to teach IH in academic settings, residencies, FQHCs and other settings, we will highlight implementation at different types of practices.

Model 2:The Integrated Integrative Medicine Curriculum (I2 MC ) was developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of providers and medical residents working in a FQHC-based Family Medicine Residency Program in North Richmond, California. The I2 MC aims to foster six areas of competency: gathering a personal health inventory, expanding the therapeutic toolbox, teamwork, shared goal setting, implementing alternative visit structures, and building community partnerships. This session, designed for health educators, will show attendees how to implement key components of the I2 MC within their teaching clinic.