Live Whole Health

Name: Live Whole Health
Author: US Department of Veterans Affairs

US Department of Veterans Affairs

VALIDATED

Initial evidence from research studies

For:General Public & Enthusiasts

Free

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App Summary

Live Whole Health provides skills and support to help users improve their overall well-being, based on the Veterans Health Administration's Whole Health model of care. An evaluation study (N=1,368,413) of the underlying system found that opioid use decreased by 23% to 38% among participants, compared to an 11% decrease in a conventional care group, with users also reporting greater improvements in perceived stress and life meaning. The associated research highlights the value of this approach for individuals with pain and concludes that these findings supported the integration of the Whole Health model into mental health and primary care.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism Developed by the Veterans Health Administration, this application operationalizes the Whole Health system of care. The interface facilitates a personalized health journey, commencing with a self-assessment to identify patient-centered priorities across physical, mental, and social domains. Core modules deliver skills-based content, support goal-setting, and provide structured follow-up to empower users in managing their overall well-being. The system is designed to complement clinical care by fostering self-management and personal health planning.

Evidence & Research Context

An evaluation of the Whole Health system of care (N=1,368,413 Veterans) demonstrated that participants experienced a 23% to 38% decrease in opioid use, compared to an 11% decrease among those receiving conventional care.
Compared to conventional care, users of Whole Health services also reported significantly greater improvements in perceived stress (SMD=0.191), life meaning (SMD=0.152), and engagement in healthcare (SMD=0.118).
The application is a component of the Veterans Health Administration's system-wide transformation to a person-centered model of care integrated into primary and mental health services.

Intended Use & Scope This application is intended for use by Veterans as a self-management tool within the VHA Whole Health system. Its primary utility is to facilitate personal health planning and goal attainment as an adjunct to professional clinical care. The tool is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment; users should consult healthcare providers for managing specific health conditions.

Studies & Publications

2 publications

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Non-Evaluative Reference

The Whole Health Transformation at the Veterans Health Administration

Kligler et al. (2022) · Medical Care

Referenced in academic literature; no direct evaluation of the app

The Veterans Health Administration is undergoing a system-wide transformation to a Whole Person/Whole Health approach to care. The Whole Health model of care is described including early outcome data on utilization and effectiveness. The paper describes the first 10 years of this transformation and provides lessons learned during that process regarding large-scale system change.

Effectiveness/Outcome Study

From patient outcomes to system change: Evaluating the impact of VHA's implementation of the Whole Health System of Care

Bokhour et al. (2022) · Health Services Research

Demonstrated significant reductions in opioid use and improvements in care experiences and wellbeing among Veterans.

Objective: To describe how a partnered evaluation of the Whole Health (WH) system of care—comprised of the WH pathway, clinical care, and well‐being programs—produced patient outcomes findings, which informed Veterans Health Administration (VA) policy and system change.Data SourcesElectronic health records (EHR)‐based cohort of 1,368,413 patients and a longitudinal survey of Veterans receiving care at 18 WH pilot medical centers.Study DesignIn partnership with VA operations, we focused the evaluation on the impact of WH services utilization on Veterans' (1) use of opioids and (2) care experiences, care engagement, and well‐being. Outcomes were compared between Veterans who did and did not use WH services identified from the EHR.Data CollectionPharmacy records and WH service data were obtained from the VA EHR, including WH coaching, peer‐led groups, personal health planning, and complementary, integrative health therapies. We surveyed veterans at baseline and 6 months to measure patient‐reported outcomes.Principal FindingsOpioid use decreased 23% (31.5–6.5) to 38% (60.3–14.4) among WH users depending on level of WH use compared to a secular 11% (12.0–9.9) decrease among Veterans using Conventional Care. Compared to Conventional Care users, WH users reported greater improvements in perceptions of care (SMD = 0.138), engagement in health care (SMD = 0.118) and self‐care (SMD = 0.1), life meaning and purpose (SMD = 0.152), pain (SMD = 0.025), and perceived stress (SMD = 0.191).ConclusionsEvidence developed through this partnership yielded key VA policy changes to increase Veteran access to WH services. Findings formed the foundation of a congressionally mandated report in response to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, highlighting the value of WH and complementary, integrative health and well‐being programs for Veterans with pain. Findings subsequently informed issuance of an Executive Decision Memo mandating the integration of WH into mental health and primary care across VA, now one lane of modernization for VA.

In the Media

VA's new Whole Health app

The VA developed Live Whole Health as a free mobile app to help Veterans take charge of their holistic health using a personalized approach that focuses on eight wellness areas including relationships, mindfulness, and physical movement. Retired Marine Corps Veteran and physical therapist Theresa Larson says, "What I like the most is that it allows you to begin where you are. You set goals and take accountability." The app provides 24/7 access to wellness resources and stores user data to track progress over time.

VaRead article

Live Whole Health #54 Standing Twist

The VA developed Live Whole Health to support Veterans' holistic health journeys using a mobile platform that centers care around what matters to users rather than clinical problems. The free app allows users to complete personal health inventories, set goals, receive virtual coaching, and explore VA's Whole Health approach. Live Whole Health is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

VaRead article

VA.gov

The VA developed Live Whole Health to help Veterans take charge of their health needs and goals, using a personalized plan with virtual coaching based on eight categories in the Circle of Health. "The Live Whole Health app will help you focus on what matters most to you in your life," said Dr. Ben Kligler, Executive Director of the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. The app provides 24/7 access to resources including videos and articles on yoga, tai chi, meditation, and mindful breathing for both Android and Apple devices.

VaRead article