Whole Health for Pain and Suffering: Headache

Purpose Statement In 2013, the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT) began offering courses on what is now defined as the Whole Health (WH) model of care. These courses explore how to use the ideas and concepts in clinical practice and encourage participants to consider how they would apply and implement Whole Health in their facilities. As the program grew and strengthened, OPCC&CT developed additional courses that emphasize specific areas including Whole Health for Pain and Suffering. In response to the field, Whole Health education began offering short instructional videos on specific pain topics appropriate for busy clinicians who may not have the time to attend a longer national course. The Whole Health Pain series was developed to support busy clinicians interested in learning how Whole Health pain practices can benefits Veterans. Whole Health education monitors post course feedback from multiple courses teaching Whole Health Practices. This feedback identified the need for focused material on how complementary and integrative health modalities are effectively used to safely manage pain for veterans. The learning gap addressed by the Whole Health for Pain and Suffering video series focuses on the use of a personalized, proactive, and patient-centered approach to care through Whole Health. Participants that make up the healthcare team will learn about research related to a broad range of complementary and integrative health approaches, including acupuncture, dietary supplements, and manual therapies. The videos explain how a Whole Health mind-body approach and self-management is used with patients experiencing pain. The purpose of this knowledge-based video series is to provide information and useful tools focused on non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing chronic pain. The program series consist of seven Videos: Chronic Pain, Headache, Mind-Body Skills 1 and 2, Neck and Back Pain, Osteoarthritis and Self-Care. Throughout the video series, clinician self-care, burnout prevention, and enhancing resilience are also emphasized. The videos consist of didactic classroom teaching as well as faculty interview focusing on each subject area. Each video is accredited and under a separate course in TMS. This video Whole Health for Pain and Suffering: Headache features Adam Rindfleisch, MD. Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.