Training Interprofessional Staff in Whole Health Clinical Care at the Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) initiated a system-wide redesign in 2011 toward a patient-centered approach called the Whole Health System (WHS) of care. Education of VHA clinical staff in WHS-informed care, Whole Health Clinical Care (WHCC), is one critical element of this redesign effort. At a minimum, WHCC education should address core competencies for clinicians and be considered satisfactory for learners. This is the first study to evaluate learner satisfaction and perceived achievement of course objectives in WHCC that incorporated active learning strategies.

A large VA Healthcare System developed an in-person workshop focused on WHCC that used multiple active learning activities. These activities included case presentations, role playing, experiential learning, and group discussion.

Sixty-two interprofessional staff attended the workshop in November 2019. Forty (64.50%) participants completed post-workshop surveys within 30 days. Data suggest participants were highly satisfied with the workshop and that they successfully met stated learning objectives.

We call on VHA and private-sector hospitals to train clinical staff in WHCC that incorporates use of active learning strategies.