Whole health is physical, behavioral, spiritual, and socioeconomic well-being as defined by individuals, families, and communities. To achieve this, whole health care is an interprofessional, team-based approach anchored in trusted longitudinal relationships to promote resilience, prevent disease, and restore health. Whole health care addresses the social and structural determinants at the root of poor health. It shifts the focus from a reactive disease-oriented medical care system to one that prioritizes disease prevention, health, and well-being. The person, not their symptoms, is at the center of whole health care. Join members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that co-authored the recent report, Achieving Whole Health: A New Approach for Veterans and the Nation for a webinar to hear about how the country can move towards a system of whole person health that is accessible to all.

Health-related social needs are increasingly being screened for in primary care practices, but it remains unclear how much additional financing is required to address those needs to improve health outcomes. The findings of this study suggest that substantial resources would be needed to implement a comprehensive approach to addressing social needs that falls largely outside of existing federal financing mechanisms.