St. Cloud VA Medical Center Expands Whole Health Program to Improve Veterans’ Quality of Life

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud VA Medical Center is looking to expand its Whole Health program.

It goes beyond diagnosing illnesses and instead focuses on a range of hobbies and activities that help improve quality of life in a more diverse fashion. Certified Nurse Practitioner Ashley Rood says the VA is following the lead of veterans who have been pushing for the whole health concept.

“A lot of veterans are really excited about this, because they’re tired of maybe taking pills and they want to fix what’s wrong. Sometimes we can’t fix it but we can make it better.”

Rood was hired in December, and one of her first priorities was improving the program’s profile. She tells KNSI that treating a person holistically helps to tackle stress, which is an underlying factor in a host of seemingly unrelated issues.

“We have people with less stress and when they’re feeling their stress has improved, then they’re taking better care of themselves, they’re eating better, they’re walking, they’re moving more. The testimonials from the veterans are amazing.”

For veterans interested in the concept, the VA hosts an Intro to Whole Health class multiple times per month. It is held at the St. Cloud campus and clinics in Alexandria, Brainerd, and Montevideo.

The Whole Health program provides everything from Tai Chi to meditation and yoga. Weight loss is another branch. Rood cites an example of a veteran who has shed 100 pounds while working with a VA health coach.

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