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In an effort to promote a more rational integrated health care system based on a biopsychosocial model of health care, the American Psychological Association (APA) is sponsoring Health Care for the Whole Person, an initiative designed to bridge the differences between the mental and physical health communities and to improve the quality of care, reduce suffering and impairment, and lead to more efficient use of resources. ANA has been invited to join with APA and other health care organizations as a partner endorsing the goal of Health Care for the Whole Person. This initiative is being funded by the APA. Partners will be invited to participate in a press event and in the development of the direction for the initiative at a working meeting in June 2005. While Health Care for the Whole Person is an initiative sponsored and funded by APA, it is intended to be a collaborative undertaking that promotes a broadly shared vision of integrated care. Confirmed partners include: American Public Health Association; American College of Nurse Practitioners; Association of Academic Health Centers; Center for the Advancement of Health Society for Behavioral Medicine; Families USA; Collaborative Family Health Care Association and Consumers Union. On April 20, 2005, the American Nurses Association's Board of Directors adopted the Health Care for the Whole Person vision statement, which endorses the full integration of mental and behavior health care into the U.S. health care system. The ANA Board will also recommend the inclusion of a spiritual component to the vision statement. |