Holistic Care in the Us Military I—-The Epidaurus Project: An Initiative in Holistic Medicine for the Military Health System, 2001—2012

Abstract

This article describes the history and findings of the Epidaurus Project, a Uniformed Services University—affiliated project to bring holistic care and evidence-based design into the Military Health System (MHS). A distinguished group of civilian thought leaders contributed. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process offered a chance to implement the Epidaurus agenda. A new integrated healthcare delivery system, centered around the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, was the result. These facilities will be templates for a new generation of MHS “healing environments” and a model for innovative systems of healthcare nationwide. The Epidaurus Project represents a significant collaboration between civilian medicine and the military in times of war.