Trauma Informed Care Can Enhance Whole Person Care to Meet the Quadruple Aim

Abstract

Objective: Whole person care typically includes a biopsychosocial, interdisciplinary treatment approach with the intent of improved health outcomes and savings in total dollars spent on healthcare providers and services. Its multidimensional approach to a patient’s physical and mental health makes it the model of choice for achieving the quadruple aim of healthcare reform. However, we argue that whole person care is incomplete in its current form due to its lack of attention to the public health impact of stress and psychological trauma. Methods: We used seminal articles, original research and theory, and a variety of databases such as PubMed, and Google Scholar to research our topic. Results: Whole person care would benefit from the integration of traumainformed care practices, so that it can better meet the quadruple aim by addressing these broader public health concerns. Trauma-informed care was selected because it understands, recognizes, and responds appropriately to trauma in patients and providers, which enhances the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and reduces the impact of social inequity. Conclusion: Integrating traumainformed care into whole person care can help achieve the quadruple aim, as well as the newly proposed fifth aim of advancing health equity, because social inequity increases stress and exposure to psychological trauma.