Holism at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE)

• Published in: Explore (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 282 - 290
• Main Authors: Foote, Frederick O., Schwartz, Lora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2012
• Subjects: Academies and Institutes; Afghanistan; Brain Injuries - therapy; Epidaurus Project; evidence-based design; family-centered care; health facilities design; Health Services; healthcare integration; History, 21st Century; holistic care; Holistic Health; holistic medicine; Humans; integrative medicine; Iraq; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; multidisciplinary care; Nation Intrepid Center of Excellence; NICoE; Patient-Centered Care; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; wellness; Afghanistan; Iraq; holistic care; health facilities design; Epidaurus Project; holistic medicine; Nation Intrepid Center of Excellence; multidisciplinary care; NICoE; evidence-based design; integrative medicine; patient-centered care; wellness; family-centered care; healthcare integration
• ISSN: 1550-8307; 1878-7541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2012.06.006

Traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder are the signature injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Holistic medicine (comprising multispecialty care integration, patient/family-centered care, wellness interventions, and the construction of architectural “healing environments”) has much to offer these patients. In this work we describe the architecture and holistic medicine programming of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), a new clinical research center for traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Military Health System. Architecture and clinical process are united in a “design/care continuum” for optimal healing. A groundbreaking institution, the NICoE foreshadows many trends in national healthcare for the 21st century.