Master of Health Science in Integrative Care Curriculum

In this course learners will study the interconnectedness of physical and psychological health, the essence of mind-body medicine. The relational structure and function of the central nervous system lays the foundation for a more in-depth examination of how a person’s mental and emotional health is reflected in and affected by the physical body (soma). Learners will come away with a better understanding of how they are somatically aware, in addition to being able to explain to others the implications of what it means to be somatically aware for themselves.

In this course learners will examine the basic principles of psychology from the beginning of our modern understanding to current day knowledge. Learners will be able to recognize the presentation of some of the most common mental health conditions encountered in personal and clinical environments. This knowledge will allow learners to stay within their scope of practice and make appropriate referral decisions to the proper mental health practitioners. Learners will better understand current treatment options as well as common medications used to treat mental health disorders.

In this course participants will study the role and impact culture, spiritual practices, and socioeconomic aspects have on health. Integrative healthcare considers a multi-dimensional approach to healing. The learner will examine how an individual’s personal and family culture, healing-traditions, and socioeconomic status contribute to the state of their health, well-being or illness. Participants will consider the intersection of each dimension when working with other professional disciplines in the planning and delivery of care.

The influence of psychological trauma, along with other psychological and social elements on health is significant. Indeed, the combination of these elements typically contribute either to healing or can further advance disease processes. In this course participants will learn, understand, and recognize how unresolved psychological trauma and addiction affects health and healing. Additional information about both positive and negative coping mechanisms, resilience and post-traumatic growth, and self-care will be presented and examined.

As providers it is imperative that we adjust for how psychological trauma affects and is affected by multiple environmental settings and behavioral interactions. An integrative care approach to trauma-informed practice shifts the conversation from pathology to healing and wholeness. In this course learners explore how to create and sustain a trauma-informed practice which includes policies and procedures.

Research is both a common language and a currency within healthcare. While there is tremendous demand for research to support healthcare decision making, integrative care acknowledges there are several ways of knowing, and is particularly attuned to patient-centered, collaborative care. Taking into consideration the patient population, setting, safety, outcomes, patient and care team experience, learners will learn how to structure, implement, and communicate an evidence-informed integrative care system or program.

The only constant in healthcare is change. Continuous quality improvement in healthcare is a must to ensure high value patient experience, provider experience, lower cost, and positive outcomes are met. Students explore the different systems and processes for continuous quality improvement and how to apply the concepts in an integrative care setting. They will learn how to design and implement programs and inform stakeholders with regard to continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Team wellbeing is rooted in respectful dialogue, a focus on patient outcomes, and self-care for both patient and the care team. With the goal of collective intelligence, learners include all team members’ ideas, education and experiences in decision making and care plans. Learners will navigate team dynamics in an integrative care setting using communication strategies to ensure information sharing, transparency, and collaboration for better patient and team outcomes.

In this course learners delve deeper into how integrative healthcare is influenced and shaped by policies and vice versa. Explore how integrated healthcare can impact both private practice models and large healthcare systems, taking into consideration payor models, governmental influence at local, state and federal levels and how this impacts outcomes for the health of both patient and the business.

Integrative healthcare providers offer a different point of view that brings a valuable perspective to healthcare. In this course learners examine innovative practice models, such as concierge medicine, grant and philanthropic supported programming, and value-based care models that expand opportunities for improved health and business outcomes. Learners will utilize overarching guiding principles and strategic roadmaps to inform every decision, plan, and action that a program, business, institution, or organization makes.