“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Transforming Lives One Body at a Time
Incorporating holistic therapies into the government/military/civilian healthcare/rehabilitation facilities for stress and pain prevention.
Background
Michele Ruppert Rehabilitation Therapy’s motto is “be you, naturally…”. I strive to help people live fulfilling lives by using a combination of exceptional holistic therapies to help improve the body, mind, and spirit of my clients. These exceptional, science-based therapies include cranial-structural myofascial therapies, performance enhancing exercises, and health-life coaching to facilitate the clients’ wellness goals.
Because of the profound benefits that holistic therapies provide, I would like to share an idea with you that could change how we provide complimentary, alternative healthcare to facilities that support military personnel, veterans, and people who provide direct support to government/military operations. These target groups of people include all military (active duty, retired, people who served the military but did not retire, and their dependents) and government contractors (and their dependents).
Possibility of this Project
With the ongoing war efforts since early 2000 along with continuous, intense deployments worldwide by the military, veterans, and other personnel supporting government operations and with the barriers these people and their families are experiencing in receiving adequate healthcare services when they return to the United States, there is an urgent need to help heal and reintegrate these people back into society.
In order to help government/military (including civilian) hospital facilities, holistic therapies and services could be established/incorporated as a part of the healthcare system. This is a low-cost and drugless alternative. Depending on the health of the individual, a series of sessions can be designed in order to facilitate changes in their physical and emotional being which automatically lessens their physical and emotional pain. Completing a series of therapeutic sessions would change their life in a profoundly, positive way.
A Case for Action
What is so right about this project?
What is right about this project: Holistic therapies are not taken seriously in the mainstream US and governmental/military healthcare systems. Holistic therapies are generally not included as a part of the healing process for people who experience chronic pain and trauma. Also, holistic therapies are an out-of-pocket expense for people who can afford them, and for people who know and understand the multitude of benefits of holistic therapies. Lastly, government/military hospital facilities are not able to handle all the healthcare needs (including both psychologically and physically) of returning personnel from the war and other worldwide deployments.
This project can create a realization that a paradigm shift is ideal for considering holistic therapies as an intricate part of a healthcare program/system in government/military (including civilian) hospitals and rehabilitation programs. There are numerous articles already written reporting the benefits of holistic therapies that help alleviate the development of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety disorders, and other pathologies. By doing holistic therapies sessions, everyone who is connected within the healing process will experience the positive results of what holistic therapies can do to heal people physically and emotionally and will see how it will change lives in positive, nurturing ways.
What is the predictable future if no action is taken?
The predictable future if no action is taken is that many people returning from Iraq and other intense deployments will continue to suffer unnecessarily. They will not be able to fully participate and contribute to society. Only the people who are aware of their bodies and who have the money will seek holistic therapies treatments to heal and feel better.
The way the future could be in this area if a new possibility was created in San Diego?
The way the future could be is for holistic therapies to be implemented as a part of the government/military (including civilian) healthcare system, like physical therapy is today. The Veterans Administration (VA) San Diego Healthcare System (which includes the Medical Center in La Jolla, the 5 Community Clinics (in Chula Vista, Escondido, Imperial Valley, Mission Valley, and Vista), and the Vet Centers (in San Diego and San Marcos)), the Balboa Hospital and all the supporting TRICARE facilities, and other non-profit active duty/veterans organizations can be the innovative organization(s) to make this possibility attainable. People will recover quicker, be healthier, and we would have more productivity in their local communities. Holistic therapies are a perfect complement to other healthcare remedies, like a proper diet, exercise, counseling, physical therapy, and more.
My Actions Taken
1. Currently, I am networking within the San Diego community to increase awareness about the benefits of holistic therapies by …
– joining the local business and social networking groups (Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, San Diego United Veterans Council, local Meetup groups, and more);
– giving talks throughout the community (San Diego Speakers Guild, People’s Organic Food Market);
– visiting other public health facilities (Scripps Integrative Medicine department);
– using the internet social networking websites (Facebook, LinkedIn).
I am available to partner with business organizations and other health professionals to help individuals create wellness/health programs that increase productivity, health, wealth, and success of individuals and businesses. I am available to speak about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
2. I hosted a booth at the Veterans Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, September 27, 2008, from 10AM-1PM, at the Martin Luther Community Center. I shared the idea of getting holistic therapies into the government healthcare systems. Veterans and family members learned about how holistic therapies can do to stimulate the body’s natural healing process, provide pain relief, improve body posture, and improve quality of life. Also, I provided demonstrations to veterans and their family members.
3. Since May 2008, I’ve been working with the Vet Center of San Diego to work as a non-paid employee providing advanced holistic, rehabilitation therapies. In September 2008, my request was declined because of a lack of space for volunteers to help veterans at their current space and at the new location they will be moving to.
4. Since July 2008, I have been attending the San Diego Veterans Administration (VA) “One VA” meetings.
a. Since July 2008, I requested formal processes for the holistic practitioner community could execute that the chiropractor and acupuncture communities went through to get their work/treatment approved within the VA Healthcare System and through their fee-basis system (outcalls to the community, which would help alleviate their space allocation problems), and to open dialogue with the VA Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) panel to help in the area of holistic therapies. Also I understand that the VA Healthcare System is working with Coronado Sharp Hospital in reviewing the Planetree Model of getting holistic health therapies in all the VA facilities, so maybe contacts in the future will be made with San Diego’s holistic community.
b. In September2008, I was told not to attend any future “One VA” meetings since I do not represent any of the veterans’ organizations, even though I am a retired 22-year Navy veteran, providing holistic health therapies to the local San Diego community.
5. In August 2008, I met with the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, Network 22 Logistic Office. This meeting was sponsored by Southwest Veterans’ Business Resource Center. This meeting was very informative in providing information on how veteran-owned businesses can compete for contracts within the government.
6. In August 2008, I was declined to set up a booth for the 2008 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic to share information about the different holistic, rehabilitative therapies that can be utilized in athletic environments and to provide holistic, rehabilitative therapies on athletes to minimize pain before/after their events and for relaxation.
7. In mid 2007, the Balboa Hospital Human Resource department declined my request to provide volunteer work to the veterans and active duty personnel in the Comprehensive Combat Casualty Care Center since they have paid employees who do holistic therapies that I do (referring to the physical therapists).
8. Since 2008, I shifted my efforts to work with people who are interested in receiving the holistic therapies I provide at my health studio. Although I keep this website page active in the hopes that the traditional healthcare industry opens its perspective to holistic care to their patients.
9. In late June 2021, I submitted an application via TriWest to be a provider in the VA Community Care Network. It was disapproved in late July 2021 – this is my second disapproval, first application that was disapproved was submitted in 2008. To date, my services to help veterans experiencing pain, PTSD, etc. are not required. I can resubmit my application on a yearly basis.
A Request for Help
I would like to receive support for this possibility and the opportunity to make this happen in our community. What can you do to help me make this project a reality?
Here are some ideas:
1. Having organizations provide grant support, provide resources, monetary contributions, and other resources not realized or noted in this request.
2. For patients, inform your VA and/or TRICARE primary physicians, and other AMA healthcare providers too, about holistic therapies that could improve/enhance your natural healing process.
3. For healthcare personnel, inform the appropriate VA and/or TRICARE management personnel (including AMA healthcare providers too) to incorporate holistic therapies as modalities for healing for all patients and healthcare personnel.
My Contact Information
Phone: (619) 890-0111
Email: MicheleRuppert.LMT at gmail.com
Website: http://www.MicheleRuppert.com/
References
Mental Health Injuries Scar 300,000 U.S. Troops (April 17, 2008). Retrieved April 29, 2008, from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/mental-health-injuries-scar-300-000-u-s-troops-flna1C9460025.
Military Personnel Who Serve in War Zones Face Increased Risk for Alcohol Abuse, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, and Marital and Family Conflict (November 14, 2007). Retrieved April 29, 2008, from https://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11922.
RAND Invisible Wounds of War Study: A Joint Project of RAND Health and the RAND National Security Research Division (June 12, 2008). Retrieved June 26, 2008, from http://www.rand.org/multi/military/veterans/.
Tanielian, T. and Jaycox, L.H. Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery (June 12, 2008). Retrieved June 26, 2008, from http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG720/.
Touch Research Institute (1997). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/.
Tyson, A.S. Pentagon Report Criticizes Troops’ Mental-Health Care (June 16, 2007). Retrieved June 26, 2008, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/14/AR2007061401643.html.
Supporters of My Community Project
United Veterans Council of San Diego County