U099--FY22: VISN 8 Wellness Training Services TIERED EVALUATIONS

Objective:

To maintain an on-going health and wellness program set forth in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1137(2) on the Provision of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) policy to prepare a cadre of health and wellness coaches and other clinical staff.

Background:

The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network, also known as Veterans Integrated Services Network 8 (VISN 8), is the nation s largest system of VA hospitals and clinics and is home to 1.5 million Veterans in a vast 64,153 square mile area spread across 79 counties in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. VISN 8 s seven healthcare systems include eight Joint Commission-accredited VA medical centers and more than 60 community clinics. Working at these facilities are over 33,200 full-time VISN employees who provide a full range of high quality, cost-effective medical, psychiatric and extended care services in an inpatient, outpatient, community living center (nursing home), and home care settings. VISN 8 has more than 779,800 enrolled Veterans who made over 9.8 million outpatient visits to our facilities. VISN 8 has a requirement for wellness training and certification services. VISN 8 facilities include the following sites:

Miami VA.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center).

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (Tampa VA).

Caribbean VA Healthcare System (San Juan, Puerto Rico VA).

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville).

West Palm Beach VA.

Orlando VA.

Description of Services:

Overview: Over the past 4 years, VISN 8 has established a CIH training program which trains whole health coaches and other clinicians in practicing and facilitating groups with Veterans and staff. These groups follow a structured model of opening meditation, group check-in/sharing, leading a didactic (teaching about mind-body approaches), experiential exercise (experiencing the mind-body skill), suggesting home practice activities, and closing meditation.

The contractor shall provide support to the CIH initiative as stated in VHA Directive 1137(2) to integrate VA care into an evidence-based health and wellness training program by providing training and consultative services. This evidence-based consultation training has research-supported outcomes in the healthcare setting. Providers shall illustrate and demonstrate their own certification processes with a focus on wellness care. Consultation for support of the curriculum shall include:

Consultation, training, and guidance for a professional training program to VISN 8. The contractor shall provide instructor-led training wellness program to VA employees (participants) through an onsite or virtual platform.

Consultation, training, and guidance for an advanced training program to VISN 8. The contractor should provide instruction that compatible with the existing VISN 8 model to incorporate advanced consultation, training and guidance to 30 participants. The elements of an advanced training program must include how to facilitate the implemented model for mind-body approaches and skills to groups.