BENTONVILLE, Ark – (Dec 14, 2023) Heartland Whole Health Institute today announced a name and strategy update as well as the launch of a new Whole Health Coaching Project.
Heartland Whole Health Institute, formerly Whole Health Institute, is a nonprofit founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton. The Institute works with health systems, communities, policymakers, and employers to redesign care delivery and advocate for payment models to improve health and reduce costs.
“The new name and identity signals an updated vision and mission to bridge the gaps to better health, together,” said Founder Alice Walton. “Heartland Whole Health Institute will advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of innovative systems, with a refined focus on value-based care and whole health delivery adoption. The success of our work relies on the connections we build and the change we seek with likeminded community partners.”
The initial phase of the Whole Health Coaching Project is a 12-month program funded by the Institute that will offer free health coaching services to 350 patients with Community Clinic. The program will be administered by Newtopia, a tech-enabled whole health platform creating sustainable habits that prevent, slow and reverse chronic disease.
“Community Clinic is proud to work alongside Heartland Whole Health Institute and Newtopia on this project to expand the extensive services offered as part of our primary care delivery,” said Judd Semingson, CEO, Community Clinic. “We all share in the value of patient-centered whole health care delivery. This project allows us to broaden our unique focus by working directly with our patients and communities to improve chronic health outcomes and enhance health and wellness.”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and a driver of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care costs. The CDC notes that 85% of chronic diseases are lifestyle or behavior related.
“We are excited to be a catalyst for change and help people live healthy and meaningful lives with the launch of the Whole Health Coaching Project,” said Walter Harris, President of Heartland Whole Health Institute. “The Project allows us to explore the impact that a preventative, whole-person intervention can have in health systems.”
Throughout the Project, individuals who have moderate risk or a diagnosis of a chronic disease will work 1:1 with a coach to create sustainable healthy habits. The Project aims to prevent or improve hypertension and diabetes outcomes, reduce the cost of care, and drive patient engagement. Health coaching services will launch with Community Clinic beginning in fall 2023, with additional groups added in 2024.
Project evaluation metrics include participant engagement, measured by participant satisfaction and enrollment scores; physical health, monitored through BMI changes, weight loss, blood pressure, and HbA1C; and well-being, which will be tracked by sleep, mood, anxiety, stress, and energy. The Institute will utilize deidentified data from the Project to inform future programs that promote patient-centered care and whole health delivery.
“We’re deeply honored by the opportunity to collaborate with Heartland Whole Health Institute and the Northwest Arkansas community on this landmark primary prevention Project to help alleviate the burden of chronic disease,” said Jeff Ruby, Founder and CEO of Newtopia. “Based on our evidence-based efficacy and proven, peer-reviewed results, we anticipate that our personalized habit change approach will have a positive, lasting impact on participants.”
About Heartland Whole Health Institute
Founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, Heartland Whole Health Institute puts a whole health approach at the center of the broader health care system to address the current health care crisis. The vision is to advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of an innovative system, rooted in whole health and the realignment of financial incentives. The Institute was driven by its founder’s health care experience, and furthered by research revealing that the United States has one of the highest levels of health care spending worldwide yet relatively low rankings in overall health. In conjunction with Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, the Institute will transform health care by improving outcomes, reducing costs, and expanding access, beginning in the Heartland and scaling nationally.
About Community Clinic
For over 25 years, Community Clinic has served the vibrant and growing communities of Northwest Arkansas. With a focus on quality, primary care and patient-centered delivery, Community Clinic offers enhanced services to improve the patient experience. Today the organization spans19 locations throughout Benton and Washington Counties with integrated clinics delivering primary care, dental, pediatric, women’s health, behavioral healthcare and more. Working alongside healthcare, academic and community partners, Community Clinic embodies a collaborative approach to ensure healthcare delivery and connections to specialty care and community resources where indicated. We Care. You Belong.
