Value-Based Outdoor HealthCare (VBOHC) addresses multiple interrelated problems in modern healthcare by combining a value-based approach with nature-focused, preventive, and integrative care.
Value-Based Outdoor HealthCare (VBOHC) addresses multiple interrelated problems in modern healthcare by combining a value-based approach with nature-focused, preventive, and integrative care.
Here’s a breakdown of the main problems it tackles:
1. Overreliance on Disease-Centric Care
Problem: Traditional healthcare often focuses on treating disease rather than preventing it, leading to high costs and limited improvements in overall population health.
VBOHC Solution: Shifts focus toward prevention, resilience, and holistic well-being. Outdoor, nature-based interventions encourage physical activity, stress reduction, and mental health support before chronic conditions develop.
2. Chronic Disease and Lifestyle-Related Health Issues
Problem: Conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression are largely influenced by lifestyle and environment. Traditional care rarely addresses these root causes effectively.
VBOHC Solution: Integrates nature exposure, physical activity, and mindful practices as part of routine care, directly targeting lifestyle-related risk factors and improving health outcomes.
3. Mental Health Burden
Problem: Rising rates of anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders are inadequately addressed in conventional clinical settings.
VBOHC Solution: Nature-based therapy and outdoor group programs reduce stress, improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and support social connection, all of which are evidence-backed mechanisms for mental health improvement.
4. Health Inequities
Problem: Socioeconomic and environmental factors often limit access to preventive care, safe green spaces, and effective lifestyle interventions.
VBOHC Solution: Emphasizes equitable access to outdoor health interventions, community engagement, and environmental design that fosters health-promoting behaviors for underserved populations.
5. Fragmented, Low-Value Healthcare Spending
Problem: Healthcare spending often prioritizes high-cost procedures or pharmaceuticals with limited long-term benefit, contributing to inefficiency and poor value.
VBOHC Solution: By focusing on interventions with measurable outcomes and long-term impact (prevention, mental resilience, reduced chronic disease incidence), VBOHC improves value for both patients and payers.
6. Disconnection from Nature and Its Health Benefits
Problem: Modern lifestyles reduce exposure to natural environments, undermining physical and mental well-being.
VBOHC Solution: Integrates structured outdoor experiences—forest bathing, guided nature walks, gardening, wilderness therapy—into healthcare plans to leverage the restorative effects of nature.
7. Lack of Personalized, Whole-Person Care
Problem: Conventional healthcare often treats symptoms rather than the whole person, ignoring the interplay between mind, body, and environment.
VBOHC Solution: Uses individualized, holistic plans that combine physical, mental, social, and environmental health strategies, increasing engagement and long-term adherence.
In short: VBOHC solves problems related to preventable disease, mental health, inequity, inefficiency, and disconnection from nature, by providing personalized, evidence-based, nature-centered interventions that prioritize outcomes, well-being, and value over volume of services.
