What is Restorative Health?

• Restorative Health Care Resources
• Community Benefit Guidance
• Case Studies

The concept of "restorative health" embraces the idea that there are many aspects to living a healthy life, and that a multitude of factors and conditions contribute to and maintain our overall health. Many of these factors are under our control and can be developed and encouraged within the community.

Because of their overall focus on and understanding of health, the establishment of hospitals as community anchors for health is a critical component in the pursuit of restorative health. Besides providing traditional medical services, hospitals can take a leadership role in community activities that have an impact on public health. For example, hospitals can encourage environmentally sustainable building, advocate for reduced carbon pollution through better transit systems and use of clean energy, help to make green space available for physical activities, and reduce their own air and water pollution. Hospitals also can preserve their standing as a community anchor by developing and modeling resiliency, so that they can continue to operate as community pillars in time of outbreaks of illness or severe weather events.

Hospital staff and medical personnel can serve as advocates for health in the community, as well as contribute to wellness programs and educating and teaching communities by showing them how to take responsibility for their own health needs. Partnership between the community and the hospital is key to achieving restorative health.

As we continue to develop programs and partnerships to support restorative health care programs, we will post information on our HCWH website. Please continue to check back for new information on how you can participate in this exciting undertaking.

Restorative Health Care Resources

• Leverage Points: Places to Intercede in a System, by Donella Meadows (Sustainability Institute, 1999)
• The Case for Commons Health Care, by Jamie Harvie, PE, Executive Director, Institute for a Sustainable Future (Journal of Health and Healing, 2012)
• British National Health Service Roadmap to Sustainability, by the British NHS (British NHS Sustainable Development Unit, 2013)
• Hospitals Building Healthier Communities: Embracing the Anchor Mission, by David Zuckerman, et al. (The Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland, 2013)
• Realigning Health with Care, by Rebecca Onie, Paul Farmer, and Heidi Behforouz (Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2012)

Community Benefit Guidance

• Healing Communities and the Environment: Opportunities for Community Benefit Programs, Discussion Draft April 2013 (Catholic Health Association of the United States and HCWH, 2013)

Case Studies

Case studies are being developed, and will be available shortly.