“Mind, Body, & Soul: The Impact of an Integrative Healthcare Structure”

Introduction

Author: Nuria Rodgers

Department: UIC Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement

Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Torres, Faculty Advisor, UIC / Alexander Diaz, Graduate Assistant, UIC-IPCE

Abstract: Historically, the United States’ healthcare system has operated under a fee-for-service model that prioritizes profit over person-centered care, treating the “mind, body, and soul” as separate systems. This model creates a dependency on mainstream medical systems that often address health issues at the surface level rather than their root causes. This study examines the history of contemporary mainstream medicine, emphasizing the shift to integrative healthcare practices in the U.S. and their impact on communities of color. Methods included a literature review on historical and contemporary healthcare practices in the U.S. and the impact on BIPOC communities. A secondary data analysis of 150 surveys on community needs assessment was also conducted to assess the need for resources promoting mental health. Through these two aims, the study evaluates non-traditional healthcare approaches, drawing from literature on indigenous healing practices within and outside the U.S. Additionally, Findings highlighted that mainstream healthcare models fail to account for social determinants of health, leading to a legacy of harm among BIPOC communities. Findings from the literature and surveys from the community-based health center imply a demand for holistic, culturally competent wellness
centers within BIPOC communities. Results indicate that a holistic approach to healthcare—one that treats the mind, body, and soul as an interconnected whole—better addresses both immediate needs, such as access to affordable food, housing, and support, and the long-term well-being of these communities Policy recommendations call for a reevaluation of healthcare administration and shifting to investment in community health and wellness centers rather than traditional hospital-based systems. Specifically, reforms should focus on policies such as Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers, which provide opportunities to fund holistic and culturally competent care, and the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF), which could be expanded to support integrative wellness centers. Future policy efforts should aim to remove structural barriers to care and support healthcare models that integrate cultural and holistic healing practices.

Keywords: Healthcare, Holistic Healing, Liberation psychology, integrated healthcare