Q&A: Differentiating between wholistic and holistic care

Q: What is the difference between "wholistic" and "holistic" care as these terms apply to case management?

A: Wholistic considers the whole person, item, body, or something else. Holistic, on the other hand, is concerned with the various parts that constitute a total something or person. Wholistic conveys the consideration of an entire structure and makeup of something while also referring to an interest in viewing something as a whole, such as a human being. Holistic, in contrast, conveys a consideration of the parts that make up the total entity as well as the interdependence of these parts. Case managers must consider whole-client functioning, as opposed to having holes in their assessment.

In terms of case management practice, WCM is defined as:

The provision of comprehensive services to meet the full scope of a person’s needs to render the individual able to live a productive life—beyond prevailing physical and behavioral health manifestations. This view ensures population-centric care of the highest quality while also supporting client well-being, engagement, and self-management.

In contrast, holistic care may refer only to the provision of integrated care and services that a person may need based on his or her individual’s physical and behavioral health needs alone. The latter approach sustains the episodic and often siloed approach to care that continues to appear across the industry.

For more information see The Social Determinants of Health: Case Management's Next Frontier.