Seattle Clinical Preventive Services

Clinical Preventive Services

A core set of recommended preventive services are very effective in preventing disease or detecting disease early, when treatment is more effective. Among these services are screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, and vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease.

Despite the effectiveness of these potentially life-saving preventive services, only 25% of adults aged 50 to 64 years in the United States, and fewer than 40% of adults aged 65 years and older are up to date on these services. This is true despite the fact that these services are paid for by nearly all insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Promoting the broader use of preventive services by adults aged 50 years and older is a key public health strategy.

Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50–64: Community and Clinical Partnerships

In 2008 and 2009, CDC, AARP, and the American Medical Association collaborated to develop a report highlighting opportunities to broaden the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services. The report, “Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-54: Community and Clinical Partnerships,” identifies a set of recommended preventive services, delineates successful strategies to promote and facilitate their delivery in community settings, and provides national and state-level data to monitor progress in these services reach this key population. Released in November 2009 at the annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, the report serves as an innovative resource for a wide variety of audiences, including public health and aging services professionals, health care providers, policymakers, the media, and researchers.