What does preventive care include?

Preventive care primarily focuses on services designed to prevent illnesses or detect health issues early, making it essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. This includes a variety of services such as regular check-ups, screenings, vaccinations, and counseling aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. By identifying potential health problems before they become serious, preventive care can lead to better outcomes and lower healthcare costs over time.

Surgical procedures and emergency care, while critical for treating existing conditions, do not fall under preventive care as they are typically reactive responses to health issues. Only vaccinations, while an important part of preventive health, do not encompass the full range of services aimed at early detection and prevention of multiple conditions. Lastly, long-term chronic illness management focuses on treating and managing diseases after they have developed rather than preventing them or detecting them early. This highlights the key role that preventive care plays in the broader healthcare continuum.