Question

How will you engage your patient in preventative care?

Much of our previous lessons have been spent discussing disease but many of the people you will be helping are considered "healthy". As an MA (or for this class, a patient navigator) it will be your job to help them stay healthy by engaging them (read about patient engagement in this module) in preventative care.

There are 5 different levels of types of prevention. They are:

Level Definition

Primal and primordial prevention Any measure aimed at helping future parents provide their upcoming child with adequate attention, as well as secure physical and affective environments from conception to first birthday (i.e., over the child's primal period of life).

Primordial prevention refers to measures designed to avoid the development of risk factors in the first place, early in life.

Primary prevention Methods to avoid occurrence of disease either through eliminating disease agents or increasing resistance to disease.Examples include immunization against disease, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, and avoiding smoking.

Secondary prevention Methods to detect and address an existing disease prior to the appearance of symptoms. Examples include treatment of hypertension (a risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases), cancer screenings

Tertiary prevention Methods to reduce the harm of symptomatic disease, such as disability or death, through rehabilitation and treatment. Examples include surgical procedures that halt the spread or progression of disease

Quaternary prevention Methods to mitigate or avoid results of unnecessary or excessive interventions in the health system

What are the 5 types of prevention?

Below are 6 patient case scenarios. Pick one.

1. Part one will identify what level of prevention your patient is in (see above).

2. Part two will decide which preventative care service you would recommended based on the benefits covered in the Affordable Care Act. You can click here to see what is offered: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/preventive-care-benefits.

3). Discuss how you will engage your patient in preventative care.

Patient Case Scenarios:

1. 28 yo woman - 8 weeks pregnant there for 1st prenatal visit.

2. 6 week old baby boy there for 1st pediatric appointment

3. 19 yo boy there for yearly physical

4. 60 yo man there for blood pressure/cholesterol check

5. 45 yo woman there for annual pap smear

6. 16 yo girl there for STD screening

Answer 1

Patient case scenarios:

Case scenario	Part 1 Level of prevention)	Part 2 Preventive care services	Part 3 Engage of patient in preventive care
28 yo woman - 8 weeks pregnant there for 1st prenatal visit.	primordial prevention	Covered preventive services for women- Folate supplementation.	Encourage the patient for the intake of folic acid supplementation and follow up of visits. Educate about iron-rich and extra caloric diet.
6-week old baby boy there for 1st pediatric appointment	Primary prevention	Covered preventive services for children for immunization, behavioral assessment, Ht and wt measurement.	Educate the parents about the importance of immunization, maintain ht and wt for age, by promoting the good fine motor and gross motor skills. Educate the parents about infants growth and development.
19 yo boy there for yearly physical	Primary prevention	Covered preventive services for youth	The boy has to be examined and screened for smoking, alcohol, tobacco and drug misuse for early identification and to prevent disease. Diet counseling and sex education should be given in order to promote positive lifestyle practices. The boy should be vaccinated according to the chart.
60 yo man there for blood pressure/cholesterol check	Secondary prevention	Covered preventive services for older adults	The old man has to be monitored for blood pressure and cholesterol to maintain a normal level and prevention of cardiac diseases in the future. He also screened for cardiac diseases. Educate them about the modified lifestyle behavior.
45 yo woman there for annual pap smear	secondary prevention	Covered services for women - HPV test	Women above 30 years of age are high risk for cervical cancer. So the patient should be encouraged for the screening of cancer routinely in order to identify early.
16 yo girl there for STD screening	Secondary prevention	Covered services for youth - STI/HIV screening	Young girls less than 24 years of age who are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases should be screened and counseling should be given. She also educated about the immunization and contraceptive methods.