About

Medical care is more than simply about treating disease; it can also be used to help prevent people from getting sick in the first place. From counseling about smoking to vaccinating against the flu and screening for cancer, preventive health care includes dozens of measures that are proven to save lives. Despite this, millions of people in the U.S. and abroad do not receive routine preventive care and, as a result, suffer from preventable illnesses. Part of the problem may come from a lack of awareness in the general public about preventive care and how it applies to them.

The Preventive HealthCare Checklist is designed to bridge this critical knowledge gap. After you answer a series of questions about yourself and your health history, the website provides you with a "checklist" of preventive health care services you need based on your personal risk factors. Additionally, the web site links with other health websites that can help you to understand the reasons behind each recommendation. The information you enter is completely anonymous, so answer each question openly and honestly to create an accurate checklist.

The recommendations in the Preventive HealthCare Checklist are adopted from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are periodically revised as the guidelines from these expert organizations are updated. However, these are only guidelines -- it is up to you and your doctor to determine whether and how they apply to you. It is important to note that the Preventive HealthCare Checklist is not designed nor intended to be a substitute for actual medical advice.

The Preventive HealthCare Checklist was created by researchers at the University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School and is currently being supported by a grant from the University of Chicago Institute for Translational Medicine. If you are interested in learning more about the web site or have specific comments or questions about it, please contact Dr. Shantanu Nundy, at shantanu.nundy@gmail.com or Dr. Gaurav Singal at gsingal@partners.org.

Shantanu Nundy, M.D. University of Chicago Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine

Gaurav Singal, M.D. Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Internal Medicine