Teaching preventive medicine and health maintenance

Preventive health care is an important part of the practice of internal medicine but is poorly taught and practiced in most residencies. A successful curriculum would impart knowledge of the preventive health care guidelines recommended by expert groups; provide opportunities for residents to understand the conceptual basis of preventive care; expose residents to clinical faculty with positive attitudes toward prevention; help residents to learn skills in physical examination, screening tests, and counseling in behavioral modification relevant to prevention; and provide a practice environment in which high-quality preventive health care is possible. All of the skills can be learned as other aspects of medicine are now learned--under the guidance of capable and respected faculty teaching at the bedside, in the clinics, and during ward rounds and conferences.