Which example best illustrates preventive services?

• A. Emergency room visit for chest pain.
• B. Vaccines and routine screenings to prevent illness.
• C. Physical therapy after injury.
• D. Palliative care at end of life.

Answer: (B)

Preventive services are actions that aim to prevent illness or catch health problems early when they’re easier to treat. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to prevent infections, reducing the chance of getting certain diseases. Routine screenings look for diseases before symptoms appear, so treatment can start sooner and outcomes are often better. This is the essence of prevention: stop disease from occurring or catch it early.

In comparison, an emergency room visit for chest pain addresses an acute problem that’s already present, not prevention. Physical therapy after an injury focuses on rehabilitation after damage has occurred, not preventing the injury or disease. End-of-life palliative care emphasizes comfort and quality of life rather than preventing disease. So vaccines and routine screenings best illustrate preventive services.