USPSTF screening

by Christie Green –

The USPSTF plays a pivotal role in developing screening recommendations and guidelines to be adopted in primary care practice settings. The USPSTF is an independent group of national experts who volunteer and provide their reviews based on a synthesis of current evidence-based research. this task force works to improve preventive care quality and public health management by developing evidence-based recommendations regarding clinical preventive services. This includes recommendations regarding preventive medications, counseling services, and screening processes. Recommendations are made based on current evidence regarding patient factors such as age, gender, medical history, and risk profile.

There are important implications for the process of developing screening and medication recommendations. These recommendations provide a framework for preventive care delivery regarding more than 70 health conditions and illnesses (USPSTF, 2022). These recommendations only apply to people who have no signs or symptoms are they specific condition. They are also developed without respect to cost inputs. Health insurance providers end public insurance options like Medicaid or required to cover the costs of these recommendations in preventive and primary care practices (Hernandez et al., 2021). This means that these recommendations lay the foundation for universal public health management in this country.

the process by which recommendations are made is important to consider. Anyone can develop a research plan after topics have been nominated. Members of the USPSTF will nominate topics based on identified criteria relating to importance for primary care practice around the country. Evidence is synthesized and recommendations are made by expert reviewers and professional clinicians (Bell et al., 2019). Evidence is published on a regular basis and recommendations are updated consistently based on emerging patterns and trends in public health management. These recommendations are also a product of public comments on draft evidence review, meaning that members of the USPSTF also gather data from the public before making final recommendations. The ongoing process of updating recommendations helps ensure that they are relevant to population health and available primary care resources.

Bell, N., Grad, R., Dickinson, J. (2019). Better decision making in preventive health screening. Canadian Family Physician, 62(7), 521-525.

Hernandez, I., Curry, S., Phillips, W. (2021). USPSTF priorities for prevention research. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41, DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.08.013

USPSTF. (2022). About USPSTF. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/about-uspstf/task-force-resources/uspstf-recommendations-development-process