WELLNESS AND PREVENTION SERVICES
A host of public, private, and community-based agencies provides wellness
and prevention services. Wellness and prevention services include such activities
as educating the public concerning risky behaviors and their health consequences;
providing screening, testing, and other health problem detection services;
and making available opportunities for behavioral modification to improve lifestyles
and eliminate risky health behaviors.
Wellness and prevention services can be provided in a variety of locations
including schools, the workplace, community centers, and other community-based
environments as well as traditional health and medical facilities and public
health settings.
Wellness and prevention services offer many benefits to the community. Modifying
the behavior of community residents to improve lifestyle, diet, and physical
activity habits could save millions of dollars in medical, physical rehabilitation,
and mental health care costs in the future. Improving lifestyles and eliminating
risky behaviors would also reduce the years of productive life lost to premature
deaths due to preventable illnesses and conditions, as well as enhancing quality
of life.
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