U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Are you or someone you know interested in working to improve the health of people nationwide by joining the #USPSTF? If so, now is the time to submit nominations! Task Force members are national experts in #primarycare and #preventivemedicine who make unbiased, evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services that are provided by primary care health professionals. Find out what qualifications are required and submit your application before March 15, 2025: https://lnkd.in/en3AsAdp

Falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults and can result in a loss of mobility and independence, and even death. Vitamin D and calcium are both important to a person’s bone health and overall wellness, so the #USPSTF looked at whether there was evidence that they could help older adults avoid falling and breaking a bone. After reviewing the latest evidence, we found that taking vitamin D supplements with or without calcium does not prevent falls or fractures, so they should not be taken for that purpose. Fortunately, there are other proven ways for older adults to maintain good bone health and prevent fractures, including getting screened for osteoporosis and participating in structured exercise programs. Learn more about our new draft recommendation here: https://lnkd.in/ecZJekgY

#ICYMI: The Task Force just released its new draft recommendation on screening for cervical cancer. In this article from CNN, #USPSTF member Dr. Esa M Davis, MD MPH FAAFP highlights the importance of getting screened regularly if you are 21 to 65 years old, because cervical cancer is very preventable and treatable. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eBC2SG6K

Screening for cervical cancer saves lives and helps find cancer early when it is treatable, so it is essential that women get screened regularly. After reviewing the latest evidence, the #USPSTF recommends women who are 21–29 years old get a Pap test every three years and women who are 30–65 ideally get an HPV test every five years. Alternatively, women ages 30–65 can get a Pap test every three years, or get a combined HPV and Pap test every five years, also known as co-testing. To learn more about the Task Force’s new draft recommendation and the various options for this lifesaving service, click here: https://lnkd.in/ezxFYZ_Z

Did you know the #USPSTF was created 40 years ago? Take the quiz below in honor of our anniversary! #USPSTF40Years 

Preventive care, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can substantially reduce the risk of disease, disability, and death, so it’s critical we have the best research about how to stay healthy. In this year’s Report to Congress, the #USPSTF calls attention to the research gaps related to improving health outcomes across a person’s lifespan, especially in underserved or high-risk groups. We hope this call for more research leads to new evidence that can support the communities most affected by disease, help reduce disparities, and ensure that people get the preventive care they need. Check out the report here: https://lnkd.in/eqvv5kV3

If a person has syphilis while they are pregnant, it can get passed to their baby, which is known as congenital syphilis. When left untreated, congenital syphilis can cause serious complications for the baby, including premature birth, loss of vision or hearing, and death. Fortunately, screening early during pregnancy can effectively identify syphilis so it can be treated before the baby develops it, improving the health of both the pregnant person and their baby. To learn more about #USPSTF's recent draft recommendation on screening for syphilis in pregnant people, click here: https://lnkd.in/ex-ZAs-p

People of all genders deserve quality care that is based on what the #evidence shows has been proven to help them live longer, healthier lives. To help everyone get the care they deserve, healthcare professionals should get to know each of their patient’s specific health needs and preferences and then apply the appropriate #USPSTF recommendations. As we honor #TransgenderAwarenessWeek, we must continue to address the health disparities that gender-diverse communities often face and help all trans people receive the preventive care that is right for them.

It is Lung Cancer Awareness Month—a time to spread the word about the impact of this devastating disease and how to help people stay healthy. One of the best ways to prevent lung cancer is to not smoke or to quit if you do, so it is important that healthcare professionals use proven methods to help their patients quit. Clinicians can also save lives from lung cancer by screening people who are between the ages of 50 and 80 and at high risk based on their smoking history. Learn more about the #USPSTF's recommendations to help people improve their lung health and live longer, healthier lives here: https://lnkd.in/eYgiC5qj #LungCancerAwarenessMonth

Improving #health equity for tribal communities is vital to ensuring that everyone can access the preventive services that are right for them. In its recommendations, the #USPSTF acknowledges the long-standing health disparities and inequities that Native American populations experience and, where necessary, calls for more research to address these important issues. This #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, learn more about the recommended care that can help improve the health of people nationwide: https://lnkd.in/eDzFdgXe