Put prevention into practice: a systematic approach.

Use of a systematic program, such as Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP), to improve the delivery of clinical preventive services by public health nurses is recommended. The Public Health Service, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, designed PPIP to help achieve the goals of Healthy People 2000. PPIP is a research-based team approach using a kit of materials targeted at patients, providers, and the office/clinic system. It includes pocket-sized patient booklets, a Clinician's Handbook of Clinical Preventive Services, posters for the waiting and examination rooms, flowcharts and alert stickers for medical records, prescription pads, and reminder postcards. Sources of the materials, implementation and evaluation strategies, and groups implementing the program are discussed.