Using technology to enhance prevention services for children in primary care.

Primary care is the principal setting for implementation of prevention services for children and their families. However, aspects of primary care practice and lack of patient adherence to therapeutic regimens that ultimately lead to lifestyle and behavior changes are barriers to the delivery of prevention services. The authors of this paper present descriptive information about how a web-based computer application is being used to assist physicians in a major medical center overcome some of these impediments. This information is presented in the hopes of generating discussion about the utility of computer based support for prevention services in primary care settings. Additional steps to optimize the care of patients are also described.