Frontline healthcare professionals such as nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists, and public health nurses work collaboratively with primary care providers to deliver the best care to patients. However, in health systems where the focus is chronic disease management, it is often difficult for primary care providers to address cancer and chronic disease prevention comprehensively due to a lack of time and resources.

A healthcare professional who is a member of the practice or linked to the practice becomes your “prevention expert” or BETTER Prevention Practitioner™. Using the BETTER tools, which are based on the best available clinical evidence, the Prevention Practitioner meets with patients one-on-one, informs them about their chronic disease risk, and determines what their recommended prevention and screening action(s) are based on factors such as personal medical history, family history, and lifestyle behaviour.

Through shared decision-making and S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-based) goal setting, the Prevention Practitioner develops a “Prevention Prescription” with each patient, tailored specifically to their needs and chronic disease risk. Links to other health care professionals, practice and community resources may be made to help patients achieve their health goals.

Communication between Prevention Practitioners and primary care providers is key to this approach since patients are referred back to their primary care provider as needed – in cases where possible elevated risk has been identified (e.g. first-degree relative with genetic mutation) or where follow-up is needed (e.g. elevated blood sugar levels). The Prevention Prescription also becomes a part of the patient’s chart so that it can inform the patient’s ongoing clinical care.