Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin stated that preventative care and practices will be her main focus while serving as Surgeon General during remarks at a Tuesday morning meeting with the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC).

"The basis of my priorities is wellness and prevention," said Benjamin. "I think that the preventative care is where we really are going to change this health care system from a sick system to a wellness system."

Benjamin emphasized the importance of creating an atmosphere in which patients are able to feel comfortable and safe while building a long-term, trust-based relationship within their primary care settings. The patient centered medical home (PCMH) initiative is meant to foster these relations by improving the quality and efficiency of health care through transforming the way primary care is practiced and reimbursed.

"Patients are ultimately the decision maker, and they really should be. We should be there to help them and be there to give them information to help them make their decisions. We shouldn't make their decisions for them," said Benjamin.