See Case Series.

Underuse refers to the failure to provide a health care service when it would have produced a favorable outcome for a patient. Standard examples include failure to provide appropriate preventive services to eligible patients (e.g., Pap smears, flu shots for elderly patients, screening for hypertension) and proven medications for chronic illnesses (steroid inhalers for asthmatics; aspirin, beta-blockers and lipid-lowering agents for patients who have suffered a recent myocardial infarction).

The USPSTF is an independent panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care convened by AHRQ.  The USPSTF is responsible for conducting scientific evidence reviews for clinical preventive services, developing recommendations for the health care community, and providing ongoing research, administrative, technical, and dissemination support.  The recommendations of the USPSTF have formed the basis for clinical standards for many professional societies, health organizations, and medical quality review groups.