Individual and Community Models for Promoting Wellness

The health care field is the largest industry in the United States and comprises 14% of the gross national product. Payers of those health care costs are now demanding that more attention be placed on prevention of disease and promotion of wellness. Traditional individual models of wellness promotion and new community models of wellness promotion are reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of the models are discussed to provide nurses with the information needed to make decisions about which model or combination of models will be most successful in their wellness promotion efforts.