Traditionally, our health services system has understood health to be the absence of disease or illness. Therefore, the primary focus has been on curing, treating, and, more recently, preventing disease and illness. Targeted risk factors tend to be medically or physiologically defined. Preventive medical efforts are directed toward individuals whose genetic, behavioural, personal or family history places them at greater risk of developing a serious disease or disability (Labonte, 1997). While the medical approach improves or promotes health through the prevention of disease, it is not a “health promotion” approach in that it is directed toward specific diseases rather than a positive concept of health. This distinction holds true for treatment and rehabilitation efforts which are directed toward the care of specific diseases and injuries. Distinguishing a medical approach from a health promotion approach should not be taken as a criticism of preventive medicine. The field of health promotion recognizes the need for, and fully supports the incorporation and enhancement of preventive efforts as core IHS services that are integrated throughout the system at all levels of care and across all delivery settings.