In the United States, medical services are organized to provide acute and chronic care. In such a system, people may not receive the routine preventive care necessary for the maintenance of their health. This study, conducted in the model family practice clinic of a residency training program, reports on the use of a preventive health measure (i.e., Pap smears) in a potentially highrisk population. The odds of receiving the Pap smear were calculated for selected variables for 253 patients. The most important variables for distinguishing the outcome (Paptno Pap) were age and the medical reason for the visit. Although there was some indication that high-risk women were targeted for screening, our findings most suongly supported the claim that Pap smears were performed in this setting when they were requested, required, or convenient.