diff --git a/api/characteristics.go b/api/characteristics.go
index 3d05002..872d97f 100644
--- a/api/characteristics.go
+++ b/api/characteristics.go
@@ -175,9 +175,7 @@ func (c CharacteristicService) Create(e *types.Entity, genus string, claims *typ
 	}
 	payload.Characteristic.CharacteristicTypeID = id
 
-	// TODO: fix this
-	err = models.DBH.Insert(payload.Characteristic.CharacteristicBase)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := models.Create(payload.Characteristic.CharacteristicBase); err != nil {
 		return newJSONError(err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 
diff --git a/api/measurements.go b/api/measurements.go
index eb88bf5..3408923 100644
--- a/api/measurements.go
+++ b/api/measurements.go
@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ func (m MeasurementService) Create(e *types.Entity, genus string, claims *types.
 	payload.Measurement.CreatedBy = claims.Sub
 	payload.Measurement.UpdatedBy = claims.Sub
 
-	// TODO: fix this
-	if err := models.DBH.Insert(payload.Measurement.MeasurementBase); err != nil {
+	if err := models.Create(payload.Measurement.MeasurementBase); err != nil {
 		return newJSONError(err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 
diff --git a/api/species.go b/api/species.go
index 72daf06..268ef1d 100644
--- a/api/species.go
+++ b/api/species.go
@@ -132,9 +132,7 @@ func (s SpeciesService) Create(e *types.Entity, genus string, claims *types.Clai
 	}
 	payload.Species.SpeciesBase.GenusID = genusID
 
-	// TODO: fix this
-	err = models.DBH.Insert(payload.Species.SpeciesBase)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := models.Create(payload.Species.SpeciesBase); err != nil {
 		return newJSONError(err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 
diff --git a/api/strains.go b/api/strains.go
index 7268f57..1f11b8d 100644
--- a/api/strains.go
+++ b/api/strains.go
@@ -189,8 +189,7 @@ func (s StrainService) Create(e *types.Entity, genus string, claims *types.Claim
 	payload.Strain.CreatedBy = claims.Sub
 	payload.Strain.UpdatedBy = claims.Sub
 
-	// TODO: fix this
-	if err := models.DBH.Insert(payload.Strain.StrainBase); err != nil {
+	if err := models.Create(payload.Strain.StrainBase); err != nil {
 		return newJSONError(err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 
diff --git a/api/users.go b/api/users.go
index 2a20e43..a2591d6 100644
--- a/api/users.go
+++ b/api/users.go
@@ -138,8 +138,7 @@ func (u UserService) Create(e *types.Entity, dummy string, claims *types.Claims)
 	user.Role = "R"
 	user.Verified = false
 
-	// TODO: fix this
-	if err := models.DBH.Insert(user.UserBase); err != nil {
+	if err := models.Create(user.UserBase); err != nil {
 		if err, ok := err.(*pq.Error); ok {
 			if err.Code == "23505" {
 				return newJSONError(errors.ErrEmailAddressTaken, http.StatusInternalServerError)
diff --git a/models/interfaces.go b/models/interfaces.go
index 2bae70c..22a772e 100644
--- a/models/interfaces.go
+++ b/models/interfaces.go
@@ -3,11 +3,20 @@ package models
 import "github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jmoiron/modl"
 
 type base interface {
-	PreCreate(modl.SqlExecutor) error
+	PreInsert(modl.SqlExecutor) error
 	PreUpdate(modl.SqlExecutor) error
 	UpdateError() error
 }
 
+// Create will create a new DB record of a model.
+func Create(b base) error {
+	if err := DBH.Insert(b); err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Update runs a DB update on a model.
 func Update(b base) error {
 	count, err := DBH.Update(b)
 	if err != nil {