Patient Education

Your health and well-being depend on the choices you make every day. Take the best possible care of yourself and your family with information about the health topics that matter to you.

Visit our online health library to:

  • Get tips about back care, fitness, nutrition, stress management and more.
  • Learn about your conditions, treatments and the services or procedures you may need.
  • Find ways to keep your family healthy at any age.
  • Use tools like the symptom checker, interactive quizzes and health-related calculators.
  • Listen to audio podcasts and watch videos.

Educational handouts by medical service

Allergy & Immunology

Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

Topic index (Anesthesiology)

Topic index (Pain medicine)

Cancer Care

Topic index (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center)

Center for Women & Children

Breast Care

Topic index | Article: healthy breast care


Children's Care

Topic index


Fertility Care


Gynecology Care


Maternity Care

Growing together:

Nutrition in pregnancy:

Prenatal care:

Prenatal diagnosis and testing:

Preterm labor and birth:

Twins, triplets and more:

Special health concerns during pregnancy:

Labor and birth:

Breastfeeding and lactation:

Caring for your baby:

Caring for yourself after delivery:

Miscarriage, loss and grief:


Pelvic Care

Dermatology

Diabetes & Endocrinology

Topic index (Diabetes)

Topic index (Endocrinology)

Digestive Health

Topic index (Digestive disorders)

Topic index (Liver, biliary, pancreatic disorders)

Topic index (Bariatrics and weight loss management)

Ear, Nose & Throat Care

Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Burn Care

Topic index (Trauma)

Topic index (Burn)

Topic index (Non-traumatic injuries)

Eye Institute

Heart Institute

Hematology

Infectious Diseases

Kidney Care

Laboratory Medicine & Pathology

Topic index (Laboratory medicine)

Topic index (Pathology)

Lung Care

Medical Genetics

Men's Health

Mental Health Care

Neurosciences

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Topic index (Orthopedic surgery)

Topic index (Sports medicine)

Palliative Care

Primary Care

Health maintenance exams, screenings and vaccines for adults:

The below guidelines are for patients of average risk. Have a preventive health visit every two years or as requested by your primary care provider. Talk to your provider if you have a family history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease or stroke; might need any vaccinations; have low energy or weight concerns; or smoke cigarettes or are exposed to others who smoke. We recommend the following:

​Men and women:

  • Blood pressure checks at each routine visit.
  • Body mass index (BMI) check at each routine visit
  • Cholesterol (blood lipid profile) screening every five years beginning at age 45 for women, and age 35 for men.
  • Colon cancer screenings beginning at age 45. 50
  • Eye exams every two years
  • Hepatitis C: At least once in a lifetime for all adults ages 18 and above and all pregnant persons during pregnancy.
  • HIV: One-time between the ages of 13-65 and all pregnant persons during pregnancy. It may be more frequent for those with certain risk factors.

Women only:

  • Mammograms: Talk to your primary care provider about your risk between the ages of 40-49, then every one to two years from ages 50-74.
  • Pap tests every three years (five years if routine risk and tested negative for Human Papilloma Virus).

Health maintenance exams, screenings and vaccines for children:

Well-child visits are a key component to keeping children healthy and monitoring their development. During a well-child exam, your child’s provider will complete a physical exam and ask you about things at home, such as nutrition and sleep. These visits may also include other screening tests and immunizations.

Find forms to fill out before your well-child visit. The information you provide will help your child’s provider assess your child’s development..

Rehabilitation Medicine

Rheumatology

Sleep Medicine

Spine Care

Surgery

Topic index (Surgery)

Topic index (Plastic surgery)

Transplant

Vascular Care