Public Health
Guidance on Current Issues
Family physicians deliver comprehensive care and address a broad spectrum of health concerns. While we can't provide resources for every possible topic (that would be impossible!), we’ve provided links to timely issues here.
Have a suggestion for what you'd like to see here? Email us.
Please note: With the launch of the AAFP's new website, some links may be missing. We are working with AAFP to get those updated as soon as possible.
Adolescent Care
Adolescents and young adults require different conversations as they begin making their own health decisions, but still have parents involved in their care.
- Washington Law Help: References on Health care for Minors
- WA Dept. of Health: Providing Care to Minors Reference
- WA Dept. of Health: Providing Vaccines for Youth - Consent
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Campaign and Resources to Address Youth Substance Use and Mental Health
Choosing Wisely® - Campaign to Improve Quality
The AAFP supports the Choosing Wisely® campaign with the goal of ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care for patients. The campaign promotes conversations between clinicians and patients about what tests, treatments, and procedures are needed – and which ones are not.
Immunizations and Vaccines
Family physicians are instrumental in helping patients make educated choices about their own - and their families - health.
- AAFP 2026 Recommendations
- Patient Care:
- Washington State Dept. of Health Immunization Resources
- Washington State Standing Orders
- Blood Lead Testing
- COVID-19 Vaccine (2025)
- Naloxone
- School Epinephrine
- CDC Recommendations (not endorsed by the AAFP)
- Vax Northwest/WA Department of Health: Reminder/Recall Letter Template in 11 Languages
Mental Health
Most people with mental health conditions will be diagnosed and treated in the primary care setting; family physicians are well positioned to address their patients’ mental health issues.
- AAFP: Mental and Behavioral Health Clinical Guidance
- Free state-funded consultation programs for physicians to access.
- UW Psychiatry Consultation Line. Helps prescribing providers seeking clinical advice regarding adult patients (18+) with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Prescribing providers can call 877-927-7924 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Partnership Access Line (PAL): PAL supports primary care providers with questions about child and adolescent mental health care. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are available to consult by calling 866-599-7257.
- Partnership Access Line for Moms: PAL for Moms provides perinatal mental health consultation, recommendations and referrals for providers caring for pregnant or postpartum patients. Any physician or other provider in Washington state can access the service by calling 877-725-4666 (PAL4MOM) or emailing ppcl@uw.edu.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Free Mind campaign to help prevent and reduce drug use and overdose among youth.
Palliative Care
Palliative care improves quality of life for patients with a life-threatening illness and for their families.
Reproductive Health
Access to comprehensive, evidenced-based reproductive health care that is safe and affordable is critical to women’s health.
- AAFP Reproductive Health Recommendations and Guidelines
- Building Access to Abortion in Primary Care
- Guttmacher Institute State Policy Resources
- Integrating Medication Abortion into Primary Care
- Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP)
- Washington Medical Commission: WA Regulation of Health Professionals and Abortions FAQ
- WHO Guidance on Medical Management of Abortion
Substance Use Disorders
AAFP:
- Opioid Use and Other Substance Use Disorders Clinical Guidelines and Practice Resources
- Treating Opioid Use Disorder as a Chronic Condition: A Practice Manual for Family Physicians
- Excessive Alcohol Use
- Tobacco and Nicotine Resources
- Substance Use Disorders Edition 2 Online CME
WA. State:
- Washington Recovery Helpline: Anonymous, confidential 24-hour help line for Washington State residents
- Clinical Resources and Training: ScalaNW training and resources for physicians
- Unintentional Drug Overdose Data Dashboard
Weight Inclusive Care
Weight-inclusive care promotes respecting and appreciating the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and promotes overall well-being and healthy behaviors.
AAFP: Resources
Association for Size Diversity and Health: Health at Every Size®
Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
Health starts in homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. Family physicians see the connections between health and the condition of patients’ environments every day.
AAFP: The EveryONE Project
AAFP: The EveryONE Project by the AAFP offers a collection of tools and resources to use at the point of care to tackle your patients' social determinants of health.
AAFP: Health Equity Curricular Toolkit
AAFP Toolkit: Structured curricular toolkit to facilitate exploration of social determinants of health, vulnerable populations, and economics and policy.
CDC: Social Determinants of Health
Washington State Data and Training