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New and Updated Topics

What's New in the Healthwise® Knowledgebase Back to top

Version 9.7

April 2013

What's New

  • New Decision Points
  • New Health and Disease Topics
  • New Illustrations
  • New Medical Test Topics
  • Enhanced Content
  • New NCI Topics
  • New Medication Topics
  • New Aisle 7 (CAM) Content
  • Updated Actionsets
  • Updated Decision Points
  • Updated Health and Disease Topics
  • Updated Illustrations
  • Updated iTools
  • Updated Online Forms
  • Updated Medical Test Topics
  • Updated Symptom Topics
  • Updated NCI Topics
  • Updated Medication Topics
  • Topic Title Changes and Topic Replacements
  • Medical Guideline Reviews
  • What's Next

New Decision Points Back to top

New Health and Disease Topics Back to top

  • Anal Cancer : This new topic covers the cause, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of anal cancer.
  • Coping When Your Child Is Near the End of Life : This new topic offers support and suggestions for parents and others whose children are near the end of life. It discusses how to talk to health professionals, the child, and siblings.
  • Growth and Development Milestones : This new topic describes growth and development milestones and provides links to milestones for children and teens.
  • High-Potassium Foods : This new topic provides a list of high-potassium foods for people who are watching their intake for health reasons.
  • How to Get Rid of Medicines : This new topic describes different ways to get rid of old or unwanted medicines safely. It also explains why it's important to get rid of these medicines.
  • Indoor Tanning: Is It Safe? : This new topic describes the risks of indoor tanning and the special risks to children and teens. It also describes other tanning products.
  • Low-Potassium Foods : This new topic provides a list of low-potassium foods for people who are watching their intake for health reasons.
  • Milestones for Ages 11 to 14 : This new topic describes growth and development milestones for ages 11 to 14.
  • Milestones for Ages 15 to 18 : This new topic describes growth and development milestones for ages 15 to 18.
  • Suprapubic Catheter Care : This new topic describes how to care for a suprapubic catheter. It includes information on caring for the catheter, caring for the incision, emptying the drainage bag, replacing the catheter, and when to call the doctor.

New Illustrations Back to top

New illustrations were added to these topics:

New Medical Test Topics Back to top

  • Prealbumin Blood Test : This new topic explains why the prealbumin blood test is done and what it can show. It tells how to prepare for the test and what is done during the test. It explains how the test feels and what to look for afterward.
  • Sonohysterogram : This new topic describes the sonohysterogram, what it is used for, and how it differs from ultrasound and hysterosalpingogram. It tells how to prepare for the test and what is done during the test. And it explains how the test feels and what to look for afterward.

Enhanced Content Back to top

We've revised the following documents so that they are more concise and easier for readers to explore and use. The content is now more streamlined, there is less repetition across the various sections of each document, and we've provided more cues to the reader in the form of improved headings, lists, and well-placed links.

Other Enhancements

  • Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask : New content has been added on why a vaccination schedule should be followed and why immunizations are needed. More information on safety has been added.

In the 9.5 release, we released a pilot group of Decision Points in which we brought together expert opinion and user input (through user testing) to create a new approach for presenting numerical evidence about risk and benefit. The presentation includes new graphics, summary tables, and text to help meet the needs of different learning styles. We have used this approach to revise three more Decision Points for the 9.7 release:

New NCI Topics Back to top

There are new Physician Data Query (PDQ) topics from the National Cancer Institute. Refer to your product Tech Docs for a complete list of new and updated titles.

New Medication Topics Back to top

Medication topics from Cerner Multum, Inc. are not included in all systems. Added topics may include new information and/or the addition of new drug names. Refer to the Tech Docs for a complete list of new and updated titles.

New Aisle 7 (CAM) Content Back to top

Refer to the Tech Docs for a complete list of new and updated Aisle 7 (CAM) content.

Updated Actionsets Back to top

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. We verified all information for medical accuracy and added new medical information if available. While medically significant changes are listed here, minor revisions, such as editorial changes, may not be listed.

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. No medical revisions were needed.

Updated Decision Points Back to top

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. We verified all information for medical accuracy and added new medical information if available. While medically significant changes are listed here, minor revisions, such as editorial changes, may not be listed.

  • Click here to view a Decision Point. Diabetes: Should I Get an Insulin Pump? : Based on ADA 2013 Standards of Medical Care, we updated the information about recommended blood sugar testing for people who have diabetes.
  • Click here to view a Decision Point. High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine? : Based on ADA 2013 Standards of Medical Care, we updated the information about when to take medicine for high blood pressure.
  • Click here to view a Decision Point. Pap Test: Should I Have Colposcopy if My Pap Test Shows Minor Cell Changes? : Based on the guidelines from ACOG and USPSTF recommending that Pap tests begin at age 21, we removed the information about teenagers and colposcopy.
  • Click here to view a Decision Point. Stroke: Should I Have Carotid Endarterectomy? : In Get the Facts under "Key points to remember," we now say "If you have less than 70% narrowing, taking medicines may work just as well as surgery to prevent a stroke or TIA, especially if you haven't already had one." Under "Are other treatments available?" we added about stenting that "Carotid artery stenting is not a good choice for people older than age 70. Studies have shown that for people in this age group, the risk of stroke or death during the procedure is too high. Carotid endarterectomy is safer for people older than 70."
  • Click here to view a Decision Point. Tonsillitis: Should My Child Have a Tonsillectomy? : We changed the recommendation for tonsillectomy from 5 episodes of sore throat in 1 year to 7 episodes in 1 year, based on updated Clinical Practice Guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. No medical revisions were needed.

Updated Health and Disease Topics Back to top

A primary care physician and/or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. We verified all information for medical accuracy and added new medical information if available. While medically significant changes are listed here, minor revisions, such as editorial changes, may not be listed.

  • Achilles Tendon Problems :
    • Surgery: We say most surgeons will wait a few days for swelling to go down, then do the surgery as soon as possible, usually within 4 to 6 weeks.
    • Other Treatment: Under "Experimental treatment," we note that treatments being studied include topical nitric oxide and glyceryl trinitrate, ultrasonic or shock waves, and platelet-rich protein injection.
  • Acne :
    • Other Treatment: We now include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, and dermal fillers as treatments that can make acne scars less noticeable.
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration :
    • Other Treatment: We now mention clinical trials for new therapies that are being developed.
  • Anticoagulants Other Than Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation (Drug Detail): We added apixaban (Eliquis) as an anticoagulant option.
  • Atrial Fibrillation :
    • Medications: We added apixaban (Eliquis) as an anticoagulant option.
  • Blood Transfusion :
    • Uses of Blood Transfusion: We no longer mention hemophilia, because whole blood products are no longer used to treat hemophilia.
  • Brain Aneurysm : In "How is it treated?" we added more information on embolization. We included information on mesh embolization in addition to coil embolization.
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome : This topic has been updated based on guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. The treatment information has been updated to include four areas of treatment for CRPS: pain management, physical rehabilitation, counseling, and patient education and self-management.
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis :
    • Medications: We added the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto) as a treatment option.
  • Diabetic Nephropathy : Based on ADA 2013 Standards of Medical Care, we updated the information about recommended blood pressure targets for people who have diabetes.
  • Growth and Development, Newborn :
  • Klinefelter Syndrome :
    • Topic Overview: Under "How is it treated?" we now include the possibility of using testicular sperm extraction (TEST) to collect the sperm of a man who has Klinefelter syndrome and who may want to father children.
  • Meningitis :
    • Cause: We added Haemophilus influenzae as a type of bacteria that also can cause meningitis. We also now mention that fungus and conditions such as cancer or lupus occasionally can cause meningitis.
  • Nerve Ablation for Chronic Pain : We now include other kinds of nerve ablation, such as using cold or chemicals, along with radiofrequency (heat) ablation.
  • Nursery Equipment Safety Checklist : We added information about hook-on chairs.
  • Oral Cancer :
    • Topic Overview: We added targeted therapy to the treatments used for oral cancer.
  • Pain Management :
    • Treatment: Under "Medicines to treat pain" in the table of "Medicines for different types of pain," we added NMDA receptor antagonists, which can be used for nerve pain.
  • Preterm Labor :
    • Exams and Tests: We now say that depending on your symptoms, "an ultrasound to check the length of your cervix" may be done.
    • Medications: We added information about using magnesium sulfate for neuroprotection.
  • Pulmonary Embolism :
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis :
    • Medications: Under "Biologic DMARDs," we added information about tofacitinib.
  • Stroke :
    • Treatment Overview: Under "Emergency treatment" for an ischemic stroke, we added that "in some cases, the clot causing the symptoms is removed with a medical device (rather than dissolved with medicine)."
    • Brain Aneurysm: Endovascular Embolization (Special): We now include information on mesh embolization.
    • Carotid Artery Stenting (Other Detail): In Risks, we added that "carotid artery stenting is not a good choice for people older than age 70. Studies have shown that for people in this age group, the risk of stroke or death during the procedure is too high. Carotid endarterectomy is safer for people older than 70."
  • Tonsillitis :
    • Surgery: We changed the recommendation for tonsillectomy from 5 episodes of sore throat in 1 year to 7 episodes in 1 year, based on updated Clinical Practice Guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.
  • Tremor : We added a new section on treatment. Some types of tremor, such as essential tremor, can be treated with medicines or surgery.
  • Type 2 Diabetes :
  • Undescended Testicle :

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. No medical revisions were needed.

Updated Medical Test Topics Back to top

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. We verified all information for medical accuracy and added new medical information if available. While medically significant changes are listed here, minor revisions, such as editorial changes, may not be listed.

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. No medical revisions were needed.

Updated Symptom Topics Back to top

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. We verified all information for medical accuracy and added new medical information if available. While medically significant changes are listed here, minor revisions, such as editorial changes, may not be listed.

A primary care physician or a specialist in the field reviewed the following topics. No medical revisions were needed.

Updated NCI Topics Back to top

There are updated Physician Data Query (PDQ) topics from the National Cancer Institute included in this release. Refer to your product Tech Docs for a complete list of new and updated titles.

Updated Medication Topics Back to top

Medication topics from Cerner Multum, Inc. are not included in all systems. Updates may include new information and/or the addition of new drug names. Refer to your product Tech Docs for a complete list of new and updated titles.

Topic Title Changes, Topic Replacements, Medical Guideline Reviews Back to top

Topic Title Changes

Topic Replacements

The following searchable topics have been archived, and replacement topics are listed. Many rank-3 frames, which are non-searchable documents, have also been archived, because they contained duplicate information. See your product Tech Docs for a complete list of archived documents.

Medical Guideline Reviews

The following medical guidelines have been reviewed to ensure Healthwise content is accurate, consistent, and helpful to consumers.

  • American Diabetes Association (2013). Standards of medical care in diabetes—2013.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2013). Weight gain during pregnancy. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 548.

What's Next Back to top

The next release of the Healthwise Knowledgebase is scheduled for July 2013.

New Topics

New topics on the following subjects are in development and are expected to release within the next 6 to 9 months:

  • Cast care
  • Bed rest in pregnancy
  • Golfer's elbow
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Staying healthy around animals
  • Teens and birth control

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