On June 24, President Trump signed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act into law. This important piece of legislation helps ensure that critical initiatives such as the ADHS Public Health Emergency Preparedness program and the Hospital Preparedness Program will receive funding through 2023. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO) [...]
Arizona may be known for its deserts, but forests make up nearly 27 percent of Arizona’s land. Recently, several wildfires have arisen across the state. By June 28, the Goodwin Fire in Yavapai County has spread to more than 20,000 acres. The Saddle Fire has also grown to nearly 5,000 acres in Cochise County. Evacuations [...]
Note: This week is National Public Health Week. This week I have a five-part public health series that explores the vast network of programs and services that help improve the health and wellness of all Arizonans. Public health includes programs that work to ensure that we are safe whether in everyday life or during an [...]
Arizona is one of America's leading states in developing a plan for Crisis Standards of Care. Crisis Standards of Care are those standards that are implemented when a catastrophic event occurs and there are shortages of space, supplies, and staff within the hospital and healthcare community. These protocols can serve as a planning platform from [...]
Good question. Disasters and public health emergencies can stress health care systems to the breaking point and disrupt delivery of vital medical services. For example- hospitals and long-term care facilities may be without power; trained staff, ambulances, medical supplies, and beds could be in short supply; and alternate care facilities may need to be used. [...]
The CDC's “Strategic National Stockpile” is a large quantity of medicine and medical supplies that are available to states in case there’s a public health emergency (flu outbreak, asteroid, etc.) severe enough to cause local health supplies to run out. Once federal and local authorities agree that the stockpile is needed, meds and supplies are [...]
