Our Licensing, Preparedness and Healthcare-Associated Infections shops joined forces with APIC Consulting Inc. to provide a free day-long event to provide training to skilled nursing facilities about how to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The training will be based on the Infection Preventionist's Guide to Long-Term Care. The goals are to help healthcare providers to: 1) identify infection prevention [...]
This week we took a huge step forward in our efforts to keep kids safe on both sides of the border. Rural Metro was helping us transport child car seats to Mexico as part of our commitment to A Safe Ride Home. Last year during the Arizona Mexico Commission’s summer plenary session, we signed an [...]
A few months ago the Governor announced a final agreement had been reached in the 32 year old Arnold vs. Sarn case regarding care and services for individuals with serious mental illness. The Settlement is the foundation to end the lawsuit while establishing a blueprint for a successful community-based behavioral health system in Arizona. The Agreement [...]
Now that we have a new integrated behavioral health care model in Maricopa County, we’ve set our sights on implementing a similar integrated care model in the rest of the state. Our Procurement Team issued the Greater Arizona Behavioral Health RFP last week - which sets the course for integrating behavioral health and physical health for [...]
Arizona's Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) is moving from paper checks to an electronic system thanks to a $5M grant we received from USDA this week. WIC electronic benefit transfer (or EBT) will provide enhanced service and benefits to participants, clinic staff, and WIC vendors (grocery stores authorized to accept Arizona WIC benefits). Stores in Arizona that provide WIC services sell [...]
Our Office of Children with Special Healthcare Needs has been working with UnitedHealthcare Community Plans and the AHCCCS to support an important free Conference on July 25 to improve the care delivery system in Arizona for children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities and their families. The goal of the free Conference [...]
I've fallen off ladders at my house twice in the last month which has inspired me to do a post about falls and injuries. The #1 reason people show up in Arizona emergency rooms is from slipping, tripping or stumbling on something. Falls are the #2 cause of accidental death in Arizona…with 870 deaths recorded [...]
In recent years, a prevention model of health has woven its way into the fabric of traditional models of care. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act the role preventive services has expanded significantly in the US health care delivery system. Preventive health care services prevent diseases and illnesses from happening in the first [...]
Last December I denied a petition to add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify people for an Arizona Medical Marijuana Registration Card. I denied the petition because, at the time, I believed there was a lack of scientific evidence to document whether Cannabis is helpful or not to [...]
When you shop for a new car, phone or camera, you have lots of information about your choices. But when it comes to choosing the right medicine or the best health- care treatment, clear information can be hard to find. Let’s face it, if you don't get the best possible information about your treatment choices, [...]
