In the last two years, the tick-borne disease Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis (R. parkeri) has been identified in two Arizona residents. Both were bitten by ticks in the mountainous regions of Southern Arizona. Only 40 cases of R. parkeri have been reported in the United States since the disease was first recognized in 2004. The tick responsible for the Arizona cases [...]
It’s starting to get hot in Arizona, and that means people are heading into the water. Swimming is a great way to put a little play into your day during the summer. However, it is important to be aware that recreational water illnesses can occur even in water that appears to be clean . To increase kids’ awareness [...]
Our department receives funding from the CDC for the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant to fund several of our prevention efforts in Arizona, such as the program to reduce the number of prescription drug overdoses and deaths in the state. The block grant has provided strong support to states since the 1980s. In addition to [...]
As we age, one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our loved ones is to maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit by participating in activities that are both effective and fun. Too often, while we know that being physically, mentally, and emotionally active will add years-to- our-life, and life-to-our-years, we [...]
Public Health Licensing is celebrating a major accomplishment. The Medical Team was recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for achieving a perfect score of 100 percent on our contract deliverables. We were notified of the achievement last fall and today we are happy to receive our new certificate. Most of you know that our medical licensing [...]
May is National Trauma Awareness Month and the perfect time to highlight the real improvements made possible by our dedicated trauma stakeholders. It’s also an ideal time to discuss the continuing impact of falls in our elderly community. This year’s Trauma Awareness Month theme is “Safe Steps for Seniors," focusing on preventing falls in seniors. [...]
May 1st brought an official close to the 2016 SunWise poster contest, as the winner, Kassandra Loya, was presented before a crowd of more than 25,000 cheering fans at the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies game. The partnership of the Arizona Department of Health Services’ SunWise program with the Arizona Diamondbacks has been instrumental in [...]
Today is the start of National Nurses Week, which is a perfect time for all of us to recognize the tremendous impact nurses have on the overall health of our communities. Nurses are the cornerstone of public health that are often on the front lines of protecting health by providing immunizations and working alongside [...]
As part of our agency transformation effort, we’ve been working hard on identifying and measuring what matters in our agency so we can move towards improvement in every area. We have one of broadest missions of any agency. Just tracking all the various programs and ways we work towards our mission is an incredible task. [...]
Adolescence is a critical developmental period that can have a significant impact on a person’s life course therefore, it is essential that those working with young people are better able to understand and connect with them. This is even more important when working with youth who have experienced any form of trauma. Our Bureau of [...]
