Here you will find topics ranging from current events that affect public health in Arizona to overall information about the Arizona Department of Health Services
Join the Maintain, Don’t Gain Holiday Challenge
Did you know that most of us gain between one and five pounds each holiday season? While it might not sound like much, most people never manage to lose those extra pounds. I invite you to join the Maintain, Don't Gain! Holiday Challenge. This free seven-week challenge will give you tips, tricks, and ideas to [...]
Arizona Hosts the Second Annual “Protect You and the Zoo from Flu” with Wildlife World Zoo
On Saturday November 18, ADHS and Maricopa County Department of Public Health join in a new partnership with the Wildlife World Zoo to host a free influenza vaccine clinic accompanied with outreach on disease prevention. Last year at the Phoenix Zoo, the “Protect You and the Zoo from the Flu” event was successful in allowing public health officials to [...]
We’re Celebrating National Rural Health Day
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) joins the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to commemorate the National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 16, 2017. This day is an opportunity to be informed about rural healthcare in America and to understand that Americans living in rural areas have significant health [...]
ADHS Earns Elite National Accreditation
The Arizona Department of Health Services is now a nationally accredited public health agency! This week the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) awarded our agency this prominent designation that recognizes the innovative work we do to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and transforming the quality of our statewide public health [...]
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Community Settings
Last Sunday our Healthcare-Associated Infections Program and Antimicrobial Stewardship Subcommittee members presented at the 2017 Arizona Pharmacy Association Annual Convention. Their presentation “Antimicrobial Stewardship Focused on Community Settings in Arizona: Ready For Prime-Time” was focused on the following discussions: Global initiatives to improve the use of antibiotics, including programs in the United States Importance of paying attention to antimicrobial stewardship in the [...]
Work Continues on Opioid Emergency Response
Our team has logged another week in the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) hard at work addressing Governor Ducey’s calls to action to address Arizona’s opioid epidemic. Just like last week, this week has been a busy one. This week, Governor Ducey issued an executive order to increase timely reporting of opioid-related data. This order [...]
Announcing the SunWise Poster Contest Winner
The SunWise Program held its annual presentation for the winner of the “Be SunWise & Play Sun Smart Skin Cancer Prevention Poster Contest” on Saturday, May 13 at the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. This year’s winner, Grecia Solorio (right), certainly scored a home run with her detailed and colorful poster illustration. Her [...]
Launching a Public Health Approach to Chronic Pain
Earlier this week, Governor Doug Ducey issued a public health emergency declaration that calls for a statewide effort to put an end to opioid deaths in Arizona. The Governor declared the need for immediate action as the number of opioid overdoses and deaths increase at an alarming rate. Last week, we released the 2016 Opioid [...]