General – Page 46 – AZ Dept. of Health Services News

50 Years of Newborn Screening

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:07-07:00September 29th, 2013|General, Newborn Screening, Preparedness|

The first newborn screening test was developed in 1963 by Dr. Robert Guthrie to test for phenylketonuria, commonly known as PKU. Since then, scientists have developed more tests to screen newborns for a variety of severe conditions. This year, the nation celebrates 50 Years of Newborn Screening. The State of Arizona currently screens for 29 [...]

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E-cigarettes and Teens

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:07-07:00September 27th, 2013|General|

E-cigarettes have been a huge topic of discussion in the tobacco control industry and in public health over the past few years. While containing no actual tobacco, they do contain nicotine, are flavored and require the user to emulate the act of smoking. The CDC recently released a study showing that e-cigarette use has doubled [...]

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ADHS Web Resource Showcases General Plans Around AZ

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:07-07:00September 26th, 2013|General|

Where you live impacts your health. General and Comprehensive Plans guide the big picture vision for how the community should take shape for the future. We know that to achieve the goals we’ve set out in our Strategic Map, planning must include community health. Working collaboratively with others, we're finding ways to support healthy behavior, such [...]

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Bad Bugs, No Drugs?

By azdhs-admin|2017-02-10T09:50:08-07:00September 23rd, 2013|General|

CDC released a report this week about antibiotic resistance. They found that more than 2 million people in the US get sick every year from germs that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die from these infections. The report also found that up to half of antibiotic use in people is unnecessary [...]

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2013 State Health Officer’s Meeting

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:08-07:00September 21st, 2013|General|

This has been an excellent week to learn what others in my position are doing across the country. All the state health directors met in Florida this week to look ahead and strategize about the coming year’s goals. I’m always proud when our award-winning programs are highlighted, but it’s a great opportunity to talk to [...]

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Help & Advice for New Parents at Home

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:08-07:00September 20th, 2013|General|

Guest blog by Mary Ellen Cunningham, Bureau of Women's and Children's Health All new parents have experienced a version of this thought when they bring home their helpless, tiny newborn: “I have no idea what I am doing.” We also know now how terribly important those first years are for baby. The brain development in [...]

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Dengue Fever: An Emerging Sonoran Desert Threat?

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:09-07:00September 18th, 2013|General|

In the summer of 1994 a U of A entomologist was sampling insects in the backyard of his Tucson home when he netted some dark colored mosquitoes with silver bands on their legs. He suspected that they were a tropical breed that shouldn’t be in the Sonoran Desert and sent them to us for identification. His suspicions [...]

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“No Place Like Home” Conference

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:09-07:00September 12th, 2013|General|

In early 2012, Arizona set the ambitious goal of reducing the statewide hospital readmission rate by 20% and averting 4,000 avoidable hospital readmissions. Curious to find out what we accomplished by working together? Interested in learning about extraordinary best practices from all provider settings that may take your organization from ordinary to extraordinary? Would you [...]

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Hospital Associated Infection Report

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:09-07:00September 11th, 2013|General|

The 5 most common hospital-acquired infections cost the U.S. health care system almost $10B a year, according to a new study by Harvard researchers. The study was published online in JAMA Internal Medicine this week. According to CDC, one out of every 20 patients admitted to a hospital will pick up an infection while there. Central [...]

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What’s Sarin Gas?

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:09-07:00September 10th, 2013|General|

Acetylcholine is a chemical in your body called a neurotransmitter that allows nerves to communicate with other nerves, glands, and muscles. It works in your body in tandem with acetylcholinesterase, which is the enzyme used to break down the acytylcholine. It's like a tennis volley... the two chemicals work hand in hand to keep your nerves operating right. [...]

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