General – Page 57 – AZ Dept. of Health Services News

Influenza Still Increasing in AZ

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:45-07:00January 25th, 2013|General|

Yesterday afternoon's weekly flu report shows that influenza is still circulating widely in AZ... with a steep increase in the last couple of weeks. The strain that’s circulating is mostly Type A - H3N2 which can be more severe than the 2009 H1N1, especially for seniors. There are plenty of B strains going around too. But you can still find [...]

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New M2 Petitions on Horizon Again

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:45-07:00January 23rd, 2013|General|

Last January we accepted petitions from the public to add PTSD 1; PTSD 2; Depression; Migraines; and Generalized Anxiety Disorder to the list of conditions that qualify patients to receive a Medical Marijuana Registration Card. Because my guiding principle for making the decision was to use science and research to make the decision, we contracted with the U of [...]

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Mental Health First Aid Hits National Stage

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:46-07:00January 17th, 2013|Behavioral Health, General|

Mental Health First Aid reached the national stage this week in the Presidents message. This week’s Now is the Time document developed by the Fed’s advocates expanding Mental Health First Aid Training for teachers and adults who work with kids. The proposal also includes funding to help identified children and teens find treatment if they [...]

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New Year, New MEDSIS

By Will Humble|2013-01-14T10:08:41-07:00January 14th, 2013|General|

Over the past two years, folks in ITS and Epidemiology and Disease Control have been working together to enhance our state’s electronic communicable disease surveillance system called MEDSIS. This week the new version of MEDSIS went live. Major enhancements include the integration of tuberculosis reporting, case management and surveillance; expanded case management capabilities for all diseases; [...]

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Influenza Going Gangbusters in US and AZ

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:47-07:00January 10th, 2013|General, Licensing, Prevention|

During the 2009- 2010 influenza pandemic, we saw how influenza can be unpredictable in terms of who it affects most, when it occurs, and what strains will circulate. This season is no exception. While the circulating strains are exactly what we predicted, the peak of the flu season is hitting earlier than usual (now) and it's [...]

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Finding Free or Low-Cost Clinics

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:47-07:00January 9th, 2013|General|

Our team at the Bureau of Health Systems Development recently posted a new interactive website to help people easily locate a clinic that provides free or low cost primary, mental and dental health services to people without health insurance. These Sliding Fee Schedule clinics determine, based on gross family income, the portion of billed charges [...]

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Integrated Care Responses On Deck

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:47-07:00January 8th, 2013|General|

We all need to take care of both our physical and behavioral health needs in order to be healthy. The mind and body aren't separated- and neither should the health-care delivery system- especially for folks with a serious mental illness. Folks with a serious mental illness die more than 25 years earlier than the general [...]

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Valley Fever Season Peaking

By Will Humble|2013-01-08T08:38:31-07:00January 8th, 2013|General|

Valley Fever typically peaks in late fall and early winter with a minor peak from June to August (refer to the 2007-2011 Valley Fever Report). Those who've been in Arizona for a while may know that Valley Fever is a lung infection caused by a fungus that is common in the soil here. In most cases, [...]

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Medical Marijuana Continuing Medical Education

By Will Humble|2012-12-27T09:51:10-07:00December 27th, 2012|General|

We’ve been processing Medical Marijuana Registration Cards for about a year and a half now. One of our primary goals from the start has been to try to build a true medical marijuana program. One of the keys is setting clear expectations for clinical assessment and medical record review by physicians before they sign a medical marijuana [...]

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New Electronic Birth Certificate ‘Round the Corner

By Will Humble|2017-02-10T09:50:47-07:00December 26th, 2012|General|

Our Vital Records shop does a lot more than manage the State’s birth and death certificate system (which we’ve been doing since 1885). We’re also an integral part of the Nation’s Vital Statistics System, which serves as the backbone of national data sharing in public health. The data collected under the National Vital Statistics System works [...]

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