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
Ok.. here's a quiz. One of the lists below represents the most commonly ordered foods at the Olympic Village by the athletes in London. The other list is the list of most commonly purchased foods in the US by normal consumers (by dollar value). Can you match the list to the right cohort? List [...]
We’re celebrating the 1st birthday of the our Home Baked and Confectionary Goods program this week. So far, we’ve signed up more than 1,400 participants. Over the past year, we’ve finalized our rules for the program and produced an educational video. The participants are making a variety of home baked goods ranging from gluten-free baked [...]
Last year HB 2036, which relates to abortions in AZ, was passed and signed. There are a host of changes that the new law makes- and many of the provisions kick in at different times. The first things that we’re responsible for (beginning August 2nd) include providing an informed consent form for unemancipated minors that are seeking [...]
Lots of risk factors contribute to health disparities… and many of the risk factors are called "social determinants of health." A couple of months ago we (with our community partners), launched the Social Determinants of Health educational series to boost professional development and program planning so Arizona’s public health team can better address health equity [...]
On October 24, 2012—and on the days and weeks before and after—thousands of Americans will gather in schools, college campuses, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals to talk about what's right and wrong with our diets and whole food system and how to fix them. Food Day unites people from all walks of life—parents, teachers, [...]
Most of the applicants for medical marijuana registration certificates have been able to correct deficiencies in their applications… and 460 of the 486 applications we received are now complete. Five applications have been withdrawn, 3 have been denied, 15 are pending, and 3 are on the clock to respond to requests for additional information. The complete applications are [...]
The voter approved list of conditions that already qualify patients for an AZ Medical Marijuana Registration Card (with a doctor’s certification) includes any of the following: any chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition (or its treatment) that causes severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, severe and persistent muscle spasms, wasting, or seizures, cancer, glaucoma, HIV, Hepatitis [...]
As I mentioned in my previous post, scientific studies (e.g. experimental v. observational design) have different strengths and weaknesses. Sources of evidence range from case reports at the lower end to well-designed large randomized experimental clinical studies that minimize bias. Relying on poor quality evidence can lead to policy decisions that aren't in patients’ best interests- and it's super important [...]
Medicine and public health have relied on peer-reviewed published scientific literature to help guide progress in patient treatment and public health interventions for decades- even centuries. For example, when we did the fact-finding to inform our decision about whether to add the petitioned conditions to the list of disorders that qualify for AZ medical marijuana cards- [...]
We’re committed to reducing substance abuse in Arizona and we’re consistently reminding the public to get rid of old medication to reduce the number of unintentional poisonings. With more Arizonans dying every year from misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers than car crashes- it's more important than ever to educate health care providers... so we’re hosting a forum to discuss this [...]
