Late Monday, an Administrative Law Judge issued an Order recommending that I approve American Medical Response of Maricopa’s (AMR) application to operate ambulances (certificate of necessity or CON) in all of Maricopa County. We regulate ambulance services differently than most states. In order to operate an ambulance here the applicant needs to meet a number [...]
Community Integrated Paramedicine programs are coming together in two primary business models in Arizona. The first one has EMS (emergency medical services) agencies partnering with hospitals to reduce the frequency that patients are re-admitted to hospitals. In the second, EMS agencies are cultivating social service referrals to reduce the frequency that folks use emergency departments [...]
The University of Arizona Health Network joined the Maricopa Integrated Health System last week by committing to become an Infectious Disease Treatment Center of Excellence. By recognizing MIHS and UAHN as Infectious Disease Treatment Centers of Excellence, Arizona will be better able to: 1) develop a seamless infectious disease response plan as new infectious diseases emerge; [...]
Last week we published our Agency’s most popular annual report. It’s called the 2013 Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics Report. Last year’s version got 2,000,000 hits! It gives our most granular public health information of the year including refined health statistics on pregnancies, births, reportable diseases, deaths, inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room visits, marriages, divorces [...]
For the last several years global public health has been coming down the home-stretch to eradicate Polio from the globe - making it the 3rd infectious disease to be eliminated - joining smallpox and rinderpest. Polio incidence has dropped 99% in the last 20 years…going from 350,000 cases in 1988 to only 279 cases so [...]
Americans eat about one-third of their calories away from home - meaning that consumer information at restaurants are an important piece of information that folks need in order to make good choices. This week, the FDA took a big step that will eventually provide the public with information when they eat out. The new rules [...]
Last week we proudly released new Arizona Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Arizona clinicians. They’re a voluntary, consensus set of principles and best practices for prescribing opioids. The Guidelines were built using the expertise of practitioners from across Arizona including representatives from professional associations, health plans, academic institutions, federal healthcare providers, and many others. The new guidelines [...]
On October 21 Governor Brewer issued Executive Order 2014-08 establishing the Council on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. The Council was charged with developing and implementing a coordinated comprehensive plan to ensure Arizona's public health infrastructure is prepared for the potential outbreak of infectious diseases, such as the Ebola virus, influenza, enterovirus, tuberculosis, and other [...]
A couple months back, I sent a note to staff letting you know about an opportunity to help out kids in our hood…students at Capitol Elementary School. Several of you volunteered and will be tutoring the kids a couple days a week in math and reading. As Winston Churchill said:, “We make a living by [...]
The holiday season can be challenging if you're trying to eat healthy and limit sodium. Fortunately, you don't have to give up all of your favorite dishes in the name of heart health. Be sure to check out these six tips for a healthier Thanksgiving. Also, click here to visit the Million Hearts Healthy Eating [...]
