Arizona’s been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures and a slow-to-start monsoon season. We’ve seen Excessive Heat Warnings in every county and Phoenix specifically is experiencing a record- breaking summer, with more than 26 consecutive days of 110+ degree weather so far (and it’s only July!) It’s vital to stay cool and hydrated in this heat and [...]
Oversight of the nearly 1,800 licenses associated with the funeral industry in Arizona have transitioned to ADHS. In June, the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers joined our agency and we have since launched the new Funeral Services Licensing section to support the oversight role, which includes licensing and regulation. The public can [...]
We are currently working on updating Arizona’s ambulance rules to align with House Bill 2609 and new statutory requirements that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. These new requirements create standard principles for the ambulance industry across the state, including response time standards and tracking and improving patient care. ADHS began the process of [...]
This week rules were approved to allow Arizona patients 18 years old and older to access contraceptives at their local pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription. A standing order allows pharmacists to provide patients with needed birth control including hormonal contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, and oral contraceptives. Arizona joins more than 20 other states that have [...]
While it may feel like summer is just kicking off, the monsoon season has officially started and that means some safety measures should be mixed in with your summer fun. What is the North American Monsoon? The monsoon involves changes in seasonal winds that can cause extreme weather conditions including extreme heat, dust storms, sudden [...]
For reasons that aren't always clear, men simply don't go to the doctor as often as women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women visit their healthcare provider 40% more often than men. That may be an explanation for what the Washington Post recently called a "silent crisis in men's health." Data [...]
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is offering free lead screening of drinking water fixtures and faucets for Arizona schools and child care facilities as part of a nationwide program that was established by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADHS received about [...]
Sheila Holmen always had a calling to be a nurse. "I knew that I wanted to be a nurse at a very young age," said Holmen, a psychiatric nurse at the Arizona State Hospital (ASH). "It's not something that I can really explain or understand, it is just something that's inside of you. I had [...]
In September 2019, the Arizona Auditor General (AZAG) published the Performance Audit and Sunset Review (2019 Report) for the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). The 2019 Report included the AZAG’s findings related to how ADHS handled complaints for long-term care (LTC) facilities in 2017 and 2018, and five recommendations to improve the complaint process. [...]
In Part 1 of our Licensing blog series, we shared what a sober living home (SLH) actually is. We also explained other types of homes that are often confused for sober living homes, including behavioral health residential facilities (BHRF), which are also licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). In this installment of [...]
