Today we launch our new AZ Hospital Compare website which (for the first time) provides an online searchable database to help Arizonans make educated decisions about their healthcare. The new website will allow patients and their families to explore the care and outcomes, costs and charges of Arizona’s licensed hospitals. The transparency that the site provides [...]
Congratulations! You just found out you’re going to have a baby. It can be an exciting time for a family, but there’s also so much to learn. Thankfully there are free resources to help, including on your phone from Text4baby. When you sign up for Text4baby you’ll get 3 text messages a week timed to your due [...]
We got sued again this week regarding our Medical Marijuana Program. This time we’re getting sued because the Plaintiffs think that our 1-year deadline for getting a dispensary up and running is too restrictive. Basically, the Plaintiffs allege that the legal issues that have arisen in response to the White Mountain Health Center, Inc. (a [...]
Our country’s disaster preparedness system is really a matrix that starts with families and goes all the way to a coordinated federal response. In between are local first-responders, county public health and emergency management, and state public health and emergency management. But really- the real first first-responders are moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas and even kids. [...]
Every year we get reports of wild animals with bizarre behaviors like approaching people rather than running away, charging vehicles, latching on to arms of joggers and refusing to let go, even walking into a bar. In many cases, these animals are found to be rabid. Bats are usually our most frequent reservoirs for rabies in AZ… [...]
A special thanks to our team that worked the US Public Health Service’s Scientific and Training Symposium this week. Several of our staff hosted informative booths during the Symposium. A special thanks to Clarisse Tsang who hosted a break out session related to newborns and Hepatitis B. It was a special treat to have 3 Surgeon’s [...]
Earlier this week the Arizona Department of Administration issued a “Stay Order” for transition related activities connected with the transfer of our Maricopa County Behavioral Health Authority from Magellan to Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care. This isn’t uncommon during protests, and the Stay wasn’t issued on the merits of the award protest. It’s more of a [...]
This week there were about 120 home-birth enthusiasts demonstrating in front of our building for about 3 hours. The crowd was expressing their unhappiness about our draft regulations for Licensed Midwives. You might have also seen the Arizona Republic article on the demonstration. As I’ve written before, we started the process of revising the rules for [...]
A few weeks ago we were named the #1 social-media-friendly state health department in the U.S due to our robust social media presence and content including blogs, live streaming events, online forums, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, G+, Flickr and other social media environments. This week we were highlighted in the latest National Public Health Information Coalition Newsletter. [...]
Our Lab just finished a major website makeover. Check out the new Laboratory landing page which will lead you to Newborn Screening, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Lab Licensure and Certification.
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