Summer Rabies Update: Rabies & Skunks
2014 has already proven to be a very active year for rabies in Arizona. So far this year, there have been 70 animals reported positive for rabies. Last year at this time there were 40 animals reported positive. We’re seeing an especially high number of rabid skunks this year. 39 skunks have been reported so far, all of them coming [...]
AZ’s Sliding Fee Scale Healthcare Clinic Finder
Arizonans who don’t have health insurance still a way of getting affordable healthcare at one of Arizona’s 354 Sliding Fee Schedule health clinics. These clinics offer discounted fees for services to persons without health insurance. Our Bureau of Health Systems Development just updated the current list of primary care, dental or behavioral healthcare providers by building a web-based map and [...]
Successful Infectious Disease Prevention Conference
Last week we wrapped up our 5th annual Arizona Infectious Disease Training and Exercise. This event kicked off with a full day pandemic influenza tabletop exercise followed by two days of training on a variety of infectious disease topics. The 400 registrants – public health folks, infection preventionists, healthcare providers, academic partners, and others – learned about things like healthcare associated [...]
Ebola Health Advisory Issued
The CDC issued a health advisory today regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa underscoring the potential for travel-associated spread of the disease and the risks to healthcare workers in the area. The possibility of infected persons entering the US from the ourbreak area is still low - but the CDC also provided guidance to clinicians on evaluating patients. Here's the CDC's Ebola Update [...]
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders
You’ve probably read about how we are working on the Arizona Health Improvement Plan to help us all live a better, healthier and longer life. But one of the most important things we can do as today’s leaders is to inspire tomorrow’s leaders. I had the opportunity to meet Cody Vasquez this week – he’s the Arizona winner of the [...]
Dramatic Results from AZ’s Cardiac Arrest Receiving Center Initiative
A few years ago our Bureau of EMS & Trauma System enticed dozens of AZ hospitals to become a Cardiac Receiving Centers. The initiative helps hospitals provide treatments scientifically proven to improve a patient’s survival rate (like using therapeutic hypothermia to improve the chances of survival). The program also includes protocols for the pre-hospital teams (EMTs & Paramedics) to evaluate [...]