AZ Trauma System Continues to Mature
I've often written about the importance of a mature trauma system and how it's important to the rural/tribal areas of Arizona for better access to care for injured patients. Since my last blog on trauma, we've welcomed Banner Del Webb Medical Center, Payson Regional Medical Center, Mt. Graham Medical Center, and Yavapai Regional Medical Center as Level IV trauma centers. Chandler Regional Medical [...]
Arizona State Hospital In Good Standing
Last September the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) was inspected (surveyed) for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The survey team can review over 20 different areas and three were identified that we needed to address: Governing Body, Patient Rights, and Nursing Services. In December, we developed and implemented a Plan of Correction which was submitted to CMS. Some [...]
This Week’s Lawsuit
We were sued this week by a group of same-gender couples in Arizona- challenging Arizona's ban on gay marriage. The lawsuit challenges Arizona's marriage criteria which excludes same-gender couples from marriage. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix by seven same-gender couples and two people whose partners had died. We haven't analyzed all of the details of [...]
Improving Arizona’s Birth Outcomes
Arizona ranks in the middle of the pack in infant mortality. We’re doing many things right to improve the health of our babies- but we have a way to go. Last fall we participated in a learning collaborative sponsored by the National Governors Association. About 160 folks met to begin the process developing a statewide plan. They included physicians, public [...]
Weigh in on Arizona’s Maternal & Child Health Block Grant
Our Women’s and Children’s Health team administers the AZ federal maternal Child Health Block Grant. This grant is authorized through Title V of the Social Security Act and has been in place since 1935. Every 5 years we look at the health and well-being of Arizona’s women and children and develop our top priorities based on identified needs. We’re getting [...]
Planned Parenthood v. Humble
We were served Wednesday with a lawsuit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from our new Abortion Clinic Regulations that are scheduled to go into effect on April 1. The new regulations were in response to HB 2036, which was passed and signed during the 2012 legislative session… tasking us with several things related to the regulation of abortions. Among them was a requirement [...]