Newborn Screening social worker: ‘It’s an opportunity to really make a difference’
Every child born in Arizona gets a test that draws five drops of blood from the heel. Those samples come to the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory to screen for rare medical conditions. Each of these conditions can be treated, but parents need to get the information promptly. That's where Fran Altmaier comes in. As Health Program Administrator in the [...]
Collaborating to improve public health for everyone statewide
If you browse this website, one of the things you're certain to see is data. Lots of data. You'll not only see how many cases of influenza have been reported, but how many in each county. We even have the number of babies born each year (about 80,000). Like everything else we do at ADHS, the data we collect and [...]
ADHS Vital Records team helps get adoptions off to a strong start
On a beautiful Saturday morning recently, more than 100 Arizona foster children began their new lives when they were adopted by loving families. A team from the ADHS Bureau of Vital Records was there to help. Maricopa County Superior Court’s National Adoption Day was part of a nationwide event held each year to raise awareness about foster children who are [...]
Safe and highly effective COVID-19 protection is available, so get boosted for the holidays
COVID-19 deaths remain well below what Arizona has seen during major surges, but the 71 deaths added in today's weekly dashboard update are a grim reminder that COVID-19 is still present and taking lives. I mention this to help highlight some very positive news also added to our dashboard: During October, Arizonans who had received the updated Omicron booster were [...]
Social workers connect Arizona State Hospital patients with community
The Arizona State Hospital (ASH) connects patients with more than highly trained professionals dedicated to providing quality care. It provides a bridge to the community that helps patients continue their wellness journey after they're discharged from the hospital. That's where psychiatric social workers like Gabriela Reyes come in. Reyes and other social workers not only provide services to patients throughout [...]
Annual vaccine can still protect you against influenza this year
No one wants to experience the fever, cough, and body aches that often come with influenza. That's especially true with the holiday season quickly approaching. The good news: You can still get the 2022-23 influenza vaccine for protection against the flu this year. Arizona is experiencing a busy flu season so far. Since the season began in October, there have [...]