Evidence-Based Decision-Making: A Key Regulatory Benchmark
The role of a surveyor can be a difficult one. Our team of licensing surveyors need to maintain neutrality as regulators and be able to apply the Arizona Administrative Code (otherwise known as “the rules”) to a wide variety of facilities within the healthcare system. Part of our surveillance includes investigating complaints- which can be generated from an array of internal and [...]
Ending Hunger One Plate at a Time!
Did you know that 19.6% of people in Arizona live in poverty, and 1 in 5 households are unable to afford to buy food for their families It doesn't help that one of the places people turn to for help, St. Mary's Food Bank, reports that it has 40% less food on the shelves to help peoplethis year. There are [...]
First Dispensary
Our team just returned from a field inspection for a dispensary applicant in Glendale. There were no major deficiencies, and we awarded the dispensary an “approval to operate” late this afternoon. This is the first dispensary approval to operate we’ve issued in the State. By law, we’re not allowed to publicly disclose the address. The fact that a dispensary is [...]
The Great American Smokeout
Today is the 37th Annual Great American Smokeout®. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the annual event challenges smokers to start the quit process by joining thousands of other Americans in quitting for the day. The thought being - if you can quit for a day, you can quit for life. Across the state the Arizona Smokers Helpline – or ASHLine [...]
Tobacco Use & the Target Market
One of the things you learn in business school is the importance of using the concept of a “target market” as a core of your business marketing plan. That’s what we do when it comes to tobacco cessation. We examine our tobacco surveillance data and look at demographic patterns for target populations and look for the leverage points to develop our [...]
Annual report looks at why are Arizona’s children are dying
A child’s death is a tragedy, not only for family and friends but also for the community as a whole. Unfortunately, over 2 children die each day in Arizona. In 2011, 837 children died. This was a decline from 2010 when 862 children died. In fact, since 2005, Arizona has seen a decline in child deaths of almost 29%. Child [...]