Bite the Bullet
Maybe you’ve read or heard about my experience with my colonoscopy when I turned 50 (OK, I was 51). For years doctors have recommended getting a colonoscopy when you turn 50. If doctors see something unusual like a polyp, they can remove it while they're in there - which is what happened to me. But until this week there wasn't rock solid research [...]
Behavioral Health Care Licensing Web Refresh
Our Office of Behavioral Health Licensing website has a brand-new look. Check out their new landing page. Everyone can now enjoy an updated and easy to use web format. The new site includes easy access to AZ Care Check (where the user can get up to date survey and enforcement results for a 3 year history)... and you’re one click away from [...]
For the Modern AZ Mom
Please join us in encouraging pregnant women and new moms to sign up for Text4baby. Text4baby is a program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition that provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them give their babies the best possible start in life. Text4baby is the country’s first free, health education program using text messages. Participating national [...]
Peer & Family Behavioral Health Report
We recently held a series of focus groups and interviews to obtain input from persons with Serious Mental Illnesses (peers) and their family members regarding the integration of physical healthcare and behavioral healthcare services in partnership with St. Luke’s Health Initiative and AHCCCS, and several behavioral health peer-run organizations and peer and family members. The full report is now available [...]
Ink Dry on Final Revised Medical Marijuana Rules
As you know from earlier blog posts a judge ruled in a state case that had challenged our dispensary applicant selection criteria. The judge’s decision basically struck down several of the selection criteria we had been planning to use to for competitive areas of the state (areas where there will be more than 1 applicant per Community Health Analysis Area). [...]
Milk Research & Policy Change Cuts 7B Calories a Year in AZ
Congrats to our Women Infant & Children’s program who did some research and implemented some simple policy changes that reduced the consumption of 7 Billion calories annually in AZ. How? After we did a little research, we came up with a way to change our WIC policy... convincing people to replace whole milk with 1% or fat free milk (for kids over 2). The policy [...]