Infection Prevention in AZ
Healthcare-associated infections claim more lives in Arizona every year than auto accidents or influenza. Surprised? That’s why the Governor issued a proclamation making this week as Infection Prevention week in Arizona- providing us with an opportunity to call attention to one of the CDC’s Winnable Battles- defeating Healthcare-Associated Infections. We had a news conference (along with hospital partners) this week to [...]
Licensing and the Arizona Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
The Licensing Division, Office of Medical Facilities recently presented extensive technical assistance during the Arizona Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Fall Conference this month. Staff from the Licensing Division including Tucson and Phoenix Surveyors as well as Life Safety Code Surveyors and State Architects provided information to about 180 participants. Topics included the state of current regulatory compliance of the state [...]
Teen Pregnancy Interventions
Preventing teen pregnancies could save Arizona more than $180M/year. Teen mothers face higher rates of preterm birth, and their kids have higher rates of low birth weight and infant death. Compared to women who delay childbearing until the age of 20 to 21 years, teenage moms are more likely to drop out of high school and to be and remain single parents. [...]
Hospital Potpourri
The State Hospital folks have been very generous with their clothing donations to ICM as part of our SECC campaign. In one week our Hospital folks donated a completely full pickup load of clothes etc. that went to ICM for distribution to needy folks. Awesome job- thanks. I also had an opportunity to do a walk through of the new [...]
Cannabis Cultivation- Post Prop. 203
Where would the inventory come from if Proposition 203 (the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act) passes? As near as I can tell… it could come from at least 3 places: enclosed cultivation facilities associated with dispensaries; enclosed cultivation facilities operated by caregivers on behalf of cardholders, if the people they care for live 25 miles from the nearest dispensary; or in [...]
Cimex lectularius & You (aka Bed Bugs & You)
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) haven’t really been a problem in AZ for the last few decades. Sure, we’ve had reports of bed bug infestations, but they’ve mostly been limited to areas around the Grand Canyon where lots of international travelers come and go toting their sleeping bags. After all, bed bugs are basically hitch-hikers, so it makes sense that they’d [...]