Buggy Infant Formula
Certain “Similac®” powdered baby formulas were recalled this week by the manufacturer (Abbott Labs) because they discovered there were bugs (beetles) in the formula from one of their manufacturing plants. According to the FDA (who regulates foods including formula), the formula that contains beetles doesn’t pose an immediate health risk but babies that drink it could get stomach aches and [...]
ADHS Scores Electronic Medical Records Grant
ADHS just scored a $1.3M grant for “enhancing the interoperability of electronic health records and immunization information systems”. This grant allows us to accelerate work with public and private health care provider offices and Electronic Health Record vendors to develop interfaces for the automated vaccination data to the Arizona State Immunization Information System (ASIIS). These electronic interfaces will minimize data [...]
Licensing Customer Service
Our Office of Assisted Living Licensure has developed several classes to help assisted living providers to better follow our quality assurance rules for assisted living facilities. Over the past year, surveyors have presented monthly classes on Medication Rules and a refresher class on the Administration of Medications for caregivers and managers. A new presentation on the rules for Service Plans is being offered [...]
ADHS Aces the 2010 Strategic National Stockpile Test
The Strategic National Stockpile is a national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items which are stored in a few locations around the country. The stockpile is designed to supplement public health agencies in case there’s a national emergency anywhere and at anytime within the U.S. or its territories. At the [...]
Spotlight: Newborn Screening
Last year Arizona welcomed about 98,000 newborns to our world. Our Newborn Screening Program (in the State Laboratory) ensures that each newborn is tested for 28 inherited disorders and hearing problems. The goal is to help kids avoid illness, developmental delays and even death. Teamwork, communication and coordination are to critical in making this program effective, thus benefiting both newborns [...]
Crash Deaths Down in Arizona & Across the US
In Arizona, we’ve been able to decrease the rate of deaths from car, truck and motorcycle crashes by 43% in the last 4 years, from about 19 deaths per 100,000 in 2005 to 11 per 100,000 Arizonans in 2009. While this is good progress, we still have a long way to go. Crashes are still the leading cause of death [...]