In 2013 the Oklahoma State Department of Health was notified of a potential hepatitis outbreak associated with poor infection prevention practices in a dental office in Tulsa. This spurred testing of more than 4,000 patients who could have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV. When the investigation concluded, it marked the first documented spread of [...]
Flu season started early this year with Arizona reporting the first locally acquired flu cases last week. You’ve probably seen or heard messages encouraging you to get a flu shot. That’s because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect in your system, so we want to be sure you are protected [...]
We received notification this week from the Joint Commission that the Arizona State Hospital will continue to be accredited for all hospital services through October 2017. The acknowledgement confirms the state hospital is meeting standards above and beyond general patient care. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies health care organizations in the United States. Accreditation [...]
A recent review in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that a pregnant woman’s folate status in early pregnancy may alter the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in her child. Recognizing that ASD is “complex, heterogeneous, and multi-causal,” researchers wanted to look at environmental aspects to find possible causes of ASD. They found that [...]
Across the country domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 15-44. In Arizona last year, 109 individuals and four dogs lost their lives to domestic violence. During the first five months of 2015, there have been 40 documented domestic violence related deaths. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter what [...]
Our partnership building skills were highlighted at the United States Conference on AIDS on September 13, in Washington, D.C. Our Office of Disease Integration and Services, HIV Prevention Program, and Maricopa County Ryan White Part A Program were selected from a pool of a thousand applicants to facilitate a three hour workshop “Thrown Under the [...]
Every year our Environmental Toxicology program responds to environmental health concerns and provides communities with epidemiologic and toxicological health assessments. Recently a community member from the town of Superior brought up concerns that contamination from past mining activities could be affecting the health of residents. Superior is a small mining town with a population of [...]
Newborn Screening month wraps up at the end of September and has served as a time to recognize the great strides we’ve made in screening babies born in Arizona. Arizona joins 36 other states in implementing a new test for critical congenital heart defect in newborns this year. Newborns in Arizona now have access to [...]
People with a serious mental illness have increased mortality that is largely from treatable medical conditions caused by risk factors like smoking, obesity, substance abuse, and not accessing primary and acute medical care. Research demonstrates that outcomes are improved for individuals with a serious mental illness when their whole health care, both physical and behavioral, [...]
The Childhood Lead Program team: Brigitte Dufour, Amber Asburry, Melissa Tegarden and Stephen Grieco-Shapiro Every year the Arizona Public Health Association presents the Health Education Media Maker Yearly (HEMMY) Award to recognize achievements in health education. I’m happy to announce that our Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and our Diabetes Program both won first place awards. [...]
