Early this morning the computer data center that we use for ADHS programs lost power. When this happens, all those systems like the birth and death certificate system, the Women, Infant and Children's system and the medical marijuana system are not available until the power is restored and we can bring them back online. Fixing the [...]
National Immunization Awareness Month gives us a great opportunity to talk about the need to improve national immunization coverage levels. Vaccine-preventable diseases are becoming increasingly rare in the US because vaccines are effective, but that doesn’t mean we should stop vaccinating. Even though most infants and toddlers have received all recommended vaccines by age 2, there [...]
State law directs us to produce several reports each year to help the public know what’s happening in the state and to help with public policy development. One of the more recently required reports is an annual report on abortion. This is the 3rd year we’ve published our annual Abortion Surveillance Report. This year's report found that there was a [...]
Operating any type of medical or behavioral health facility is a balancing act. It’s especially delicate at the Arizona State Hospital because we deal with patients who suffer from the most severe symptoms of mental illness. Treatment practices at ASH has changed through the years to reflect contemporary approaches. Decades ago, people with mental illness were heavily medicated [...]
Back to school time brings thoughts of new school supplies, backpacks, clothing, doctor's visits and immunizations. It’s also time for a dental exam and preventive care. The American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics urge parents to schedule a dental examination before the school year starts. A visit to the dentist now can help assure [...]
Have you ever pulled into your kids’ turn-around ducking and dodging as families franticly drop off their kids? An easy way to combat that morning rush-out-the-door is by walking to school as a family. It’s an opportunity for kids and their parents to bond and get in some physical activity to boot. If enough families [...]
Earlier this week the Rural/Metro Corporation (a large provider of private ambulance in Arizona) announced that it had filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Company announced that the bankruptcy action will allow the company to… “significantly reduce its debt, renegotiate unprofitable contracts and free [...]
Back-to-school time means that a new bolus of high-schoolers that got their license over the summer are hitting the streets for the first time during the school year. All the data suggests that the first year of driving is an especially important time for skill development. Fortunately, our State has a “Graduated Drivers License” law to [...]
Not so long ago (actually a long time ago) when I was a student I was bummed when it was back to school time. Now as a parent… I can’t wait. This year we thought we’d pull together a hub website for parents and grandparents to find resources and information with helpful hints about the [...]
In May the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) issued a “Stay Order” for the planned transfer of our Maricopa County Behavioral Health Authority from Magellan to Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care. In June the ADOA decided to ask the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct an official hearing regarding the October 1 contract award. This week, [...]
