General

/General

Here you will find topics ranging from current events that affect public health in Arizona to overall information about the Arizona Department of Health Services

Flu Down Under

By | August 4th, 2011|General|

This is the time of year that public health folks start watching the flu reports from the southern hemisphere.  We’re watching for a couple of things – the circulating strains and how it’s spreading.  The Australian Government Department of Health is reporting 6 times as many cases as they had at this time last season.  [...]

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Integrated Care Resource

By | August 3rd, 2011|General|

We’ve probably all heard the saying “life happens”, right?  Sometimes our lives get really complicated with work, bills, family demands and other stress that makes our ability to cope day to day challenging.  This kind of increased stress over time can take a toll on our minds and bodies, so we head off to the [...]

Tattoo You?

By | August 2nd, 2011|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

Regardless of what you think about tattooing and body piercing- it’s clearly popular.  Tattooing and body piercing are obviously invasive- which brings up the question: do these (now common) practices pose a health threat? Are they safe?  The answer is simple.  Like just about everything else in life- it can be safe as long as [...]

Welcome Our New Teammates

By | August 1st, 2011|General, Preparedness|

Please join me in welcoming three folks from the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission to the ADHS team today.  The Legislature and Governor made a statutory change last cycle that moved the Commission to us, and their mission is a good fit.  The Commission basically awards contracts for projects researching the causes, epidemiology and diagnosis, formulation [...]

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Assisted Living Team Makes a Difference

By | July 26th, 2011|General, Licensing|

A survey team from our assisted living office went into an Assisted Living Center in Mesa in response to multiple complaints and concerns from family, residents and from the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) providers last December.   As a result of the four day inspection, the facility was put on a provisional license pending [...]

FDA Approves Vaccines for the 2011-2012 Influenza Season

By | July 25th, 2011|General, Prevention|

The FDA approved the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine this week. The strains in this year’s vaccine were recommended by the CDC and the World Healthy Organization after studying virus samples collected from around the world to find the influenza viruses that are the most likely to cause illness during the upcoming flu season.  The strains selected [...]

Cinco Pasos

By | July 22nd, 2011|General, Prevention|

The next time you’re in Mexico- keep your eye out for their “Cinco Pasos” wellness program.  The federal secretary of health and each of the state health departments in Mexico are actively participating in the new wellness campaign.  It’s an easy-to-understand 5-step program that encourages their citizens to take simple steps to improve their health [...]

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U of A & Maricopa Integrated Health System’s New Partnership

By | July 21st, 2011|General|

June was a milestone for the future of medicine in Arizona.  Maricopa Integrated Health Services (MIHS), the District Medical Group (DMG) and the University of Arizona School of Medicine Phoenix Campus joined forces to enhance medical education in AZ.  MIHS will be the primary training and teaching hospital for the students at UA Phoenix medical campus.  [...]

Break Out Your Favorite Healthy Recipe, Arizona!

By | July 20th, 2011|General|

We’re excited to roll out the new cottage industry food law . You can see the new statute at A.R.S. 36-136(H)(4)(g).   It’ll provide self-employment opportunities to folks that might not otherwise be able to find work and for supplemental income for others that have a great recipe.  The new law allows folks to bake food (not considered “potentially [...]