Preparedness

/Preparedness

Items in the Preparedness category will cover everything from Emergency Medical Services to vaccination programs. This division at ADHS tracks contagious disease, coordinates emergency preparedness activity, licenses EMTs and Paramedics, regulates ambulance companies, authorizes special hospital designations like cardiac care center and Level IV trauma center, issues birth and death certificates, and tracks critical health data through various sources including hospital discharge information.

Public Health Laboratory Staff to Present its Biosafety Outreach Program Nationally

By | February 5th, 2016|Preparedness|

The Association of Public Health Laboratories, a national organization dedicated to strengthening laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the United States and globally, has requested that the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory present its biosafety outreach program in a national webinar. Arizona’s highly successful biosafety program includes a variety of activities designed to develop [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Public Health Laboratory Staff to Present its Biosafety Outreach Program Nationally

Leveraging Technology to Improve Vaccine Ordering

By | February 4th, 2016|Preparedness|

We’re always striving for ways to make routine tasks easier and more efficient so we can focus efforts on the things that matter most for the people that we serve. Over the past several years, our immunization program has been strengthening our ability to leverage electronic systems to improve vaccine practices across Arizona . Since 1995, we’ve [...]

Read More
 1

World Health Organization Declares Zika a Global Emergency

By | February 3rd, 2016|Preparedness|

If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve noticed a lot of attention on Zika virus, an emerging mosquito-borne disease that’s spreading across the Americas. As of today, no cases of Zika have been found in Arizona, but several other U.S. states are reporting cases of Zika virus in travelers returning from countries where the [...]

Read More
 1

Spreading the Word about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

By | February 2nd, 2016|Preparedness|

Our staff will be hitting the road this week, along with local and federal public health partners, to provide in-person refresher education to healthcare providers about Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These presentations include an overview of the history and epidemiology of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Arizona, clinical presentation, recommendations for diagnosis and treatment, and [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Spreading the Word about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Selected 2015 Infectious Disease Stats

By | February 1st, 2016|Preparedness|

This is the time of year when we start closing out all of our infectious disease data from the previous year. That means our epidemiology and data entry staff will be hard at work to identify potential duplicate cases, make sure reported disease cases are classified correctly and similarly between the state and local health [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Selected 2015 Infectious Disease Stats

Arizona is Prepared for Public Health Emergencies

By | January 28th, 2016|Preparedness|

Every day our staff works with local public health and healthcare partners to prepare for and respond to all kinds of public health threats. Looking back at 2015, we addressed infectious disease threats like Ebola, measles, chikungunya, and Salmonella; environmental threats like wildfires, monsoons, and floods; and potential health security threats at Superbowl XLIX. This work [...]

Read More
 1

Birth Defects Prevention Month Highlights Preconception Health

By | January 27th, 2016|Preparedness, Prevention|

Earlier this month I highlighted Folic Acid Awareness Week and PowerMeA2Z as part of National Birth Defects Prevention Month. I also want to recognize Governor Doug Ducey's proclamation declaring January 2016 as Birth Defects Prevention Month in Arizona. There are approximately 700 serious birth defects reported each year in Arizona, which are tracked by the [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Birth Defects Prevention Month Highlights Preconception Health

Targeting Children at Risk for Lead Poisoning

By | January 25th, 2016|Preparedness|

Every year children in Arizona are identified with elevated blood lead levels. Even at low levels, children's intelligence, behavior, hearing, and growth can be irreparably damaged. Most children will not have any symptoms. The only way to detect lead poisoning is through a blood test . In 2015, an estimated 432 newly identified elevated blood [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Targeting Children at Risk for Lead Poisoning

I Was Sick Today, So Will I be Infectious Tomorrow?

By | January 19th, 2016|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

It’s bad enough to be sick, but worse is the thought of passing your illness to someone else. Have you ever wondered when you’re contagious and when you’re not? Some diseases can keep people infectious for a while. For example, people with pertussis (whooping cough) can be contagious for two weeks. People with infectious tuberculosis [...]

Read More
Comments Off on I Was Sick Today, So Will I be Infectious Tomorrow?

Community Paramedicine Crosswalk Resource Posted Online

By | January 12th, 2016|Preparedness|

We are continuing our support of Arizona EMS agencies’ community paramedicine activities by posting a new Community Paramedicine Crosswalk on the Bureau of EMS and Trauma System webpage. The Community Paramedicine Crosswalk serves as a one-stop interactive resource that enables EMS agencies and county health departments to communicate and collaborate on sharing limited resources in managing public health problems. [...]

Read More
Comments Off on Community Paramedicine Crosswalk Resource Posted Online
Arizona Department of Health Services Image

Arizona Department of Health Services

150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Find us on Google Maps

General and Public Information:

Ph (602) 542-1025
Fax: (602) 542-0883

Hearing/Speech Challenges?
© 2015 - Arizona Department of Health Services