Arizona Department of Health Services, Director’s Blog

EMTALA & Ebola

clinicianThe Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that requires hospitals that accept Medicare payments to provide emergency healthcare to anybody regardless of citizenship or immigration status or their ability to pay.  Under the law, hospitals that accept Medicare payments can’t transfer or discharge patients that […]

By | February 24th, 2015|General, Preparedness|Comments Off on EMTALA & Ebola

ADHS Community Profiles Dashboard Gets International Recognition

StatisticsOur Community Profiles Dashboard is featured this month in the ESRI News, for State & Local Government newsletter as an example of the benefits from making health date more accessible.  I’ve blogged about our Dashboard, which is a leap forward for public health professionals, city planners, non-profit […]

By | February 23rd, 2015|General|Comments Off on ADHS Community Profiles Dashboard Gets International Recognition

AzPHA Spring Conference

AZPHA_Logo_Clr-1pngRegistration is now open for the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) 2015 Spring Conference.  The conference titled: “It Starts Upstream:  A Public Health Approach to Building a Healthy Future” will be held on Thursday, April 9, at the Phoenix Zoo.

This year’s conference will feature panel discussions on the Social Determinants […]

By | February 20th, 2015|General|Comments Off on AzPHA Spring Conference

Southern AZ RBHA Procurement Protest

arnold-sarn1In mid-December (2014) we awarded contracts for the Northern and Southern regions of the state to Health Choice Integrated Care (Northern AZ) and Cenpatico Integrated Care (in Southern AZ).  On January 2nd United Healthcare filed a Protest with the ADHS for the award in Southern AZ, requesting an Emergency Stay and […]

By | February 19th, 2015|General|Comments Off on Southern AZ RBHA Procurement Protest

Coping with Stress

WStress can have a profound impact on health and affects your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior.  Symptoms like chronic headaches, insomnia, and lower productivity can be a direct result of stress.  Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can give you a jump on managing them.  Stress management is important, because, […]

By | February 18th, 2015|General|Comments Off on Coping with Stress

Ebola Interventions Working

ebolaThere has been tremendous progress in controlling Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa in the last month.  New Ebola cases have fallen sharply in the last few weeks to fewer than 100 per week.   For the week ending January 25, there were 4 new cases in Liberia, 30 in Guinea and […]

By | February 17th, 2015|Prevention|Comments Off on Ebola Interventions Working