This week, read about:

AzHHA comments on ground ambulance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

This week, AzHHA submitted comments and testified on the Arizona Department of Health Services’ ground ambulance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Why it matters: In response to concerns that many members have raised over increasing delays in interfacility transport arrival times, AzHHA has advocated for more rigorous oversight of the interfacility transportation throughout the draft rulemaking process.

What’s next: ADHS must respond to all comments before submitting the rule to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) for approval.

Latest national trends: COVID-19 down; RSV, flu up

According to the latest data from the CDC, for the week ending Saturday, Oct. 7, COVID-19 metrics declined, but cases of RSV and flu are slowly rising.

Why it matters: Hospitalizations for COVID-19, RSV and flu are projected to peak at the end of January, and the peaks may overlap.

Go deeper: For details on current trends, read this article from Becker’s Hospital Review.

Raising awareness for infection prevention

What’s new: This week is International Infection Prevention Week.

Why it matters: This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Fundamentals of Infection Prevention” which highlights getting back to the basics of infection prevention for everybody.

Help spread the word on the importance of the infection prevention basics:

Free course targets leading cause of maternal mortality

The American Heart Association has released a free two-hour accredited learning module titled “The role of cardiovascular health in maternal health.”

Why it matters: The course covers maternal cardiovascular risks and disparities to help clinicians address the leading cause of maternal mortality and improve outcomes for pregnant and recently pregnant individuals in their care.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, Oct. 26 - Sepsis in persons with limited English proficiency webinar
In this webinar, delve into the intricacies of sepsis diagnosis, treatment and care for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Cindy Hou, DO, will overview the federal right of every individual to a medical interpreter, clinical outcomes of individuals with LEP, and will provide a review of studies of sepsis in LEP. Continuing education contact hours are offered. Learn more and register.

Wednesday, Nov. 1 - AZ Community Grand Rounds
This webinar will include an overview of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Diabetes Action Plan and highlight progress of key initiatives to address diabetes in Arizona. Register now.

Thursday, Nov. 2 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Action webinar
Gain valuable insights from CDC subject matter experts and partners about how to implement effective structures and processes to improve sepsis identification, management and recovery. Register today.

Thursday, Nov. 9 - Introduction to POLST 
Join physician orders for life-sustaining treatment paradigm (POLST) for their one-hour virtual workshops equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST in Arizona. Register here.

Thursday, Nov. 16 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Tracking and reporting webinar
CDC subject matter experts and partners discuss how to measure sepsis epidemiology, outcomes, program goals and the impact of sepsis initiatives. Register now.

Saturday, Nov. 18 - Health Fair at Burton Barr Central Library
This event will offer a wide range of health services and health-related information to attendees. This program is open to all ages at no cost and is accessible to uninsured, underinsured and/or Medicare and Medicaid eligible guests. Learn more.

Thursday, Dec. 7 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Education webinar
Discover the impact of sepsis education for healthcare professionals during onboarding and as an annual refresher. Register today.

Save the date: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 - Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum 2024
Mark your calendars for the upcoming forum which will be held at the Virginia G. Piper Auditorium located at 600 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix. More details will be shared on this information page soon.

IN THE NEWS

Insurers often shortchange mental health care coverage, despite a federal law (usatoday.com)

Lawmakers are scrutinizing managed care (beckershospitalreview.com)

Healthcare worker exodus continued through 2022, new data shows (healthcaredive.com)

The mental health crisis among doctors is a problem for patients (vox.com)

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