ACT Health Fair - WE NEED YOU!
Aug 19 2008

THANKS TO ALL THAT HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED, WE'RE NEARLY HALFWAY THERE...BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!  THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1, 2008!

Thousands of underprivileged kids are given a better chance at life through the ACT Head Start Health Fair. The Medical Society along with a variety of other agencies will hold the one-day health screening at the Phoenix Preparatory Academy on Saturday – September 20, 2008. The Society needs 50 physician, physician assistant and nurse practitioner volunteers; 20-30 medical volunteers and 35-45 non-medical volunteers to help with this very worthwhile project. Three shifts are available to physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners – 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, 11:45 am to 3:30 pm, and an all day shift. Others are required to serve for the entire event (7:00 am – 3:30 pm), due to the training involved. All Volunteers will be asked to stay for their entire shift. A free lunch will be included.

Portions of the exam can only be performed under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Each are assigned an exam booth and an assistant. All the paperwork and releases are collected beforehand by the Head Start staff so that you can concentrate on what you do best – treating the patient. It is not necessary to be a primary care physician or a pediatrician. The examinations are general in nature and most subspecialties qualify to perform them.

We also encourage you to involve your staff (age 18 or older) in this event. Nurses and medical students are assigned to a booth to assist the examiners or to take blood pressures. Non-medical volunteers will help with heights and weights, assist with traffic, entertainment and child supervision. We are especially in need of bilingual (Spanish, English and Asian) volunteers.

More than 40,000 children have received medical screenings at this event. We expect over 5,000 kids to attend this year, which means we will probably perform 800 exams in our area. Many of these three to five year olds have never seen a physician and about 10% will need follow-up care.

Please donate a few hours of your time to this worthy cause. Not only will you make it possible for the children to enter the Head Start program, you will allow them to get the medical care they need. We encourage you and your staff to mark your calendars.

Complete the registration form and accept our deepest gratitude! Your time can make a difference for these preschoolers!

Measles Outbreak Over!
Jul 24 2008

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is pleased to declare the measles outbreak over as of July 21, 2008.  All counties should follow the routine vaccine schedule for children.

During the measles outbreak in Arizona, ADHS recommended children 6-11 months of age in Pima and Pinal Counties receive a dose of MMR vaccine for protection against measles.  A dose of MMR given at 6-11 months; however, will not count toward the 2 dose recommendation after 12 months of age.  The one exception is that a dose of MMR given up to 4 days before a child’s first birthday is still considered a valid dose.  Therefore, children who received a dose of MMR at 6-11 months of age will have a total of 3 doses (1 non-dose, MMR #1, MMR #2) when they enter school

The ACIP recommends all children receive 2 doses of MMR after one year of age.   MMR #1 should be given at 12 -15 months of age. MMR #2 is recommended at 4-6 years of age, but may be administered as soon as 4 weeks following MMR#1.  Two MMR doses, given after one year of age, are required for kindergarten entry. 

ADHS reminds providers to keep measles in the differential diagnosis of patients with a fever and rash, as many measles epidemics continue worldwide.