Recall of Sage 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloth
Jul 1 2008

As a precautionary measure, Sage Products announced a voluntary recall of limited lots of 2 Percent Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Cloth Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation product. Testing of bulk 2 Percent CHG solution from an outside supplier was found positive for Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia).

Product was distributed to U.S. hospitals and medical centers nationwide. Affected product was shipped between 4/28/08 and 6/19/08.

Product Code Number	Lot Number	Product Code Number	Lot Number
9705	10722	9707	10672
9705	10729	9707	10753
9706	10718	9707	10755
9707	10357	9707	10944
9707	10365
9707	10641

Measles Case Reported in California Visitor to Arizona
Jun 26 2008

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) was recently notified by the California State Health Department of a laboratory-confirmed case of measles in a foreign visitor that traveled through Arizona just prior to the onset of symptoms, which included rash (starting on face and moving down body), fever, conjunctivitis, cough, and sore throat. Date of rash onset was 6/22.

The case toured Monument Valley several days before his rash onset (6/18 and 6/19) and stayed at a hotel in Kayenta, AZ on the night of 6/18.

Although we believe the risk of measles transmission from this case is low, we wanted to make you aware of the case and the continued need to be vigilant for suspected measles in your patients. 

If you suspect measles, please notify your local health department as soon as possible so they may assist in the coordination of laboratory testing as well as help to initiate control measures. If you have any questions, please contact your local health department or the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section, ADHS, at (602) 364-3676.

ACT Health Fair - WE NEED YOU!
Jun 5 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!

Presidential Candidates Answer Questions on Health Care Reform
May 30 2008

The information provided is from the American Medical Association.  A key objective of the AMA’s “Voice for the Uninsured” campaign has been to bring national attention to the issue of the uninsured. Each of the three leading presidential candidates have made health care a top priority in their respective campaigns.

In response to a set of 10 questions posed to the candidates about their heath care reform proposals, the AMA received responses from the campaigns of Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The Medical Society encourages its' membership to review these questions and answers provided by the AMA to evaluate the proposals and platforms of each of the presidential candidates. Visit http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/478/questionscandidates.pdf to learn more about each candidate’s proposal on health care reform.