| One of the goals of public health is to prevent epidemics and the spread of communicable diseases. This is done through the monitoring of health status of the community and identifying health problems within the community. It also entails the diagnosis and investigation of health problems and health hazards in the community.
The Nursing Section of the Office of Health Services fulfills this responsibility by: - Supplies forms to local health care facilities and physicians to be used for written reports of suspected or confirmed diseases.
- Forwards all reports to the Arizona Department of Health Services specifying what action, if any, was initiated.
- Conducts an outbreak investigation of any communicable disease and reports back to the State Health Department.
- Provides the following control measures:
- Reviews communicable disease reports for completeness and accuracy
- Confirms diagnosis
- Conducts investigations
- Facilitates notification of known contacts
- Conducts surveillance
- Determines trends
- Implements quarantines, isolations and exclusions
For further information regarding communicable diseases please contact the nursing staff at (928) 425-3189. |