State lawmakers on Wednesday passed legislation that will allow the state鈥檚 Medicaid agency to access federal dollars that figure into the payments that reimburse health care providers across the state for delivering service to program enrollees. 

HB 2432, sponsored by Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, extends the required expenditure authority to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, for the remainder of fiscal year 2023, which ends June 30. 

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin in February but languished in the state Senate.  

The Senate instead in March tacked a partial expenditure authority provision onto another bill, HB 2624 by Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu City, that dealt with Medicaid eligibility determinations.  

The amendment only granted AHCCCS the expenditure authority for $1.6 billion in federal funds 鈥� enough to cover one month 鈥� causing concern in the health care community and broader business community that payments to providers would be delayed if additional expenditure authority wasn鈥檛 granted by a late April deadline, forcing providers and the private sector health plans the state contracts with to bear the financial burden in the meantime.  

After a weeklong delay, the Senate took up the original bill Wednesday, passing it 26-3 and sending it to Gov. Katie Hobbs for her signature.  

Following the bill鈥檚 passage, Hobbs , 鈥淚 am glad to see Republicans and Democrats come together to pass HB2432, a critical bill that will keep millions of Arizonans insured. The health and safety of Arizonans is not a partisan issue, and I hope we can continue to work together to deliver for our state.鈥� 

Arizona 小红帽直播app of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden said he was pleased a deal was reached, but that he worries about risks to the stability of the public policy environment. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased both parties came together to pass this bill that is of major importance not only to the health care sector but to the entire state economy,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淚 did hear concern from the business community about how disruptive a failure to pass this procedural bill in a timely manner could be, so I want to thank Senate President Warren Petersen, House Speaker Ben Toma, and Gov. Hobbs for coming together to reach an agreement. The state has major challenges ahead of it that will require bipartisan cooperation to maintain its competitiveness, so I鈥檓 hopeful these leaders will continue to work hard for Arizona.

Legislators include expenditure authority language in the annual state budget, but they must sometimes pass a supplemental bill when the authority in the adopted budget is insufficient. 

Budget forecasters鈥� ability to project AHCCCS budget needs in the fiscal year 2023 budget language was complicated by additional federal reimbursements that flowed to states during the pandemic and by the federal requirement that state Medicaid agencies not disenroll anyone during the public health emergency. Subsequent federal legislation granted states the ability to reassess enrollees鈥� eligibility beginning April 1, the same date the pandemic era enhanced federal reimbursement rates began to be reduced. The enhanced reimbursement rate will fully phase out at the end of 2023. The public health emergency ends May 11.

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Universal Technical Institute is expanding its career education offerings, recently announcing it has entered into an agreement with Concorde Career Colleges to expand UTI鈥檚 career-focused education brand into certificate, credential and degree-granting healthcare programs. 

Concorde Career Colleges is a leading provider of healthcare education programs focused on preparing the next generation of healthcare workers for the growing workforce. The company currently serves 7,400 students over 8 states. 

鈥淭he acquisition of Concorde Career Colleges will be a significant next step in our previously announced growth and diversification strategy,鈥� Universal Technical Institute CEO Jerome Grant said. 鈥淲e take the responsibility of becoming one of this country鈥檚 leading workforce solutions providers seriously, and entering the healthcare space allows us to help even more students and support employers as they seek to solve some of their toughest workforce-related challenges. Concorde鈥檚 programs, geographic footprint, solid leadership team, exemplary faculty and staff, diverse student body, tight industry alignment, and strong alumni network make this acquisition a great fit.鈥�

The expansion comes when the healthcare sector is expecting to see an due to attrition in the workforce and an aging population. The diploma and degree offerings of Concorde currently include nursing, dental hygiene, and other patient direct care fields such as physical therapy assistant and respiratory therapy. 

This expansion into the healthcare industry is a significant expansion for Universal Technical Institute鈥檚 growth and diversification plan. UTI, Inc.鈥檚 brand family currently includes skilled trade programs such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute and MIAT College of Technology. 

鈥淯niversal Technical Institute鈥檚 brands have a great reputation with both employers and students in transportation and skilled trades. Concorde Career Colleges has a strong reputation in healthcare education, making this an excellent combination for addressing the nation鈥檚 skills gap,鈥� Concorde CEO Jami Frazier said.  鈥淚 am looking forward to the opportunity to join this organization and become one of the preeminent educational providers in the country.鈥�

The addition of Concorde Career Colleges will bring the company鈥檚 total students served to approximately 20,000 over 14 states and 31 different locations. The schools to be acquired from Concorde are accredited by either the Accrediting Commision of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) or the Council on Occupational Education (COE). 

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A new examines the massive surge in input costs for hospitals and health systems due to inflation and dramatic growth in expenses in the medical field. 

The rising costs of inflation along with the continued strain of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the workforce and supply chains have led to ongoing challenges for the American healthcare system. 

鈥淎merica鈥檚 hospitals and health systems, and our caregivers, have been on the front lines in fighting the pandemic for over two years now, facing numerous challenges along the way,鈥� AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said. 鈥淲hile we have made great progress in the fight against the virus, this report shows that we are not out of the woods yet when it comes to addressing the need to repair and rebuild our hospitals. The dramatic rise in costs of labor, drugs, supplies and equipment continue to put enormous pressure on our ability to provide care to our patients and communities. The pandemic has clearly demonstrated that America cannot be strong without its hospitals and health systems being strong.鈥�

A survey of healthcare workers found that half of the respondents felt 鈥渂urned out.鈥� This sentiment is shown through a sustained decline in hospital employment, which is currently 100,000 workers lower than the pre-pandemic era. 

The combination of employee burnout, turnover, and staff leaving the workforce has forced an increase in the use of contract staffing firms, which has driven up the cost of labor. 

In the pre-pandemic era, hospitals spent a median of 4.7% of labor expenses on contract travel nurses. The AHA report finds that the median now sits at 38.6%. This increase was also accompanied by a 213% rise in the cost that contract staffing firms were billing hospitals for an hourly rate. 

Labor costs account for roughly 50% of hospitals鈥� total expenses, meaning that a slight increase in these figures can have drastic effects on a hospital鈥檚 operating margin. 

Rising inflation costs and supply chain issues have also negatively impacted the cost of drug expenses. In comparison to pre-pandemic levels, the cost of drugs on a per-patient basis rose 36.9%. The negative impacts also expanded to medical supply expenses which grew 20.6% through the end of 2021 in comparison to 2019. 

The report also showed that economy-wide costs have had a concerning effect on the health system. In April 2021, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) had the largest 12-month increase since September of 2008. The CPI-U hit a 40-year high in February 2022.

The effects that it these economic pressures are expected to have on the healthcare system include: 

• Labor costs and retention
  • As the cost of living increases, the demand for higher wages and more competitive benefits to offset it are expected to increase.
• Supply chain costs
  • Both inflation and supply chain shortages are predicted to impact the care patterns for patients and put additional burdens on overworked staff
• Capital investment costs
  • Hospitals have already invested heavily in expanding capacity to treat patients during the pandemic (e.g., constructing spaces for testing and isolation of COVID-19 patients). Additionally, a historically large increase in inflation has resulted in increases in interest rates, which may hamper borrowing options and add to overall costs.
• Decreased consumer demand
  • Higher inflation costs are expected to result in a decreased demand for health care services which will be traded for necessities such as food and transportation

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Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer with over 12,000 new cases a year and a 16-month median survival rate. Due to the complexity and unique nature of this disease, little progress has been made to find new and effective treatment options.

This grim reality hit home in Arizona when Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July of 2017. As someone whose resilient spirit had been the hallmark of their public image after countless close calls with death, the country watched with grief as McCain鈥檚 health deteriorated at a rapid pace. Even with access to the best healthcare in the world, the senator wouldn鈥檛 even make it to the median survival rate having lost his battle a little over a year after his diagnosis.

McCain鈥檚 passing prompted government leaders to take action. In Arizona, where his death sent shockwaves throughout the state, community officials took a newfound interest in the research being done to help brain cancer patients, specifically the groundbreaking Phase 0 clinical trials being conducted right in their own backyard at the.

Glioblastoma Awareness Day 

and after learning about the unconventional method their researchers are taking to treat aggressive brain tumors, both left with a general consensus: more needs to be done to bring awareness to glioblastoma and accelerate research. Shortly after each of their visits, the Arizona senators joined forces with other prominent senate members and unanimously passed a bi-partisan resolution designating July 17, 2019 as the inaugural Glioblastoma Awareness Day (GBM Day). Observed as a day to honor those who have been impacted by the disease, the initiative also supports efforts to develop better treatment options that will improve patients鈥� long-term prognosis.

The response was overwhelming with scores of individuals and families contributing to the Glioblastoma Awareness Day campaign, enabling the to. The success of the first year encouraged those same leaders to to show their unwavering support to move the needle on brain tumor research and announced this year鈥檚 will be on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

Arizona Leads The Charge in Brain Cancer Treatment

Even before the passing of Sen. John McCain, Arizona had been at the forefront of brain cancer research. Located in the heart of Phoenix, the nationally-recognized Barrow Neurological Institute treats the largest volume of brain tumor patients than anywhere else in the country and the Ivy Foundation in Scottsdale is the largest privately funded brain cancer research foundation in North America having dedicated over $100 million since 2005. Both entities have become instrumental in the design and implementation of one of the most ambitious programs to treat aggressive brain tumors, Ivy Phase 0 clinical trials.

The Ivy Center鈥檚 Phase 0 clinical trials program is the largest of its kind in the world and enables personalized care in a fraction of the time and cost associated with traditional drug development. Unlike conventional clinical trials focusing on single drugs, its accelerated trials program tests therapeutic combinations matched to individual patients. Ivy Phase 0 clinical trials are challenging the status quo and giving hope to brain tumor patients now more than ever.

Pandemic or Not, the Fight Continues

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and medical centers have shuttered their doors, closed crucial cancer studies, suspended clinical trials, and postponed surgeries. At the Ivy Center, brain cancer research continues to be top priority. The Center has screened a record number of patients, received FDA-approval on three new clinical trials, two of which launched in May and June, and has continued to grow by hiring some of the brightest minds in the field. Brain cancer doesn鈥檛 stop during a pandemic and for those being impacted by this disease, new and experimental treatment options may be their only hope.

As Glioblastoma Awareness Day approaches, in the midst of a global health crisis, it鈥檚 important to acknowledge how far research has come and how far it has yet to go. We hope you will join the Ivy Brain Tumor Center and countless others who will be honoring on Wednesday, July 22. The support of research development and new treatment options will help thousands of people in their quest to overcome this disease. To learn more about the groundbreaking brain tumor research being done in Arizona, visit the Ivy Brain Tumor Center鈥檚 

Melinda Langdon is the director of communications at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, a non-profit translational research program in Phoenix, AZ that employs a bold, early-phase clinical trials strategy to identify new treatments for aggressive brain tumors, including glioblastoma.

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As COVID-19 cases are rising in the state, patients should not be afraid to seek medical care, said the head of the Health System Alliance of Arizona whose members are among the largest hospital systems and top employers in the state. 

鈥淲e are particularly concerned about folks who have diabetes, hypertension, underlying health conditions, that they might be scared to seek routine medical care and that there are others that may have acute medical needs, that they may be scared to obtain  medical care,鈥� Jennifer Carusetta, director of the alliance, said Monday. 

Carusetta said that while coronavirus cases are posting high numbers right now, hospitals have the capacity to handle them.  

鈥淚 think it is really important to emphasize that protecting our patients’ health and safety is always our top priority. It was our top priority before the pandemic and it continues to be our top priority now,鈥� Carusetta said.

The alliance represents five large hospital systems in Arizona: Banner Health, HonorHealth, Dignity Health, Tenet Healthcare and Northern Arizona Healthcare. 

Between them, they operate more than 80 acute hospitals and medical facilities in the state and employ more than 50,000 Arizonans. 

Uptick in cases was expected 

Hospital systems along with state officials have put measures in place over the last few months to prepare for expected surges in May and June, public health officials said Friday during a press conference about the recent spikes in cases. 

To avert a crisis, hospital and health officials are renewing their call to the public to double down on hand washing, face coverings and social distancing to keep the numbers in check. The healthcare system cannot do it alone. 

If capacity gets too low, hospitals are under emergency order to reduce elective surgery admissions to free up beds for COVID-19. 

A rise in was not unexpected, Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) said at the Friday with Governor Doug Ducey. As of Monday, Arizona has had 27,678 cases with 1,047 deaths.

A number of factors are contributing including the lifting of the stay-at-home order on May 15, Christ said. 

Arizona is also in its sixth week of a statewide 鈥渢esting blitz,鈥� Gov. Ducey said. As of Monday, more than 402,000 COVID-19 tests and antibody tests had been conducted.

Included in that testing has been the state鈥檚 intense effort to test staff and patients at long term facilities statewide. DHS is on target to have all facilities tested by July 11, Christ said. 

Surge system in place to allow for quick transfer of patients

In April, the state DHS and hospital partners created the Arizona Surge Line to have the ability to quickly admit, transfer and discharge COVID-19 patients to appropriate levels of care should cases spike.

So far, the Surge Line service has assisted 583 hospital patients including transferring over 500 patients to an appropriate placement, Ducey said. 

Last week, the DHS also unveiled a new improved method for determining inpatient and ICU bed availability to better react to surges. The updated method is now posted in the section of the agency鈥檚 dashboard.

Hospitals using telehealth, new technology to adapt   

Hospitals have also adjusted the way they provide care, including increased sanitary measures, required screening for the coronavirus upon entry, and investments in virtual and other technology to protect patients and staff.

HonorHealth, for example, is one of a few hospital systems in the country that has over 30 germ-zapping robots. Made possible by donors, the small robots use high-intensity ultraviolet light to disinfect a patient room in just minutes.

To encourage social distancing, Dignity Health is offering anyone a free virtual care visit through the end of the month if they or a family member is exhibiting mild COVID-19 symptoms such as low-grade fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Anyone can speak with a healthcare provider on their phone or device for free with an online .

Banner, one of the largest nonprofit hospital systems in the country, announced last week a rapid, expansive deployment of telehealth in the acute-care setting. Hospitalists and specialists at all 28 Banner Health hospitals now can conduct virtual patient visits on COVID-19 units. Now, Banner is bringing virtual technology to the ICU.

Physicians in the hospital can conduct a thorough exam without entering a patient room. They can check on their patients at any time, including talking with them, viewing their vital sign monitors and, using the advanced camera option, can zoom in close enough to even check a patient鈥檚 pupils. 

Public asked to continue social distancing

Gov. Ducey said Friday that the state is doing 鈥渆verything possible鈥� to reduce the spread of the virus and will continue to monitor the situation. The state has not reached the desired goal of 14 straight days of downward trajectory, said the governor, who called on citizens to help keep the disease from spreading. 

The Centers for Disease Control for preventing the spread include:

• Wash hands often and use 60-percent alcohol-based hand sanitizers听
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Throw used tissues in the trash
• Monitor health for symptoms and stay home if ill

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听

As Arizona鈥檚 senior population swells, Mercy Care and other agencies are teaming up to recruit, train, hire and retain thousands of workers over the next two years.听

Mercy Care alone has committed $2 million to hire, train and retain 6,000 to 10,000 home health workers by 2022. Seven other agencies have partnered with Mercy to help meet future demand for this workforce.听听

With labor shortages locally and nationally in the direct care sector, the partners are collaborating to add incentives like pay raises, retention bonuses and career advancement opportunities to attract workers. They will also market to untapped employee groups, like men and veterans.听

鈥淲e know that Arizona鈥檚 population aged 60 and older is projected to grow more rapidly than any other in the state. And, in Arizona, experts expect a nearly 43 percent increase by 2025 of individuals 65 and older living with Alzheimer鈥檚,鈥� said Sarah Hauck, workforce development administrator for Mercy Care, a Medicaid health plan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to us that all of these individuals can live with dignity and as independently as possible.鈥�

The workers will be hired as personal-care aides, home-health aides and nursing assistants to deliver in-home services to individuals eligible for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and Arizona Long Term Care benefits.

Rapid-fire growth on the horizon听

Home health care is one of the fastest growing job sectors in the nation with the need predicted to be about 1.4 million workers by 2026, according to a issued in January by the nonprofit Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute in New York City.听

Arizona will need 41,000 direct-care employees by 2026, according to the report, that is based on from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

鈥淭he direct care workforce will grow more than registered nurses and fast food workers combined, which are ranked second and third for net job growth according to the BLS,鈥� the report reads. 鈥淥f note, the total direct care workforce will be larger than any single occupation in 2026.鈥�

Low pay, tough work, high turnover

There are a number of challenges facing Mercy Care and its workforce development partners.听

These are typically minimum wage jobs caring for patients including those with dementia, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and severe developmental and physical disabilities. Direct care employees themselves often are living in poverty. Annual average salaries in Arizona and across the nation range from $21,000 to $28,000.

As a result, various studies show extremely high turnover rates in the field, ranging from 40 to 75 percent. And nationally, hundreds of thousands of people remain on for Medicaid-funded home care.听

Arizona鈥檚 plan to elevate job status with incentives听

Largely a female workforce, the community partners plan to reach out to new potential employee groups: men, faith-based groups, retirees, transition-aged youth readying to leave foster or state care, refugees, tribal members, and others.听

They also hope to establish incentives including a path to health care careers for youth, using jobs as direct-care workers as stepping stones into nursing, physical therapy and other health care professions.听

Other incentives under discussion include:

• Referral and retention bonuses
• Community resources and support
• Monetary and career advancement opportunities听
• Mentor programs
• Specialty training听
• More flexibility over work hours and pay听

Workforce initiative partners听听听听听

The statewide work development initiative came out of the bidding process for a contract to serve long-term care population on AHCCCS. One piece of the state鈥檚 request was that organizations bidding on the contract propose ways to increase the number of in-home health care workers.听

After contracts were awarded, Mercy Care teamed up with seven other contractors to be workforce development partners:听

• Practical Training Solutions
• United Way of Southern Arizona听
• All Valley Home Health Care
• Devoted Guardians Home Care
• ResCare HomeCare
• Southern Arizona Family Services
• United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona

Cost savings with in-home care听

Congress is also discussing solutions for the growing demand, particularly in rural areas.

Home care can offer considerable savings, experts testified. Studies on post-acute care discharge patterns have shown that appropriate deployment of home health care can yield potential savings of more than $32 billion over ten years.

鈥淓xpanding the long-term care workforce by as many as 10,000 employees 鈥� and that鈥檚 just Mercy Care鈥檚 pledge 鈥� will have a significant impact on our aging population鈥檚 ability to stay in their homes longer,鈥� Hauck said. 鈥淚n-home care for those AHCCCS-eligible members is also less expensive then housing them in a facility like a nursing home, and in-home care can prevent injuries and incidents that might lead to emergency treatment or hospitalizations, two other costly forms of care.鈥�

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Carondelet Neurological Institute at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital in Tucson recently acquired new GPS-guided surgical robot technology to help surgeons perform complex spinal fusion surgeries.

The computer-guided, robot-assisted platform is the first of its kind in Tucson.

鈥淩obotic guidance is an assistant for the surgeon,鈥� said Dr. Matthew Wilson, a surgeon at CNI. 鈥淭he robotic arm aligns tools along a planned pathway to place screw implants to stabilize the spine. Navigation is a way for the surgeon to see the tools in relation to a patient鈥檚 body on a screen as the tools are being used.鈥�

According to CNI, the system acts 鈥渓ike a car鈥檚 GPS navigation system鈥� by following an individualized map based on images of the patient鈥檚 anatomy imported into the computerized robot, guiding the robotic arm to specific areas of the spine.

All this helps the surgeon calculate the accurate size and placement of screws and implants during spine surgery.

鈥淢uch like a GPS in your car, the surgeon plans the route to place screw implants in the spine and the robotic system helps aligns that pathway to accurately place the screws,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淭he surgical tools and implant are visible on the GPS screen throughout the entire procedure.鈥�

CNI is in Arizona investing in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgery equipment.

鈥淢inimally invasive surgery combines a surgeon鈥檚 understanding of anatomy with x-ray imaging to treat spine conditions using small incisions,鈥� allowing the surgeon to separate the muscles surrounding the spine rather than cut through them, according to CNI.

The GPS-guided system at CNI is approved to place in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.

Common procedure options that may involve pedicle screw placement include:

• Posterior Fusion
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Carondelet Neurological Institute, part of the Carondelet Health Network, is located at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital at 350 N. Wilmot Road in Tucson.

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This special end-of-the-year episode of 鈥淗am(m)er Time!鈥� features Arizona 小红帽直播app of Commerce and Industry president and CEO Glenn Hamer, Health System Alliance of Arizona executive director Jennifer Carusetta and economist Jim Rounds discussing the economic impact hospitals have in Arizona. Spoiler alert: it鈥檚 a big number.

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Arizona hospitals had a $30 billion statewide economic impact in 2018, according to a new economic impact report commissioned by the Health System Alliance of Arizona.

The report was conducted by Rounds Consulting Group and measured the overall economic impact to Arizona through direct, indirect and induced jobs.

The HSAA said that although $30 billion is a large number, it could still be a conservative estimate because hospitals lead to health care-related employment both on and off campus.

鈥淗ospitals have been known as a major employer throughout the state, but the findings in this report show how embedded the industry is in Arizona鈥檚 economy,鈥� said Jennifer Carusetta, HSAA executive director. 鈥淥ur hospitals not only provide a critical economic foundation but will also be a key economic driver moving forward. We are proud to play a role in making Arizona a better place to live, work and raise a family.鈥�

The report found that Arizona hospitals created a total economic impact of $29.8 billion 鈥� that鈥檚 184,969 jobs, or about 7 percent of the state鈥檚 total workforce of 2.9 million.

Direct, indirect and induced jobs earned a combined $12.3 billion in wages. Direct jobs are jobs created by the hospital itself; indirect jobs are jobs created by the hospital鈥檚 participation in commerce, such as supplier or delivery jobs; and induced jobs are created by the economic impact of the hospitals 鈥� these jobs are created when hospital employees spend money in their regions.

State and local governments collected $808.7 million in tax revenues from hospitals in 2018, also according to the report.

鈥淭he data is clear when it comes to the impact of Arizona hospitals; their reach goes far beyond the examination room,鈥� said Jim Rounds, president of Rounds Consulting Group. 鈥淭here are very few industries that provide direct services to citizens, employ thousands of people and also operate as an economic driver for the entire state.鈥�

The HSAA said hospitals can serve as a necessary hub for advanced health care research and development, as well as medical tourism 鈥� when people travel for specific procedures 鈥� in certain regions.

According to the report, increased economic activity is important for urban areas as well as rural areas, where the high-wage industry can be responsible for a disproportionate portion of the area鈥檚 economy. In addition, healthy hospital activities can also increase surrounding property values and create opportunities for Arizona鈥檚 state universities.

鈥淭his analysis is critically important for policymakers who are concerned about maintaining and enhancing Arizona鈥檚 quality of life,鈥� said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona 小红帽直播app of Commerce and Industry.

鈥淲e need to ensure that Arizona鈥檚 health care sector keeps pace with our growing state, delivering outstanding care and plentiful options,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot only are Arizona鈥檚 health care systems essential to the state鈥檚 economy, but they make it a better place to live and work.鈥�

The report from HSAA is the first in a series analyzing the overall impact of Arizona鈥檚 hospital systems.

鈥淎s we enter this new decade and implement policies that put Arizona on the right path for continued success, it is critical that health care be included in the economic vision of the state,鈥� Rounds said.

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Surgeons at a hospital in the Northwest Valley have officially completed 5,000 robot-assisted surgical procedures.

The achievement represents a significant milestone for Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, which is known for its surgical programs. More than 1,000 of the procedures were completed in 2019.

Doctors who perform minimally invasive surgery use a variety of techniques to operate with less damage to a patient鈥檚 body than in typical open surgery.

Robotic surgery takes this process a step further, as computer guidance and magnified, three-dimensional views of the surgical site allow surgeons to operate with improved precision, flexibility and control.

鈥淐ontinual innovations in minimally invasive surgery have made robot-assisted procedures an option for patients with a wide range of conditions,鈥� said Jeff Patterson, CEO at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus.

He said the pace of such procedures using robot-assisted technology continues to increase.

鈥淭he daVinci is often used for gynecology, urology, cancer, hernia repair and other procedures,鈥� Patterson said, referring to the robotic equipment Abrazo uses.

The daVinci uses laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery technique, to perform surgery through a series of small incisions, tubes and tiny cameras and instruments 鈥� all with the goal of creating a quicker, less painful recovery for patients.

鈥淩obotic surgery is the biggest advancement in surgical care in the last two decades,鈥� said Dr. Dennis Scribner, a gynecologic oncology surgeon at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus. 鈥淭he technology provides the ability for us to perform procedures that have traditionally been done through large incision and now completed with incisions that are less than an inch. This has clearly improved patient care and their quality of life.鈥�

Scriber said Abrazo Arrowhead Campus鈥檚 state-of-the-art robotic surgical platforms allow him and his team to offer 鈥渆xcellent care.鈥�

The campus also offers education and training opportunities for surgeons from other hospitals, so they can learn robotic-assisted surgery techniques first-hand.

The hospital is home to Abrazo Health鈥檚 General Surgery Residency Program, bringing new surgeons to Glendale who work closely with local physicians听 for real-world learning.

鈥淚鈥檓 so pleased with the Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, which has supported all of the surgeons in reaching this milestone,鈥� said Dr. Debora Fox-McClary, colorectal surgeon. 鈥淭he OR staff, nurses and technicians worked nonstop to make this possible, and along with the floor nurses and ancillary staff, have made the Abrazo Arrowhead robotics program the best in the region.鈥�

Robotic surgical technology at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus includes:

• daVinci Surgical System, a robotic surgical system 鈥渄esigned to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach鈥� and controlled by a surgeon from a console. Three are in service at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus.
• Navio Surgical System, a robotics-assisted platform that 鈥渦ses CT-free technology for accurate implant sizing and positioning without the need for rods.鈥� It can be used for partial or total knee replacements.

鈥淥ur surgical programs offer a collaborative clinical environment and a focus [on] patient advocacy,鈥� Patterson said. 鈥淲e are committed to providing quality care and a safe environment for each of our patients.鈥�

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