Latest News
1/28/09; From our STAB (State Trauma Advisory Board Rep) Dr. Pfleger:
The following link leads to the main page for a series of articles regarding trauma care in the state of Arizona being published this week by the AZ Republic. STAB leadership was consulted by the AZ Republic for much of the information.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/01/21/20090121ev-trauma-CR.html
We are going into special session to resolve the 09 budget tomorrow it
is unclear how all this will play out. Supporters of the poison center
should be writing and calling their representatives and senators. The
09 budget may be voted on by this Thursday or Friday. Thanks, Eric
Eric Meyer M.D.
Representative District 11
Education Committee
Transportation &Infrastructure Committee
602-926-30371-27-09
Urgent Action Needed Immediately
Colleagues,
At risk of alienating everyone on the AzCEP email list, I must send out another request urging everyone to take a second to email their representatives. This is happening this week and we need to make sure that they hear our concerns. To find your legislator's email address, please go to:
http://azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp
I have included an email thread that I just had moments ago from my local representative as proof that they really do listen/read, respond, and care about this issue. Please take the minute to email them and ask to fund both centers. Feel free to copy and paste my pathetic request if needed.
Thank you in advance for taking this action.
Respectfully,
Craig Norquist, MD FACEP
President, Arizona College of Emergency Physicians
Kudos to our AzCEP President, Craig Norquist, MD, FACEP and our lobbyist, Rich Bitner! There had been much discussion at the state legislature about eliminating one of the two poison centers in Arizona....and since Senator Bee is from Tucson, it was most likely going to be the Phoenix site, which would have affected the toxicology program and many other entities. Luckily, the state budget passed without cutting a facility. Dr. Norquist met with Senator Bee along with Dr. Steven Curry and Jason Bezozo, lobbyist for Banner, to educate him on the situation. Later Craig and Rich drafted a letter on behalf of the AzCEP membership that was sent to the President and Speaker, with copies to all legislators and the Governor. It was thought that this was very effective... in addition to other letters from ArMA and others. We are making a difference!