Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association

10/09/2025

📣 We’re thrilled to share that Helena Whitney, AzHHA’s senior vice president of policy and advocacy, has been appointed to the AHCCCS State Medicaid Advisory Committee.

With her deep expertise in health policy and unwavering commitment to expanding access to quality care, Helena is a powerful advocate for Arizona’s healthcare community. We know she’ll bring valuable insight and leadership to the committee.

👏 Congratulations, Helena!

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Governor Katie Hobbs

10/08/2025

Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15. Be prepared to review your options, but don’t assume switching plans is the right move.

⚠️ Buyer beware: Medicare Advantage (MA) is not always what it seems.

While MA plans may look appealing, they often come with limited provider networks and prior authorization requirements that can delay or restrict access to care.

✅ Traditional Medicare offers broader provider access and fewer administrative barriers, making it a more reliable choice for many.

We’re encouraging individuals to think twice and get the facts first before making the switch.

Make sure you and your loved ones are informed before choosing a plan.

10/07/2025

Excited to see Virginia Rountree nominated as Director of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System!

Virginia brings decades of experience within Arizona’s health and human services to this vital agency, which provides access to care for our state’s most vulnerable patients. Her leadership is a win for Arizona’s healthcare system.

Thank you, Governor Katie Hobbs, for this impactful appointment. 👏

10/07/2025

One of our incredible members, Taiwan Savage of Palo Verde Behavioral Health, reminds us that connectedness saves lives.

In his recent article, Taiwan shares powerful insights on why su***de prevention is everyone’s responsibility, not just healthcare providers. With nearly 50,000 lives lost to su***de in 2023 and Arizona ranking among the highest in the nation, the urgency is clear.

September was Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, so let’s remember that simple acts of care can make the biggest difference. Asking “Are you OK?” may be the first step in saving a life. 💞

Read Taiwan’s full piece on how we can all connect, listen and take action: https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/connectedness-involves-all-arizonans-be-the-one-who-saves-a-life,618385

***dePrevention

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. For me, this isn’t just a line on the calendar, it’s a reminder to take action. Every year, thousands of lives are cut short by …

10/06/2025

📅 National Primary Care Week | Oct. 6–10, 2025

Primary care is the front door to our healthcare system, providing essential access, preventive care and long-term health support. This week, we celebrate the providers who help keep our communities healthy, one visit at a time. 💙

10/03/2025

When we’re well, we might not think about hospitals. But when a moment of crisis strikes, they are a steady, unwavering presence. 🏥

Arizona hospitals are dedicated to being a foundation of health, safety and hope for every Arizonan, no matter what.

10/01/2025

When Jesse Rowley joined Canyon Vista Medical Center in 2019 as a Nutrition Aide, he never imagined leading the Food Services Department one day. Through hard work, humility and a heart for service, Jesse rose from delivering trays to patients to becoming Food Services Director.

His leadership style is rooted in care. Under his guidance, the Nutrition Department has maintained a 90%+ retention rate, built a culture of growth and continues to deliver meals that play a vital role in the healing process.

“We always ask ourselves, if someone we love were upstairs, what kind of care would we want them to receive?” - Jesse Rowley

👏 Join us in celebrating Jesse’s incredible journey!

10/01/2025

📢AzHHA is proud to announce that the sixth cohort of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses has commenced!

🏥This program supports and develops new nurses, provides evidence-based professional development, accelerates the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly and addresses resilience and emergency preparedness. AzHHA is proud to work with a national curriculum vendor, OpusVi (Latin for workforce), to deliver this program.

🙌The Arizona Transition to Practice Program is made possible by funding and support provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Governor’s Office. We’re grateful for their backing so that we can tackle this important work.
Learn more: https://www.azhha.org/arizona_transition_to_practice_program_for_new_graduate_registered_nurses_starts_sixth_cohort

09/30/2025

🏆 Celebrating leadership in action!

Congratulations to Vicki Buchda, AzHHA’s senior vice president of care improvement, for receiving the Leadership in Action Award from the Arizona Organization for Nurse Leaders (AzONL)!

Vicki was honored in the Practice Transformation Nurse Leader (Outpatient) category for her visionary leadership, collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to improving healthcare across Arizona.

Her work has transformed patient safety, rural health access, maternal care and more, making a lasting impact on communities statewide.

This award recognizes nurse leaders who go above and beyond, and Vicki truly exemplifies that spirit.

09/29/2025

The 2025 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference is just around the corner!

This year’s theme: Advocacy in action: shaping the future, leading forward.

Join us for breakout session tracks focused on:
💡 Innovation
🧭 Leadership
📣 Policy & Advocacy
✨ Plus, don’t miss our ACHE panel: You can earn 1.5 ACHE face-to-face education credits!

Let’s shape the future of healthcare, together.

🔗 Learn more: https://cvent.me/0a2w1z

09/27/2025

September is Su***de Prevention Month, a time for us to shine a light on the importance of mental health and su***de prevention.

From Phoenix to Tucson, Flagstaff to Yuma, our behavioral health members are providing compassionate, expert care when Arizonans need it most. Facilities like Aurora Behavioral Health, Haven Behavioral Hospital, Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital, and many others are creating pathways to healing and hope. ❤️‍🩹

These dedicated healthcare heroes don't just treat patients, they strengthen our entire community by addressing mental health with the same urgency and expertise as any medical emergency.

Remember, you are not alone. If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.

***dePreventionMonth #988

09/26/2025

👏 Congratulations to Karen Ofafa!

AzHHA is proud to celebrate our very own Karen Ofafa, recipient of the Marla J. Weston Leadership Award from the Arizona Nurses Association.

Karen’s exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing nursing practice and policy make her a true inspiration to our healthcare community.

We’re honored to work alongside such a passionate and impactful nurse leader. Way to go, Karen! 🌟

Earlier this month, AzNA honored some Arizona nurses as being exceptional leaders, advocacy champions and committed to excellence. Each of these nurses were nominated based on their lasting contributions and impact they've left on coworkers, teammates and communities. ✨

The Marla Weston Leadership Award is presented to members who have made significant contributions to nursing practice and policy through exceptional leadership. Our award winners in this category for 2025 are Karen Ofafa and Teri Wicker.

The Rory Hays Advocacy Award is presented to a member for significant contributions to nursing practice and health policy through political and legislative activity. Our 2025 winner of this award is Heather Ross.

The Nursing Excellence in Practice Award is presented to a member who has demonstrated professional care commitment in the areas of quality, caring, service, dedication or innovation. For 2025, AzNA awarded Stephanie Desiderio with this award.

AzNA Life Membership is awarded to a nurse who has rendered distinguished service to the nursing profession. Life members pay no dues and are awarded with honorary membership. For 2025, AzNA named Rhonda Anderson as its newest life member.

Congrats to all of our award winners for their excellence, commitment and dedication. We're proud of each of these nurses for their accomplishments and were honored to recognize each of them at this year's AzNA Convention.