Healthy Communities

Policies & Procedures

You will find informative and valuable information that will help assist with the process of drafting, writing and researching ADH’s policies and procedures.

Downloads
ADH Travel
Anti-Fraud
Arkansas Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program
Code of Ethics
Dispute Resolution (Grievance)
Drug-Free Workplace
Employee Disciplinary
Freedom of Information
HIPAA Privacy
Inclement Weather
Medical Emergencies
Transmittal Notices and Memorandum

Repealed Rules

Below are rules that were repealed.

Instagram Stories

Welcome to the official page of ADH Instagram Stories. Tap on the images below to get details.

 

July 2020
Dr. Sandra Chai and Dr. Smith at St. Andrew's Church.
"Help Stop the Spread--Mask Up"

 

April 1, 2020
The Arkansas Department of Health’s COVID-19 call center can be accessed in English and Spanish. For any questions about COVID-19, please contact our call center at 1-800-803-7847 or email ADH.Coronavirus@arkansas.gov.

 

November 5, 2019
The Be Well Arkansas program began its mission to help people quit smoking and manage chronic diseases one year ago today. We’d like to wish Be Well a happy birthday and encourage anyone who needs help quitting smoking or managing high blood pressure or diabetes to call 833-283-WELL for assistance.

 

October 2, 2019
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, the ADH Medical Director for Immunizations, kicks off flu season by getting her flu shot. Have you gotten yours yet? If not, it is available free of charge at your local health unit.

 

June 27, 2019
Dr. Smith, ADH Director, and Dr. Redfield, CDC Director, are long time colleagues partnering to end the HIV epidemic in the state of Arkansas.

 

June 7, 2019
ADH employees took advantage of the opportunity to learn hiking and backpacking basics.

 

May 17, 2019
Professionals in our lab work hard to test drinking water to ensure your water is safe. Click the image below for more information about the Arkansas Public Health Lab.

 

May 7, 2019
ADH is excited to have recently added a water bottle filling station to our first floor to make it easier for employees to reach for water instead of a sweetened beverage. Click the image below for more information about Worksite Wellness.

 

April 15, 2019
Follow us on Instagram for a behind the scenes look at how we are upholding that mission statement. Click the image below for more information about the ADH.

Emergency Rules

Emergency Rules are sometimes necessary for rule promulgation under the Administrative Procedure Act with expedited Governor and Legislative approval, but without public hearing and other proceedings because the Director finds imminent peril to public health and safety. They are temporary and expire.

Emergency Rules Effective Date
n/a  

ADH Grand Rounds

After a hiatus of several months, the Arkansas Department of Health Grand Rounds will resume in a limited series. Grand Rounds sessions will be held from 8-9 a.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. These will include a combination of limited seating in the auditorium with social distancing, and a virtual presentation.

No continuing education credit is available for watching past presentations. Credit is only available for watching the presentations live, as it is being given.

 

Public Health Grand Rounds is presented each Thursday at 8 a.m. (Central Standard Time) in the Arkansas Department of Health's Dr. Joseph H. Bates Professional Education Auditorium at 4815 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Public Health Grand Rounds is jointly sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Health, the Fay Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI).

Grand Rounds can be viewed from the internet by following the link: https://arkansas-gov.zoom.us/j/82578347415?pwd=NFVHRzBLRHRKMkU3eThSaEdGZDZ1dz09.

CME Credit: You can obtain the transcript at http://ce.uams.edu/.

 

Upcoming Presentations

Date Presenter Topic
January 21, 2021
**Seating is limited to first 30 attendees

Jennifer Dillaha, MD
State Epidemiologist
Medical Director, Immunization and Outbreak Response
Arkansas Department of Health

Overview of the Arkansas Vaccine Plan in Response
To the COVID-19 Pandemic

Past Presentations

Date

Topic
January 7, 2021 COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Vaccines: Current Status in the United States | José R. Romero, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAAS | Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Arkansas Secretary of Health | Director, Arkansas Department of Health
2020 Videos End  
October 1  Alpha-Gal Syndrome | Allison James DVM, MPH, PhD | CDC EIS Field Officer | Arkansas Department of Health
September 17 “Big Dot” Data and Antibiotic Stewardship | William Golden, MD | Medical Director | Arkansas Department of Health Office of Health Information Technology | Professor of Medicine and Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
September 3 Opioids During Pregnancy | Shona Ray-Griffith, MD | Assistant Professor | Ambulatory Director, Women’s Mental Health Program | Program Director, Addiction Medicine Fellowship | Psychiatric Research Institute | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
August 20 Arkansas Newborn Screening: From Birth to Results || Katie Seely, PhD | Lab Director | Arkansas Department of Health || Pat Purifoy, RN | Newborn Screening Follow-up Manager | Arkansas Department of Health
March 12 Using The Law To “ARREST” The Spread of Infectious Disease | Kevin Ryan, JD, MA | Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs | Co-Director DrPH Program, Associate Professor | Department of Health Policy and Management | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
March 5 So Who Can I Prescribe Opioids To? | Michael Wilson, MD, PhD, FAAEM, FACEP | Assistant Professor, Division of Research and Evidence-Based Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine | Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry Director, Department of Emergency Medicine Behavior | Emergencies Research Lab Director, Department of Emergency Medicine Research Associates Programs | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 27 A Whole New World: Whole Genome Sequencing And The NOW Of Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Response | Quinyatta Mumford, MPH | Epidemiologist | Arkansas Department of Health
February 20 Coronavirus Epidemics of The 21st Century: SARS, MERS and NCP || Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH | Secretary of Health | Arkansas Department of Health || Jennifer Dillaha, MD | Medical Director | Immunizations and Outbreak Response | Arkansas Department of Health || Naveen Patil, MD, MHSA, MA, FACP, FIDSA | Medical Director | Infectious Diseases, Healthcare Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative | Arkansas Department of Health
February 13 Suicide Rates Continue to Rise: What Strategies Are We Missing | Katy Allison, PhD, MPH, CHES | Postdoctoral Fellow | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 6 The Sky May Actually Be Falling This Time | Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH | Secretary of Health | Arkansas Department of Health
January 30 The Art of Positive Communication | Julien Mirivel, PhD | Interim Dean | College of Social Sciences and Communication | Professor | Department of Applied Communication | University of Arkansas at Little Rock
January 23 Think of the Children!!! A Glimpse into the Disparity of Treatment and Health Outcomes of Uninsured Children | Austin Porter III, DrPH, MPH | Deputy Chief Science Officer | Arkansas Department of Health | Assistant Professor | Department of Health Policy and Management | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 16 Everyone Counts: How 2020 Census Data Matters to Arkansas || Samuel Abbasi, BS | Arkansas Partnership Coordinator || Linda Gladden, M.Ed. | Media Specialist || Taniesha Richardson-Wiley, MPH | Hometown Health Improvement Section Chief || Laura Kellams, BA | Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families NWA, Executive Director
January 9, 2020 Mindfulness: an Overview and its Relevance to Public Health | Puru Thapa, MD | Director | Student, Resident, and Faculty Wellness Programs | Professor, Department of Psychiatry | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
2019 Videos End  
December 12 Maternal Mortality in Arkansas: An Update | William Greenfield, MD, MPH, FACOG | Medical Director, Family Health Branch | Arkansas Department of Health | Associate Professor | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
December 5 Northwest Arkansas Community Survey: Collaborating to Assess Community Health Needs | Lisa K. Low, MD, MPH | Medial Director Community Health | Mercy Hospital
November 14 HIV and Oral Health: An Update and Refocus | David Reznik, DDS | Chief of Dental Services | Grady Health System
October 24 Evidence-Based Treatment For Suicidal Youth | Jennifer Hughes, PhD, MPH | Psychologist }Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care | Assistant Professor | UT Southwestern Medical Center
September 26 Insomnia Management: A Backdoor Opportunity to Overcoming Objections to Mental Health Management | Rhonda Mattox, MD | Medical Director | Rhonda Mattox PLL
October 17 Stemming the Rising Tide of Congenital Syphilis | Kate Miele, MD, MA | Gilstrap Fellow Program Development and Quality Improvement | Branch Division of STD Prevention | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
October 10 How the Prescription Drug Epidemic Became An Opioid Epidemic. Failures in Upstream Drug Policy and Their Effect on Disadvantaged Groups | Johnathan H. Goree, MD | Director of Chronic Pain Division | Assistant Professor | Department of Anesthesiology | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
September 19 New Vaccine Development At Merck | Alain Bouckenooghe, MD, MPH | Associate Vice President | Respiratory Vaccine Section Head and  Vaccine Clinical Research | Merck
September 12 Rural Hospitals: Evolution And Survival | Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH | President & Chief Executive Officer | Arkansas Center for Health Improvement | Inaugural Surgeon General, State of Arkansas, 2005-2015 | Professor |  Division of Center for Applied Research | And Evaluation Department of Pediatrics | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Arkansas Children’s Hospital
September 5 Sex Education As A Strategy For Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Focus Groups with Arkansas Parents and Teens | S. Alexandra Marshall, PhD, MPH, CPH, CHES | Assistant Professor |  Health and Behavior Education | Co-Director |  PhD program in Health Promotions and Prevention Research | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
August 29 Supporting People With Disabilities In Decision-Making | Laura K. Guidry-Grimes, PhD | Assistant Professor | Clinical Ethicist | Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Arkansas Children’s Hospital
August 8 2019 Arkansas Flooding Event: The Arkansas Department of Health's Response |  Micheal Knox, DrPH, MPH, MS | Branch Chief |Health Preparedness and Emergency Response Branch |Arkansas Department of Health
August 1 Childhood Mental, Behavioral and Developmental Disorders: A Syndemic Approach | Alan Mease, MD, FAAP, Col/USA (Ret) | Arkansas Medical Director, eQ Health Solutions | Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health | Department of Health Behavior and Health Education | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
July 18 Health Care at End of Life | Masil George, MD | Associate Professor, UAMS Department of Geriatrics | Associate Professor, UAMS Department of Medical Humanities & Bioethics | Director, UAMS Geriatric Palliative Care Program | Medical Director, Baptist Hospice
June 27 Partnering For A Healthier Arkansas | Robert Redfield, MD | Director | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Administrator | Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
June 13  Where The Planning Stops And The Disaster Begins: A Framework For Crisis Standards Of Care | Jerrilyn D. Jones, MD, MPH | Medical Director | Health Preparedness & Response Branch | Arkansas Department of Health | Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
May 23 Beyond A String And Two Soup Cans: Electronic Case Reporting- Exchanging Data In The Age Of The Jetsons | William R. MacKenzie, MD | Deputy Director of Science | Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services | Center for Disease Control and Prevention
May 9 The Concept Of Softening Among Smokers And Its Implication for Tobacco Control | Margarete C. Kulik, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor | Department of Health Behavior and Health Education | Center for the Study of Tobacco | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
May 2 Preventable Mortality: How Do We Stop The Bleed || Kevin Sexton, M.D., FACS | Assistant Professor | Department of Surgery Division of Acute Care Surgery || John Taylor III, M.D. | Assistant Professor Surgery | Department of Surgery || William Beck, M.D. | Medical Director-Surgical Intensive Care Unit | Associate Professor of Surgery || University of Arkansas for Medical Services
April 25 Opioid Epidemic: A Personal Story || Susan Weinstein, DVM, MPH | Retired ADH State Public Health Veterinarian || Christopher Dickie, MA | Chief Executive Officer | Natural State Recovery Centers
April 18 Association of Crop Burning with Asthma and COPD Exacerbations in Two Arkansas Counties / Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: An Analysis Of Social Determinants Using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System | Christine Rutlen, MD / MPH anticipated May 2019 | University of Arkansas for Medical Science  | Sarah N. O’Connor, MPH | University of Arkansas for Medical Science
April 11 Arkansas Minority Health Commission: Meeting People Where They Are | ShaRhonda J. Love, MPH | Executive Director | Arkansas Minority Health Commission
April 4 Hometown Health Improvement: The Gateway to Healthier Lives and Stronger Communities | Andi Ridgway, MS, RD, LD, CDE | HHI Branch Chief | Taniesha Richardson-Wiley, MPH | HHI, Section Chief | Arkansas Department of Health
March 28 The Arkansas Prevention Research Center:  Leveraging Our Resources for a Healthier and Better Informed Arkansas | Kevin W. Ryan JD, MA | Associate Dean for Professional Programs | Associate Professor of Health Policy & Mgmt. and DrPH Program Co-Director | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences || Austin Porter, DrPH, MPH | Deputy Chief Science Officer, Arkansas Department of Health | Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Mgmt. and DrPH Program Co-Director | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
March 21 Arkansas Manufactured Food Program || Richard McMullen, Ph.D. | Associate Director for Science | State Environmental Health Director || Phillip Fruechting, R.S. | Public Health Section Chief, II | Wholesale/Manufactured Foods Program || Arkansas Department of Health
March 14 Diabetes Prevention or Wellness Promotion | Appathurai Balamurugan, MD, DrPH, MPH, FAAFP | State Chronic Disease Director | Medical Director, Chronic Disease & Tobacco Branch | Arkansas Department of Health
March 7 Racism, Bias, and Healthcare | Sara G. Tariq, MD, FACP | Professor, Internal Medicine | Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Clinical Education | Medical Director, Center for Clinical Skills Education | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 14 Social Determinants of Health:  What is CDC’s Approach | José T. Montero, MD, MHCDS | Director, Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
February 7 Emergency Medical Services:  Overview & Update | Jon M. Swanson | Executive Director | Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services
January 31 Injection Drug Use in Arkansas: Trends, Consequences, and Prevention | Mike Cima, PhD, MPH | Chief Epidemiologist | Arkansas Department of Health
January 24 Tuberculosis Transmission among United States-born Persons Residing in Southeast Arkansas, 2010 – 2018 | Sarah Labuda, MD, MPH | Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer | Center for Disease Control and Prevention | Arkansas Department of Health
January 17 Ticking Time Bomb: A Hearty New Virus Emerges in Arkansas | Laura K. Rothfeldt, DVM, DACVPM | State Public Health Veterinarian | Arkansas Department of Health | David Paul Theuret Z| Entomologist | Arkansas Department of Health
January 10, 2019 The Ongoing Hepatitis A Virus Outbreak in Arkansas and the US, 2017 – present | Dirk Haselow MD, PhD, MS | State Epidemiologist | Medical Director for Outbreak Response | Center for Health Protection | Arkansas Department of Health
2018 Videos End  
November 29 Overview of Methods and Preliminary Results of the Take Control Project to Reduce Uncontrolled Hypertension in the Arkansas Delta | James M. Raczynski, PhD., F.A.H.A. | Professor and Founding Dean | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences || Martha M. Phillips, PhD, MPH, MBA | Associate Professor | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
November 15 Challenges and Innovations in the Management of Breast Cancer | Rhonda S. Henry-Tillman., M.D. F.A.C.S. | Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology | Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine | Division Chief, Breast Surgical Oncology | Co-Director of Health Initiative and Disparities Research | Department of Surgery | Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
November 8 Arkansas’ Unique ACA Medicaid Expansion:  Impact and Evaluation | Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH | President & Chief Executive Office, Arkansas for Health Improvement
October 25 From Zika Virus to Cancer: The State of Birth Defects in Arkansas | Wendy N. Nembhard PhD MPH FACE | Chair & Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
October 18 The St. Louis para-Nitro Aniline Release | John Kind, PhD, CIH, CSP | Principal Toxicologist | Senior Vice President, Health Sciences | CTEH, LLC
October 11 Progress Toward World-wide Polio Eradication | Jennifer Dillaha, MD | Medical Director, Immunizations | Medical Advisor, Health Literacy | Arkansas Department of Health
October 4 The Deadliest Month: October 1918, The Spanish Flu in Rural Arkansas | Sam Taggart, MD | Author, Historian and Retired Family Doctor
September 27 Science, Practice, and Partnerships: Innovative Systems Alignment Strategies for Achieving Health Equity | Renee Boynton-Jarrett, MD, ScD |Associate Professor | Boston University School of Medicine | Boston Medical Center
September 20 Prevention of Firearm-Related Injury | Mary Aitken, MD, MPH | Professor of Pediatrics | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Section Chief, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation | Director, Injury Prevention Center | Arkansas Children’s Hospital
September 13 Meeting People Where They Are: Assessing Heart Disease and Stroke At Barber Shops and Beauty Shops | Michelle R. Smith, PhD, MPH | Director, Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities | Arkansas Department of Health
September 6 The Reality of Antibiotic Resistance In Arkansas | Kelley Garner, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM | Program Coordinator/Epidemiology Supervisor | Healthcare-Associated Infections Program | Arkansas Department of Health | Gary Wheeler, M.D. | Chief Medical Officer | Arkansas Department of Health
August 30 The Power of Partnerships: Advancing the Goals of the Arkansas Cancer Plan | Trena Mitchell, MA, CNP | Executive Director | Arkansas Cancer Coalition
August 16 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity:  A Call to Action | William W. Greenfield, MD, MBA | Medical Director for Office of Family Health | Arkansas Department of Health | Associate Professor | Obstetrics & Gynecology | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
August 9 Emerging Issues and Updates in Immunization | Gary Wheeler, MD, MPS | Chief Medical Officer | Arkansas Department of Health
August 2 CRISIS!  Theory and Practice | Marisha DiCarlo, PhD, MPH | Director, Office of Health Communications | Arkansas Department of Health
July 26 Africa 2018, A Sustained Mission of Hope | Leonard Ntaate Mukasa, MBChB, PhD | Chief Epidemiology Officer/Tuberculosis Program | Arkansas Department of Health
July 19 School Health Coordination and Collaboration Across Agencies | Elizabeth Seftar, RNC, CHNS/CHPS & Kimberly Hooks, RN, BSN, MPH | Office of Local Public Health | Arkansas Department of Health
June 28 Health Literacy 2.0: Keeping up with Healthcare Innovation | Kristie Hadden, PhD | Executive Director of UAMS Center for Health Literacy | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
June 21 Sickle Cell Disease in Arkansas: World Sickle Cell Day 2018 | Sarah Labuda, MD, MPH | Epidemic Intelligence Officer | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
June 14 Retail Food Inspection Baselines: A Foundation for the Future | Richard McMullen, PhD | Associate Director for Science | Center for Local Public Health | State Environmental Health Director | Arkansas Department of Health
June 7 Emerging Products Under Review at FDA: What is IQOS and Should it be Approved? | Pebbles Fagan, PhD, MPH | Director, Center for the Study of Tobacco | Department of Health Behavior and Health Education | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
May 31 How Local Health Initiatives Can Build Communities | Les Walz, MS | County Extension Agent | Staff Chair Cleveland County || Britt Talent | Editor & Publisher of Cleveland County Herald | Founds & Organizer of Arkansas Homesteading Conference || Mark Attwood, MD | Family Physician | Public Health County Health Officer
May 24 Data Mining ER Visits: Profiles, Behavioral Health, Suicide Attempts | William Golden MD, MACP | Professor of Medicine and Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Medical Director | Medicaid Program | Arkansas Department of Human Services
May 17 Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas | George Gilbert, Jr., MBA, MA, MS, CEM® | Director, US Army Pacific
May 3 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Seth Mark Berney, MD | Professor of Medicine | Chief, Division of Rheumatology | Director, Rheumatology Fellowship Program | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
April 26 Crossing the Quality Chasm: A Regional Programs Perspective | Brandie L. Mikesell, MA | Director of Clinical Transformation | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
April 19 Ready or Not, We Must Respond: An Overview of the Arkansas Medical Countermeasures Response Framework | Quinyatta Mumford, MPH | Epidemiologist | Arkansas Department of Health
April 12 Special Presentation by US Surgeon General | Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH | 20th US Surgeon General
April 5 The Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society Presents:  Exploring the Relationship of Hog Farm Exposure and COPD and Evaluation of a High Utilizers Initiative in a Developing Community Paramedicine Program | Alisha Crump | MPH Student | University of Arkansas Medical Sciences || Jana S. Jacobs, MAEd, NREMT-P, MPH | MPH Student | University of Arkansas Medical Sciences
March 29 Aging and Immunity: The Importance of Vaccines for Older Adults | Jennifer A. Dillaha, MD | Medical Director, Immunizations | Medical Advisor, Health Literacy | Arkansas Department of Health
March 22 Influenza: An Historical Perspective | Joseph Bates, MD, MS | Senior Public Health Advisor to the Director | Arkansas Department of Health
March 15 Closing Gaps and Increasing Health Equity:  Making the Case for Comprehensive Smoke-free Laws and Policies | Cynthia Hallett, MPH | President and CEO | Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights/ ANR Foundation
March 8 The Wolbachia Story: A Public Health Parable | Nate Smith, MD, MPH | Director and State Health Officer | Arkansas Department of Health
March 1 Antimicrobial Stewardship | Amanda Novack, MD | Assistant Professor of Medicine | Department of Internal Medicine | Division of Infectious Disease | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 22 A Developmental Approach to Childhood Obesity | Alan Mease, MD | Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician | Medical Director Child & Adolescent Health | Family Health Branch | Arkansas Department of Health
February 15 Training Cosmetology Students in Arkansas to Help Dermatologists Prevent Skin Cancer and Detect Melanomas Earlier | Lori Fischbach, PhD, MPH | Director, PhD Program in Epidemiology | College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 8 From Broken Bones to Bashed Brains: Raising a Generation of Gladiators Through Youth Football | Austin Porter, DrPH, MPH | Deputy Chief Science Officer | Arkansas Department of Health | Corey Montgomery, MD, MS | Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery | Associate Scientist, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute | University of Arkansas Medical Sciences
February 1 Geospatial Technologies and Public Health: Moving Beyond Mapping | Sean Young, PhD, MA | Assistant Professor | Department of Environmental and Occupational Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 25 Public Health in Arkansas’ Communities Search (PHACS):  A Resource | Martha Phillips, PhD, MPH, MBA | Associate Professor- Epidemiology | Associate Professor- Health Policy and Management | Associate Professor- Health Behavior and Health Education | Co-Director, DrPH Program | Director, Evaluation Services Unit | Director, Office of Public Health Informatics | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 18 Immunization and Communication:  How to deal with vaccine hesitant and anti-vaccine families in a fact-resistant world | Robert Hopkins Jr, MD | Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Director | Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 11 What We Learned from TB-Free Ebeye 2017:  Important Marshallese Health and Cultural Considerations for Arkansas | Jennifer A. Dillaha, MD | Medical Director, Immunizations |Medical Advisor, Health Literacy | Arkansas Department of Health
January 4, 2018 The Evolution of Our Trauma System and Integration with Stroke and STEMI | Appathurai Balamurugan, MD, DrPH, MPH | State Chronic Disease Director & Medical Director | Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Branch | Associate Director for Science | Center for Health Advancement | Arkansas Department of Health | James Bledsoe, MD, FACS | Medical Director, EMS and Trauma | Arkansas Department of Health
2017 Videos End  
December 14 Opportunities for Public Health Engagement with the UAMS Translational Research Institute | Mary Kate Stewart, MD, MPH | Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management | Fay W Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
December 7 Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: New Roles for Primary Care Providers | Peter S. Jensen, MD | Professor & Director of Research & Director, PSYCH TLC Program | Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Department of Psychiatry | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
November 30 Progress in the Arkansas Infant Child Death Review Program | Mary Aitken, MD, MPH | Director, Injury Prevention Center | Arkansas Children’s Hospital | Professor with tenure | Department of Pediatrics | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Adjunct Professor | Department of Health Policy and Management | College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
November 16 The Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention and What it is Teaching Us About the Built and School Environments Confronting Arkansas Schoolchildren | Michael Thomsen, PhD, MS | Professor | Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness | University of Arkansas | Judith Weber, PhD, RD | Director | Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention | Arkansas Children’s Research Institute
November 9 A New Paradigm in the Treatment of Diabetes | Samuel Eugene Bledsoe, MD, FACS FASMBS | Bariatric Medical Director | Bariatric & Metabolic Institute | Arkansas Heart Hospital
November 2 Gulf Exposures Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES) | Alesia Ferguson, PhD, MS, MPH | Associate Professor | Department of Environment and Occupational Health | College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
October 12 The Epidemiology and Science of ACEs for Adults and Children | Christina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH | Professor & Founding Director | Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health | The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
October 5 New methods in molecular microbiology for faster results…The Microbiology Renaissance | Eric Rosenbaum, MD, MPH, FCAP | Medical Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
September 28  Communicating for Behavior Change | Marisha DiCarlo, PhD, MPH | Director, Office of Health Communications | Arkansas Department of Health
September 7 Stillbirths: The Public Health Challenge of the 21st Century | Wendy N. Nembhard, PhD, MPH, FACE | Chairperson, Department of Epidemiology | Fay Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
August 24 A New National Pediatric Initiative: Environmental Influences of Child Health Outcomes | Charlotte Hobbs, MD, PhD | Executive Associate Dean | Clinical and Translation Research | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
August 17 The Impact of Climate Damage on Children | J. Gary Wheeler, MD, MPS | Chief Medical Officer | Arkansas Department of Health
August 10 Health Literacy’s Impact on Health Policy & Public Health Initiatives | Christopher Trudeau, JD | Associate Professor | Center for Health Literacy | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Associate Professor of Law | Bowen School of Law | University of Arkansas at Little Rock
August 3 A Sensible Solution to the Opioid Epidemic | Robert Brech, JD | General Counsel | Arkansas Department of Health
July 27 Community Water Fluoridation | Lindy Bollen, Jr., DDS | Director, Office of Oral Health | Arkansas Department of Health
July 20 Population Health Management and Hepatitis C: The Arkansas Experience | Creshelle R. Nash, MD, MPH | Medical Director | Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
July 6 The Arkansas Prescription Monitoring Program:  The Opioid Crisis in Arkansas | Denise Robertson, P.D. | Arkansas Prescription Monitoring Program Administrator | Arkansas Department of Health | Jonathan Aram, B.A., M.P.H. Student | Epidemiologist | Prescription Monitoring Program | Arkansas Department of Health
June 29 A Check Up on Unplanned Pregnancy –Trends, Innovations, and Next Steps | Andrea Kane, MPA, BA | Vice President for Policy and Strategic Partnerships | The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy | Washington, DC
June 22 Effects of Nicotine and TSNA’s from E-Cigarettes on Pregnant Women & SULT1A1 and its Biomarker Capabilities | Melissa Clemens, MPH, MLS | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Shelbie Stahr, MPH | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
June 15 O.R.H.P.C.: The Hidden Gem of ADH | LaTonya Bynum, MPH, CHES® | Rural Health Senior Analyst | Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) | Hospital Discharge Data System Programs | Arkansas Department of Health
July 13 Is Exclusive Breastfeeding the Problem? | Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC | Executive Director | National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (REAL)
June 1 SISTERS & BROTHERS UNITED: Utilizing African American Sororities and Fraternities to reduce infant mortality | Michelle Smith, PhD, MPH | Director | Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities | Arkansas Department of Health
May 25 Does Arkansas Have Lyme Disease? | Susan Weinstein, DVM, MPH | State Public Health Veterinarian | Section Chief Zoonotic Diseases | Arkansas Department of Health
May 18 The Body Clock: Biological Rhythms and Their Impact on Health | E. Robert Burns, PhD | Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences | Professor, Division of Interdisciplinary Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
May 4 Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Stewardship Public Health Activities in Arkansas | Naveen Patil, MD, MHSA, MA, FIDSA | Medical Director, Infectious Diseases Branch | Arkansas Department of Health | Kelley Garner, MPH MLS (ASCP)CM | Program Coordinator/Epidemiologist | Healthcare-Associated Infections Program | Epidemiology Branch | Arkansas Department of Health
April 27 Health of Seniors in Arkansas: Nuances of Risk Factor Reduction | Health of Seniors in Arkansas: Nuances of Risk Factor Reduction | Jeanne Wei, MD, PhD | Professor and Interim Chairman | Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics | Executive Director |Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging | The Jackson T. Stephens Chair in Geriatrics | RIOA and DWR Department of Geriatrics | Attending Physician | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
April 13 Federalism, Flexibility, and Fantasy in Health and Healthcare | Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH | President & Chief Executive Officer  Arkansas Center for Health Improvement | Professor | Division of Center for Applied Research and Evaluation | Department of Pediatrics | College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Arkansas Children’s Hospital
April 6 Relationships and Resilience: Developmental Neurobiology of Emotions | Alan Mease, MD | Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician | Medical Director Child & Adolescent Health | Family Health Branch | Arkansas Department of Health
March 30 Vape Shop Manufacturers and Distributors: What We Can Learn from Observational Studies | Pebbles Fagan, PhD, MPH | Professor | Director, Center for the Study of Tobacco | Department of Health Behavior and Health Education | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
March 23 Rwanda; Cry Not Beloved Country | Leonard Ntaate Mukasa MBChB PhD MS MPH | Chief Epidemiology Officer | Tuberculosis Control Program | Arkansas Department of Health
March 16 I Don’t Know What’s Wrong with These Two letters: TB, Stigma, and Structural Violence among the Marshallese Population of Northwest Arkansas | Caleb Klipowicz, MAAA | Applied Medical Anthropologist | University of Memphis
March 9 Factors affecting Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness: Lesson Learned from a Population-based Study in Two Southern States | L. Joseph Su, PhD, MPH | Co-Director, Cancer Control and Population Sciences | Winthrop R. Rockefeller Cancer Institute | Professor | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
March 2 What Do Students of Healthcare Economics Know about Health Care Reform? | J. Mick Tilford, PhD | Professor and Chair | Department of Health Policy and Management | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
February 23 Ethics Enlarged: Moral Considerations in State Responses to Obesity | D. Micah Hester, PhD | Chief, Division of Humanities University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Clinical Ethicist |Arkansas Children’s Hospital
February 16 Long-term Water Quality from a Broiler Litter Amended Pasture Soil | Richard McMullen, PhD | Soil Conservationist | United States Department of Agriculture | Natural Resources Conservation Services
February 9 The Supreme Court and Public Health: 2017 and Beyond | Kevin Ryan, JD, MA | Associate Professor | Department of Policy and Management | Associate Dean of Professional Programs | Co-Director DrPH Program | Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Faculty | William H. Bowen School of Law | University of Arkansas at Little Rock
February 2 HAHA! Healthy Active (Happy) Arkansas! What’s FUN got to do with it? | Namvar Zohoori, MD, MPH, PhD | Deputy Chief Science Officer | Arkansas Department of Health | Associate Professor | Department of Epidemiology | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 26 New Trends in Population Health Measurement and Data Transparency | William Golden MD, MACP | Professor of Medicine and Public Health | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Medical Director | Arkansas DHS/ Medicaid
January 19 Vaccines for Preventing and Treating Human Papillomavirus Infection: Is It Really Possible? | Jennifer Dillaha, MD | Medical Director, Immunizations | Arkansas Department of Health | Mayumi Nakagawa, MD, PhD | Professor of Pathology, College of Medicine | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
January 12 Update on Mumps and Current Status of Outbreak in NW Arkansas | Dirk Haselow, MD, PhD, MS | State Epidemiologist | Outbreak Response Medical Director | Arkansas Department of Health
January 5, 2017 A Systems Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention & Control | Appathurai Balamurugan, MD, DrPH, MPH | State Chronic Disease Director | Medical Director/Associate Director of Science | Chronic Disease Branch/Center for Health Advancement | Arkansas Department of Health

Public Health Careers

If you want to become a part of a team that values the health and well-being of all Arkansans, we welcome you to review our jobs and apply by going to the ARCareers website  and choose “The Arkansas Department of Health” from the pull-down menu. You may contact us or download an application, print it out and fax, mail or deliver it to us.

Applicants can also complete applications in person by visiting our Employment Office at the address listed below between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

The Arkansas Department of Health is a drug-free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon applicants passing a drug test, including alcohol. Employees must submit to 'for cause" and random drug testing as a condition of continued employment.

Downloads
Notice to Applicants
Employment Application




 

Careers we offer:

Below is a list of some of the careers offered at the Arkansas Department of Health.

  • Accountants
  • Administrators
  • Attorneys
  • Communications & Media
  • Computer Specialists
  • Doctors
  • Finance
  • Epidemiologists
  • Health Educators
  • Health Inspectors
  • Human Resources
  • Lab Technicians
  • Licensure & Regulations
  • Microbiologists
  • Nurses
  • Nutritionists
  • Quality Control
  • Registrars


 

Benefits

  • Performance-Based Salary Increases
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental & Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • Retirement Plans
  • Annual and Sick Leave
  • Educational Scholarships
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • Supplemental Insurance

 

Office Address Phone Fax

Human Resources

4815 W. Markham St., Slot 26
Little Rock, AR 72205

501-280-4099

501-661-2675

Plan Review - Subdivision Plans

Requirements for Submission of Subdivision Plans

Complete and detailed plans and specifications shall be submitted for review and approval to the Engineering Section, Arkansas Department of Health.  Depending on the method of water supply and wastewater disposal proposed, review will be by the Engineering Section staff and/or Regional Environmental Health Program Specialist.

Submittals must include the following items.  Subdivisions on public water and individual sewage disposal system must meet both A and B including both review fees. 

A.   Subdivisions with public water and/or public sewer.

  1. Vicinity map and legal description indication the location of the subdivision.
  2. Layout of lot boundaries, street, easements, all topographical features, and flood level of the area.
  3. Contour lines at 5 to 20 feet intervals shall be shown as relating to lot boundaries and the location of tests performed.
  4. Dimensions of lots, streets, easements, etc., of the subdivision.
  5. Detailed engineering plans and specifications for the water and/or sewer system prepared and stamped by an engineer licensed in the state of Arkansas.
  6. A review fee of 1 percent of the estimated water and/or sewer cost is to be submitted with the plans.  The minimum fee is $50 and the maximum fee is $500.  A completed cost estimate sheet for the project is to be submitted with each project unless the maximum fee of $500 is paid in which case the cost estimate is not required.

B.  Subdivision Plans with individual wells and/or individual sewage disposal systems (septic tanks).

  1. All subdivision plan review requirements outlined in the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (Sections 5.9 through 5.11) must be addressed.
  2. The addresses of all parties to receive copies of subdivision correspondence must be provided, along with three copies of the plans and specifications.
  3. A subdivision review fee is required for all plans submitted.  The fee is $100.00 for the first lot and $25.00 for each additional lot with a maximum fee of $1500.00.  A completed cost estimate sheet must be provided.
  4. Review will be by the Regional Environmental Program Specialist assigned to the region in which the subdivision is located and who will verify the data submitted. 

All items listed within these guidelines must be included in the plans and specifications. For additional information, contact the Environmental Health Specialist located at your County Health Unit, or the Engineering Section at the contact information below.

Resources

Contact Address Phone Fax
Plan Review

4815 West Markham, Slot 37
Little Rock, AR 72205-3867

 501 661-2623  501 661-2032

 

Projects Reviewed by Engineering

Subdivisions

Water and Wastewater Facilities

Swimming, Spray, and Wading Pools

Cemeteries

Mobile Home Parks

 

Contact Information

Contact Address Phone Fax
Plan Review

4815 West Markham, Slot 37
Little Rock, AR 72205-3867

 501 661-2623  501 661-2032

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Compliance with Act 1653 of 2001

The “Arkansas Freedom of Information Act” (FOIA). Section 3 of Act 1653 requires each state agency, board and commission to prepare and make available certain information to the public, including the agency’s method of operations, records the agency maintains and certain regulations, rules of procedure and policies adopted by the agency. The required information for the ADH is on this website. Many of the records may not be available for public inspection under the FOIA because they are exempt from disclosure under that Act or other state or federal law.

Requesting Records

In accordance with Act 1653 of 2001, citizens of Arkansas may request access to public records from ADH in person, by telephone, mail, facsimile transmission or e-mail, utilizing the addresses and numbers listed below.

Contact

Reginald Rogers
Arkansas Department of Health
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock Arkansas, 72205  
501-661-2878 | phone
501-661-2357 | fax

Downloads

If you have media inquiries, please contact the Office of Health Communications.

Arkansas State Board of Health

Act 96 of 1913 established the Arkansas State Board of Health. 

Board of Health members are appointed by the Governor and represent many organizations and professions concerned with public health. See Ark. Code Ann. § 20-7-102.

The Board is empowered to make all necessary and reasonable rules of a general nature for: protection of the public health and safety, general improvement of the sanitary and hygienic conditions within the state, suppression and prevention of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases, proper enforcement of quarantine, isolation and control of such diseases and proper control of chemical exposures that may result in adverse health effects to the public.

Resources

Quarterly Meetings

Meetings are held quarterly on the fourth Thursday of the month in the Charles H. Hughes, O.D. Board Room on the 9th Floor of the Freeway Medical Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, at 10:00 a.m.

The Board may change the date of the meeting by majority vote.

Date Time Location
January 28, 2021 10am Freeway Medical Building
April 22, 20201    
July 22, 2021    
October 28, 2021    
Executive Committee Meetings
Executive Committee Meetings are only held at the discretion of the President and the Secretary/Director.
Board of Health Meeting Minutes
07.23.20
05.15.20
04.23.20
03.20.20
01.23.20
10.24.19
08.01.19
04.25.19
01.24.19
10.25.18
07.26.18
04.26.18
01.25.18

County Health Officers

A County Health Officer, nominated by the County Judge and appointed by the State Board of Health, serves in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties. The County Health Officer serves as a key public health representative in the local community, promoting the use of local health unit services, advocating for public health policy initiatives with local and state policy makers, and providing assistance to local public health education and promotion initiatives.

The County Health Officer also aids and assists the State Board of Health and collaborates with the State Health Officer and the Department of Health in county emergency preparedness response and planning including implementing orders of the State Health Officer if isolation, quarantine, or emergency legal measures are required.

The County Health Officer participates in the development and review of local emergency plans and serves as a local spokesperson to the media, general public, and medical community in the event of a public health emergency.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Notice

This information describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is committed to protecting your health information.  This Notice is to inform you about our privacy practices and legal duties related to the protection of the privacy of your medical/health records that we create or receive.  

Downloads
HIPAA Privacy Notice

How we may use and disclose medical information about you?

ADH staff will only use your health information when doing their jobs.  The purposes of the use and sharing of health information are for treatment, payment for services and for Agency operations. 

Other uses, sharing of health information or disclosures of health information required or allowed by law include: 

If you do not object and the situation is not an emergency and disclosure is not otherwise prohibited by stricter laws, the ADH is permitted to release your information under the following circumstances:   

 

Your Health Information Rights

Release of your information outside of the boundaries of ADH-related treatment, payment, or operations, or as otherwise permitted by state or federal law, will be made only with your specific written authorization.  Your specific written authorization is required to release the following types of information: Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, Mental Illness, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program.  You may revoke specific authorizations to release your information, in writing, at any time.  If you revoke an authorization, we will no longer release your health information to the authorized recipient(s), except to the extent that the ADH has already used or released that information in reliance of the original authorization. 

In addition, you have the following rights regarding the health information that the ADH has about you:  

All requests for inspecting, copying, amending, making restrictions, or obtaining an accounting of your health information and any questions regarding this Privacy Notice must be directed to the Local Health Unit Hometown Health Leader.

 

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the ADH by contacting: 

Privacy Officer 
4815 West Markham, Slot 31 
Little Rock, AR 72205 
501-661-2878  

Or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by calling them at 877-696-6775 or writing them at 200 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC, 2020l.

Or with the Office of Civil Rights by calling 866-OCR-PRIV (866-627-7748), or 886-788-4989 TTY. 

 

Changes to Privacy Notice

The ADH reserves the right to revise this Privacy Notice effective for health information the ADH already has about you as well as any information received in the future. We will provide you with a copy of the revised Privacy Notice at your next visit following the effective date of the revised Privacy Notice. In addition, you may ask for a copy of our current Privacy Notice any time you visit an ADH facility for treatment or health care services. 

You may request translation or reading of this Privacy Notice. When possible, a written translation will be provided. 

Wastewater Installers

To find designated representatives authorized to maintain and install septic systems in Arkansas, filter by first name, last name, telephone number or county to narrow results.

 

Contact Us

Please direct all COVID-19 comments and questions to the ADH COVID-19 Hotline at
1-800-803-7847 or email here.
 

Click the office name below to email or access online forms. 

Office

Phone

Fax

 Online Form

Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator

 501-280-4099 501-661-2675  

Biological Agent Registry

501-661-2325

501-661-2769

 

Board of Health

501-683-6626

501-661-2357

 
Breast Care

501-280-4743

    

Breastfeeding

1-800-445-6175

501-661-2004

 
Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer

501-280-4743

    

Cancer Registry

501-661-2463

501-661-2891

 

Chemical Materials

501-661-2833

501-280-4090

 

Child & Adolescent Health

501-280-4780

501-280-4769

 

Chronic Disease

501-661-2942

501-661-2189

 

Clinician Outreach

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

Communications

501-661-2186

501-661-2414

 

Controlled Substances

501-661-2325

501-661-2769

 

Cosmetology

501-682-2168

501-682-5640

Cosmetology Complaint Form

COVID-19

1-800-803-7847

    
Diabetes

501-661-2942

    

Director’s Office

501-661-2400

501-671-1450

 

Drug Destruction

501-661-2325

501-661-2769

 

Emergency Medical Services

501-661-2262

501-280-4901

EMS Complaint Form

EMSC

501-280-4902

501-280-4901

 

Engineering

501 661-2623

501 661-2032

 

Environmental Health

501-661-2171

501-661-2572

Clean Indoor Air Act Complaint Form

Food Protection Complaint & Feeback Form

Epidemiology

501-661-2893

501-280-4090

 

Epidemiology Survelliance

501-661-2245

501-661-2428

 

Family Health

501-661-2021

501-661-2464

 

Foodborne Disease

501-661-2169;
501-280-4425

501-661-2300

Arkansas Foodborne, Waterborne and Enteric Public Complaint Surveillance Form

Food Protection Complaint & Feeback Form

Health Connections

Toll-Free: 1-800-275-1131;
Central Arkansas: 501-614-4689;
TDD: 1-800-285-1131

501-280-4180

 

Health Facility Services

501-661-2201

501-661-2165

Health Facility Services Complaints 

Health Statistics

501-661-2368

501-661-2544

 

Healthcare-associated Infections (HAI) Program

501-661-2296

 

 
Heart Disease & Stroke

501-661-2942

    

Hepatitis C

501-661-2976

501-661-2082

 

HIV/AIDS

501-661-2408

501-661-2082

 

HIV/AIDS Prevention

501-661-2408

501-661-2082

 

HIV/STD/AIDS Registry

501-661-2971

501-661-2035

 

Hometown Health Improvement

501-661-2574

501-661-2545

 

Hospital Preparedness

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

Human Resources

501-280-4099

501-661-2675

 

Immunizations

501-661-2169

501-661-2300

Arkansas Immunization Information
System  Privacy Complaint Form

Immunizations Registry

501-280-4080

501-671-1756

 

Infant Hearing

501-280-4740

501-280-4170

 

Injury Prevention

501-683-0707

501-280-4729

 

Lead-Based Paint Program

501-671-1472

501-682-5429

 

Legal

501-683-6626

501-661-2357

 

Lifestage Health

501-661-2099

501-280-4207

 

Massage Therapy

 501-683-1448 501-682-5640 Complaint Form

Medicaid Provider Appeals

 501-661-2878    

Medical Marijuana

 Toll Free 1-833-214-8619    

Medical Reserve Corps

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

Medical Waste

501-661-2621

501-280-4090

 

Minority Health and Health Disparities

501-246-0127

501-661-2414

 

Newborn Screening

866-769-9043

501-280-4769

 

Nuclear Planning and Response

479-968-7171,
800-422-6630

479-968-7702

 

Nutrition/WIC

501-661-2508

501-661-2004

 

Oral Health

501-661-2051

501-661-2240

 

Preparedness and Emergency Response

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

Procurement

501-280-4573

501-280-4474

 

Protective Health Codes

501-661-2642

501-661-2671

 

Public Health Lab

501-661-2220

501-661-2310

 

Radiation Control

501-661-2301

501-280-4993

 

Radioactive Materials

501-661-2173

501-661-2849

 

Radiologic Technology Licensure

501-661-2301

501-661-2849

 

Rural Health & Primary Care

501-280-4560

501-280-4706

 

School Health

501-280-4783

501-683-5602

 

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

501-661-2408

501-661-2082

 

STD Prevention

501-661-2408

501-661-2082

 

Strategic National Stockpile

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

System of Emergency Response Volunteers

501-661-2482

501-280-4140

 

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

501-661-2953

501-280-4040

 

Toxic Substances Registry

501-280-4168

501-280-4090

 

Trauma Dashboard Help Desk

414-721-9700
(option 3)

 

 

Trauma Registry

501-661-2323

501-661-2544

 

Trauma Systems

501-671-1428

501-280-4729

 

Tuberculosis

501-661-2152

501-661-2226

 

Vital Records

501-661-2336,
800-637-9314

501-661-2717

 
Volunteer Program 501-661-2136
1-800-554-5738		 501-280-4140  

West Nile Virus

501-280-4136

501-280-4431

 
WIC (Women, Infants & Health) 501-661-2508 501-661-2004

WIC Fraud and Abuse Complaints:

English | Spanish

Women's Health - General Questions

501-661-2480

501-661-2464

 

Women's Health - Medical Questions

501-661-2480

501-661-2464

 

X-ray Program

501-661-2378

501-280-4993

Radiologic Technology Licensure Complaint Form

Zoonotic Diseases (Rabies)

501-280-4136

501-280-4431

 

If you are unable to find what you are looking for, use our Online Contact Form.

You may also call the Arkansas Department of Health main number at 501-661-2000.

Recent Final Rules

Proposed Repeal of Rules

Proposed New Rules

Milk Bank Standard

Proposed Amendments to Existing Rules

Secretary’s Message

  Welcome to the Department of Health web site. I hope that you find our web site a helpful resource – one that provides you with a better understanding of public health. 

Public health touches the lives of everyone in our state. It has a key role in protecting and improving the health of Arkansans. In fact, public health measures have been responsible for many of the major improvements in the health of Arkansans. Controlling epidemics, ensuring safe food and water, and maternal and child health services are a few of the public health activities that have improved our quality of life. 

Many of our services are provided at the local level through a statewide service network. Our public health workforce is working every day to promote prevention services and to defend against threats to the public’s health. "Keeping Your Hometown Healthy" is more than a slogan for us.

I hope you find what you are looking for here and will add our web site to your list of favorites. Technology can help us be better informed about your needs. Please give us your suggestions and ideas for improvement.

José R. Romero, MD
Secretary of Health

Resources
100 Years of Service

Southeast

DO NOT DELETE.  THIS IS PULLING IN THE SOUTHEAST TEMPLATE FOR LOCAL HEALTH UNITS.

Central

DO NOT DELETE.  THIS IS PULLING IN THE CENTRAL TEMPLATE FOR LOCAL HEALTH UNITS.

Northeast

Southwest

DO NOT DELETE.  THIS IS PULLING IN THE SOUTHWEST TEMPLATE FOR LOCAL HEALTH UNITS.

Local Health Units

Due to COVID-19 each local health unit new operating hours are: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Daily Except Tuesdays, General Clinic on Tuesday 9:30am TO 6:00pm.

Northwest

Health Units

Due to COVID-19 each local health unit new operating hours are: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Daily Except Tuesdays, General Clinic on Tuesday 9:30 AM TO 6:00 PM.

Click here for a list of Local Health Units that are partially or fully closed. All other health units not listed are fully open. The list is subject to change on a day to day basis.

About ADH

Mission Statement: To protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans.

Vision Statement: Optimal health for all Arkansans to achieve maximum personal, economic and social impact.Arkansas Department of Health graphic

What is public health? One definition – from a 1988 report by the Institute of Medicine’s “The Future of Public Health” – is this: “Public health is the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and organizing community efforts to do the following: keep the environment clean, control communicable infections, educate individuals in personal hygiene (like hand washing for example), organize medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and treatment of disease, and develop the social machinery to ensure everyone a healthy standard of living.”

To say that another way, public health is everything the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) does to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans – more than 100 services provided statewide by public health professionals to assure that your water is safe, your children have their immunizations, your restaurants are safe and your birth certificate is correct – to name just a few.

The ADH is a unified health department, with a main office in Little Rock and 94 local health units in each of the state’s 75 counties. We have Centers that oversee all that we do.

In addition, our Public Health Laboratory tests and reports on samples from all over the state – water samples, human samples for disease, even samples for rabies. This state-of-the-art laboratory is prepared for a pandemic flu or a bioterrorist event, as well.

Supporting the various service programs throughout ADH is Administration, which includes finance, human resources, information technology, legal, minority health, community support, health communication and marketing, tobacco prevention and cessation, policies and procedures and facilities support.

The mission of the Department is to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. We do this with the support of over 2,100 dedicated employees and public and private partners. All employees in our diverse workforce are expected to exemplify professionalism in everything they do. They are passionate about what they do, because they are making a difference by helping people make their lives healthier.

You may review a directory of agency contacts here.

 

ADH Strategic Plan FY2018-19

All state agencies were asked by Governor Hutchinson to prepare a two-year strategic plan to cover the period encompassing FY2018-2019. The plan presented by the Arkansas Department  of Health (ADH), and approved by the Governor, is an adaptation of a four-year plan ADH began in January 2016. The goal areas in the two-year plan include the original six goal areas of Childhood Obesity, Hypertension, Immunizations, Mental and Community Wellness, Teen Pregnancy, and Tobacco Use, but also include a new goal area on Efficiency and Responsiveness. The new goal area is in response to the Governor’s request that specific operational objectives be included in addition to the health issues already prioritized for focused effort. It should be noted that the two-year objectives may differ slightly from the original four-year objectives as baseline data has been updated to reflect the current status and different metrics may have been determined to provide better data. Objectives listed are those which are receiving priority focus during this two-year period and may have been modified from the original.

ADH is also accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), the national accrediting body for public health agencies, and has to meet specific five-year requirements including a state health assessment and continuous quality improvement (CQI) plan in order to maintain accreditation. The Arkansas Department of Health is currently in year two of a five year accreditation cycle and will be implementing a CQI program that utilizes tools and training appropriate for public health programs at all levels of the department.

Click HERE to view and print the ADH Strategic Plan FY2018-19

Downloads
Organization Chart
Services Directory
Strategic Map CY 2016 - 2019
Strategic Plan Supplement 2016 - 2019
ADH Guiding Principles
ADH Guide to Programs & Services
Office Address Phone Fax
Main Office 4815 W. Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205		 800-462-0599 (toll-free)
501-661-2000		 501-280-4444
Director’s Office 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 36
Little Rock, AR 72205		 501-661-2400 501-671-1450

Rules

The State Board of Health is empowered to make all necessary and reasonable rules of a general nature for the protection of the public health and safety; for the general amelioration of the sanitary and hygienic conditions within the state; for the suppression and prevention of infectious, contagious, and communicable diseases; for the proper enforcement of quarantine, isolation, and control of such diseases; and for the proper control of chemical exposures that may result in adverse health effects to the public. The Department of Health is the state agency responsible for implementing the Board's rules.

The Board updates its rules on a continuing basis. The Board must follow the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA") to amend, repeal or adopt a rule. 

The following questionnaire must also be utilized for filing proposed rules: Questionnaire For Filing Proposed Rules.

An essential part of the APA allows the public to comment on any rule being amended, repealed or proposed and the Board values your comments and questions.

Please see the Final Rules Table of Contents to view the Board's current rules.


Public Health Emergency Regulatory Suspensions Pursuant to Executive Order 20-06 and 20-16

On March 17, 2020, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-06, ordering state agencies to “identify provisions of any regulatory statute, agency order or rule that in any way prevents, hinders, or delays the agency’s ability to render maximum assistance” to Arkansans during the COVID-19 health emergency. The Order instructed state agencies to identify regulatory statutes, orders, and rules that are hindering or preventing the rapid response necessary to combat the spread of and recovery from COVID-19. The Order requires agencies to identify any such statutes, orders, or rules on its website. Once posted, the statute, rule, or order is deemed suspended for thirty (30) days from the effective date of EO 20-06. On April 13, 2020, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-16, extending the suspension until this emergency subsides.

The Secretary of Health has identified certain statutes and rules issued by the Department that he deems a hindrance to mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

They include the following:

Dept of Health Medical Marijuana patient applications Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016:
Amendment 98, sections 1-8 | sections 9-26

Telehealth for the physician written certification (PWC) is temporarily allowed until the emergency declaration is concluded. Physicians may provide the certification to the patient via email or mail.
Dept of Health Home Health Agencies 20-10-806 and Rules for Home Health Agencies Surveys and inspections are temporarily suspended, with the exception of immediate jeopardy complaints:
  • Suspended RN supervisory visits
  • Allow extension of current care.
Dept of Health, Hospital Term: “Physician” is assumed to be that of a medical doctor.

Emergency Definition:

“Physician” means Qualified Medical Professional, working within their scope of practice.

Qualified Medical Professional also includes:

  • Physician assistant
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Clinical nurse specialist
  • Certified registered nurse anesthetist
  • Certified nurse-midwife
  • Clinical social worker
  • Clinical psychologist
  • Anesthesiologist’s Assistant
  • Registered dietician or nutrition professional
Dept of Health State Hospital Rules The Medical Staff will be responsible for assuring these professionals provide quality care, they also can approve roles and responsibilities (privileges) to members.

Section 6: Medical Staff

B.  Medical Staff Bylaws

1.  Medical Staff shall be responsible to the Governing Body of the facility for the quality of medical care provided for patients in the hospital and for the clinical and professional practices of members.
Dept of Health Arkansas Rules for Hospitals and Related Institutions, Section 11.E.1 There shall be no more beds maintained in the building than the number of beds for which the hospital is licensed except in the case of a public disaster or national emergency and then only as a temporary measure. There is no need to request an increase in licensed beds at this time as we are under a National/State Emergency with the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dept. of Health Newborn Screening Program 20-15-301 and Act 113 of 1995 CAH programs do not provide direct services for newborn screening or infant hearing. CAH programs oversee the following statutes and rules which require person-to-person contact during service delivery. Each of these services occur following birth of a child where person-to-person contact is required.
Dept. of Health Infant Hearing Program Act 1559 of 1999. 20-15-1501 CAH programs do not provide direct services for newborn screening or infant hearing. CAH programs oversee the following statutes and rules which require person-to-person contact during service delivery. Each of these services occur following birth of a child where person-to-person contact is required.
Dept. of Health Licensed Lay Midwifery LLM Rule 302.01 Risk Assessments.
Dept. of Health Licensed Lay Midwifery LLM Rule 302.02 Required Antepartum Services at or Near the Initiation of Care.
Dept. of Health Licensed Lay Midwifery LLM Rule 302.04.01 Routine antepartum visits must be made approximately every four (4) weeks during the first 28 weeks of gestation, approximately every two (2) weeks from the 28th to 36th weeks, and weekly thereafter until delivery.
Dept. of Health

Licensed Lay Midwifery

 LLM Rule 302.05 Required Antepartum Services at 24-28 weeksRow►
Dept. of Health

Licensed Lay Midwifery

 LLM Rule 302.06 Required Antepartum Services at 35 to 37 weeks
Dept. of Health

Licensed Lay Midwifery

 LLM Rule 302.07.01 Pre-Delivery Home Visit
Dept. of Health Emergency Medical Services Licensure Renewal Extended
Dept. of Health EMS/Trauma
  1. Aligning with NREMT and allow for provisional licensure for paramedic, EMT and AEMT licenses. Looking at the data, we will only have 24 paramedic candidates who could be eligible for this provisional certification, provided the students pass the paramedic course and the cognitive exam. We have an additional 118 paramedic candidates that will possibly be eligible by September. With clinical and field internships delayed, these student’s graduation dates may be delayed. While this may not gain a large number of individuals, under these particular circumstances, some may be better than none.
  2. EMS providers that did not recertify within the past 4 years, be looked at for temporary licensure as well. These individuals could not have had their license revoked or suspended by the Agency, but that were in good standing when they relinquished their license. All EMS providers work under the direction of a medical director, EMS agencies could vet these candidates with "temp" licenses and use them should their personnel get ill or are otherwise restricted from work.
Dept. of Health SECTION IV. GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICE LICENSURE CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS B. 6.

Tiered Response: A licensed ambulance service which has its own dispatch center and uses a dispatch process with certified emergency medical dispatchers that is recognized by the Section and is reliably able to differentiate and categorize the severity of the emergency call may assign the appropriate level of ambulance to that call. Services utilizing a tiered response dispatch process shall meet the following provisions:

a. The emergency call must be answered and screened by a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD). EMD Certification must be obtained and maintained by a National Recognized Certifying body that is recognized by the Section of EMS.

b. The EMD Center must have Medical Direction oversight.

c. The service shall be required to have a quality assurance program in place to insure compliance with their service protocols and shall be reviewed by the Medical Director within 30 days of the call date.

d. All tiered responses that require a higher level intercept shall be tracked separately and reported to the section on a quarterly basis.

e. The service shall have a process in place that would specifically and reliably identify which calls are appropriate for less than the highest level of permitted ambulance and track all calls in which this dispatch process is implemented.

f. All requirements are met for the ambulance that is responding for equipment, personnel and licensure standards set forth in regulation.

 
Dept. of Health SECTION IV. GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICE LICENSURE CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS A. 2 -4

2. Licensed Paramedic Services shall have fifty percent (50%) or more ambulances permitted at the Paramedic level. Only licensed Paramedic Services may operate Paramedic ambulances.

3. Licensed Advanced EMT Services shall have fifty percent (50%) or more ambulances permitted at the Advanced EMT level. Only Advanced EMT and Paramedic Services may operate Advanced EMT ambulances.

4. Licensed EMT Services shall have ambulances permitted only at the EMT level. Paramedic and Advanced EMT Services may also operate EMT ambulances.
Dept. of Health D. Specific Standards 1. B., 3. B., 4. B., 5.B. Temporary Rule to Implement:
Remove the 2-minute reaction time. This will also for proper triage and screening to ensure the protection of the responding providers and allow for proper PPE to be used and ambulance to be configured if needed.
Dept. of Health SECTION V. PERMITTING OF GROUND EMERGENCY VEHICLES B. Vehicle General Standards 5., 9., 10

5. New ambulances replacing a permitted vehicle or being added to an existing service license must be inspected and permitted prior to being placed in service.

9. Only ambulances of a Paramedic or Advanced EMT Service shall be equipped with ALS Equipment unless a prior request for an upgrade has been made and approved by the department.

10. Temporary upgrades and downgrades of permitted ambulances are for mechanical reasons only and must be for a temporary period of time. Notice shall be made in writing on approved forms to the Department prior to any changes in equipment or staffing of permitted ambulances. Upgrades and downgrades are not permitted for the purposes of staffing. Permanent upgrades and downgrades shall follow the same guidelines as a new vehicle permit.
Dept. of Health SECTION V. PERMITTING OF GROUND EMERGENCY VEHICLES C. Ambulance Staffing Requirements 1-7 Temporary Rule to Implement:
Allow ambulance services to staff their ambulance with the highest trained personnel available to respond for service. This may include adding physicians, nurses, or other licensed healthcare providers.
Allow ambulance services to staff their ambulance with a driver who is not currently licensed as an EMS provider.
Dept. of Health SECTION IX. EDUCATION, TESTING AND LICENSURE OF PERSONNEL B. 5. Emergency Vehicle Operator: a. Successful completion of a National recognized First Responder Course of a minimum of 40 hours of training. b. Copy of a current signed Healthcare Provider CPR card (Must follow current American Heart Association Guidelines and require a hands on skills component) documenting completion of a CPR course designed specifically for healthcare providers. c. Emergency Vehicle Operator Course d. 10 hours of refresher training every two years to include emergency vehicle operations.
Dept. of Health SECTION IX. EDUCATION, TESTING AND LICENSURE OF PERSONNEL C. 1-2 Directive already issued to extend relicensure deadline to June 30, 2020 See directive here.
Dept. of Health Other Suggestions
  1. Mechanisms for temporary licensure of EMS providers who have lapsed licensure within the past 5 years. We could modify licensure and credentialing procedures to meet the exigencies of the situation while assuring public health and safety.
    • The state could implement a just-in-time training program, combined with appropriate and coordinated information to the EMS medical directors and EMS providers, that will help to ensure appropriate and competent medical care.
  2. All EMS providers to include points of referral for patients who need information but do not need emergency care or transport. Allow EMS Services to not transport patients that would not need emergency transport, but provide information of health alternatives, or connect them to a COVID evaluation hotline. the appropriate care may be to have individuals stay at home and practice social distancing and quarantine measures rather than be transported to a healthcare facility.
    • EMS Treat and Release - Community containment strategies designed to limit the spread of the virus may require patients be treated and released without transport. Additionally, healthcare facilities may become overwhelmed with patients, making it necessary to consider alternative options for patients who can be safely treated without transport.
    • If a treatment without transport role is deemed appropriate for EMS providers, the EMS medical director, in coordination with local public health authorities, should establish criteria and reporting requirements.
    • “Treat and release” and “treatment without transport” protocols require oversight by EMS medical directors.
    • EMS agencies and EMS medical directors should coordinate with the local public health authorities to pre-determine the destination of both suspected COVID-19 and positive COVID-19.
      • Appropriate education programs for EMS personnel, physicians, and the public should be established before the implementation of non-transport policies. 
Dept. of Health  Rules pertaining to Tuberculosis (2020) Temporarily suspending baseline screening for health care workers and long-term care
Dept. of Health Rules for Hospitals and Related Institutions Arkansas licensed ambulatory surgery center in good standing with the state and CMS may apply for a temporary hospital license. The temporary hospital license is dependent upon an application, and attestation that all hospital basic requirements are met, with the one exception of operation of an emergency department. The temporary hospital license for an Ambulatory Surgery Center is applicable only during the Governors Executive Order 20-03 and as amended by Executive Order 20-16, or any future Executive Order renewing the disaster and public health emergency specific to Covid-19. The temporary license is immediately terminated at the cessation of the Executive Order 20-03 , as amended by Executive Order 20-16 ,or any future Executive Order renewing the disaster and public health emergency specific to Covid-19.
Dept. of Health Trauma Trauma designation site surveys will be suspended for at least 6 months, with the ability to extend as needed. Trauma centers who designation expires during this time will remain designated at their current level until their next scheduled site survey. 
Dept. of Health Trauma Data abstraction requirements shall be suspended, with the understanding that data not enetered during this time will need to be entered at a later date.
Dept. of Health Trauma Staffing requirements and percentages may be suspended due to staff being furloughed due to COVID-19.
Dept. of Health Trauma Required QA/QI and other trauma-related meetings may also be suspended during this time period.
Dept. of Health Rules Pertaining to Water Operator Licensing Section XIII. A: 24 hours of additional training instruction, per two year renewal period for the 2019 to 2021 period, is waived.

 

Rules Currently Being Amended, Repealed or Promulgated

 

Emergency Rules

Proposed Amendments to Existing Rules

Proposed New Rules 

Proposed Repeal of Rules

Recent Final Rules

Repealed Rules

Resources

Bed Bugs
Blood Pressure for Professionals
Blood Pressure for Patients and the Public
Cancer
CDC
Clean Indoor Air
Communicable Diseases
Communications: ADH Brochure | ADH Guide to Programs & Services | ADH Helpful Numbers
Community Health
Cross Connection
Diabetes
Drinking Water Lead Results
Emergency Medical Services
Environmental Health Forms and Guidelines
Fish Advisory Fact Sheets
Food Protection
General Sanitation
Heart Disease
Home Visiting
Hometown Health
Household Sharps Disposal Guidance
Infant Hearing
Immunizations
Injury and Violence Prevention
Medical Marijuana
Mold Cleanup Guidance
Mold Facts in Indoor Environments
Milk Program
Minority Health
Newborn Screening - Fact Sheets for Parents
Newborn Screening - Resources for Families
Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Onsite Wastewater
Oral Health
Ozone Action Days
Pharmacy Services & Drug Control
Physical Activity
Plumbing, Natural Gas or HVAC
Poison Resources
Public Water Plan Review Guidance and Forms
Rural Health
Radiologic Technology Continuing Education
Radon Gas
Safe Swimming
STD Prevention
Stroke
Swim Beach/Marine Sanitation
Swimming Pool Program
Tattoo and Body Art Resources
Tobacco Cessation
Trauma System
Vaccines for Children
Water Operator Certification
Water System Consumer Confidence Reports
Water System Forms
Worksite Wellness
Zika

 

 

 

Resources and Publications

Public Health Accrediation Board
Arkansas Department of Health
© 2017 Arkansas Department of Health. All Rights Reserved. www.healthy.arkansas.gov
4815 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
1-800-462-0599
For information, inquiries, feedback and comments contact us.