east valley
Volume 2 Issue 09 Mesa, AZ
September 15, 2019
New Mesa hospital touts convenient ER care BY HALEY LORENZEN Tribune Staff Writer
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IN THE BIZ
lthough the new Abrazo Mesa Hospital only has 13 emergency room beds and is smaller than typical hospitals, that’s not stopping its medical staff from the goal of bringing the same level of emergency and health care services to East Valley residents. “The East Valley is inundated with patients that need care,” said Christy Matlock, Abrazo Mesa administrative director. “We’re happy to be part of the East Valley to help offload some of the burdens from the ERs here and also offer new patient care as well.” Slated to open within the next three to six weeks, the neighborhood hospital will offer 24-hour emergency care and minor surgery. A surgical suite, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, other emergency medical services and eight inpatient rooms will also be included in the 32,500-squarefoot building. The hospital is part of the Abrazo Community Health Network, which is a part of Tenet Healthcare. The network currently has several facilities in the West Valley, while the Mesa location will be the first in the East Valley. This is the first hospital of smaller scale to be built by Abrazo, although it is building a similar neighborhood facility in Surprise that is slated to open in 2020. Matlock, who began her career at Abrazo in 2013 as an emergency room nurse, said that the goal of the Abrazo Mesa is Public Notices ............... page 3 © Copyright, 2019 East Valley Tribune
Abrazo Mesa Hospital administrative Director Christy Matlock is looking forward to seeing the facility in full operation soon. (Special to the Tribune)
to provide emergency care efficiently and effectively. She said that Abrazo has owned the land near Baseline and Recker roads for quite some time. Many of the patients at Abrazo’s other campuses in the Valley travel from the East Valley to receive care, which strengthened Abrazo’s interest in expanding into the East Valley, she added. “This is a new type of hospital,” said Keith Jones, spokesman for Tenet Healthcare. “The focus is going to be on providing emergency care with hopefully shorter wait times than in the ER, as well as the ability to provide less complex surgical procedures.” Staffing the hospital has not been an issue, said both Jones and Matlock, even (USPS 004-616) is published weekly
Mailing Address: 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 898-6500 Steven Strickbine, publisher Paul Maryniak, executive editor
with the current doctor shortage in Arizona. Arizona ranks 44th nationally in the total number of primary care physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, and is only meeting 41.7 percent of its primary care physician need. “There’s a lot of people very excited to be a part of something new, wanting to be involved from the ground up,” Matlock said. The Abrazo Health Community Network has three medical residency programs. They include a family medicine residency that was established in 1978, as well as internal medicine and a general Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
see ABRAZO page 3 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: East Valley Tribune, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 291, Tempe, AZ 85282
EV autism clinic expanding to second clinic BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer
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specialized learning center is opening its newest location this will and will teach children with autism the necessary skills for school – from communication and behavior to making friends. Autism Spectrum Therapies, or AST, based out of California, currently has centers in Tempe and Tucson, where they use applied behavior analysis treatment. Six of the 12 AST board-certified behavior specialists will be at the Gilbert center. Gilbert resident and Clinical Director Jessica Belokas explains she, “saw a need and a demand in Gilbert,” for this center. “There’s a great need in the East Valley for autism services.” According to Belokas, “There are lots of families” with autistic children in Gilbert; which has experienced steady increases of autism diagnosis’ over the last 10 years. Belokas attributed the increase to a combination of better prescreening by pediatricians and a better understanding of developmental disabilities. Last week, the staff added finishing touches to the center’s five therapy rooms. Autism spectrum disorder, which can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, affects about 1 in 59 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total estimated annual costs for autism treatments in the United States is between $11.5 billion – $60.9 billion, according to the most recent CDC survey. Additionally, families with ASD children and adolescents on average spend $4,110– $6,200 more per year on medical expenditures than those without ASD. Because there is no medical test, doctors are able to diagnose autism by looking at a child’s behavior and development. ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. There is currently no cure but research shows early intervention services can improve a child’s development. “We focus on early intervention and have clients as young as 18 months, who may not be accessing the public-school
Easton Belokas is flanked by Autism Spectrum Therapies behavior analysts Michele Vail, left, and Christina Ricciardelli. (Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer)
system yet,” Belokas said. “Our purpose is to get them early and teach them communication skills, behavior management skills, social skills and other executive functioning skills so they can access the typical educational environment when they enter pre and kindergarten at age 3, 4, 5,” she added. AST, founded in 2001 by two doctors, is based on the principles of teaching in the natural environment with a focus on the family and centering on building functional skills that foster independence, according to the company website. Clinicians conduct an extensive evaluation of a child’s present levels to determine appropriate goals and intervention strategies. Programs are then tailored to the child’s unique interests and strengths and sessions are often incorporated into typically occurring family routines. “Our services are home-based, as well as in the clinic and community,” Belokas said. “They can receive therapy service wherever it’s deemed appropriate.” She said for service at schools, most of the clinic’s partnerships are with private and charter schools. The clinic serves children to young adults with all levels of autism. “We have families waiting for our doors to open,” Belokas said. “We have a waiting list as well.”
EAST VALLEY BUSINESS
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The clinic can immediately accommodate families who request services before 3 p.m. but there is an 18-month waiting list for those requesting services after 3 p.m., she said. Depending on a child’s needs, the clinic may recommend anywhere from a minimum of 10 hours of services a week to 30 hours a week, she added. Gilbert mom Katie Hurstwicker, whose two sons received ABA therapy at the Tempe location, plans to switch over to the Gilbert clinic. “I have been driving 30 minutes to Tempe,” she said. “So I’m ecstatic that they will have an office so close to me now.” When her oldest son, who is 7, was first diagnosed two years ago with autism, Hurstwicker said she felt overwhelmed, helpless and hopeless. Although there are hundreds of treatment options, the psychologist who saw her son recommended AST, Hurstwicker said, adding ABA therapy is the only treatment endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and is backed by years of scientific research. “AST has given my son, myself and my family the tools to be tackle autism spectrum disorder,” she said. “AST gave me the knowledge, support and confidence to best support my son.”
see AUTISM page 3
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
AUTISM from page 2
Abrazo’s Mesa hospital near Baseline and Recker Rooads eventually will join its company counterparts in its three residency programs. (Special to the Tribune)
ABRAZO from page 1
surgery residency, both of which were launched this summer. These residency programs rotate throughout different Abrazo hospitals throughout the Valley, and Matlock said that the programs may begin rotations at the Abrazo Mesa Hospital in the near future. “Doctors who participate in residency programs tend to stay in the communities that they went to the program in,” Jones said, explaining that many former
Public Notice IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA No. PB2019-092223 In the Matter of the Estate of: KIM MARIE McCAFFERTY Deceased NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION NOTICE IS GIVEN that Saundra L Hughes has been appointed as the personal representative of the estate of KIM MARIE McCAFFERTY. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of the notice or within sixty (60) days after mailing or other delivery of this notice, whichever is later, or the claims will be forever barred. See A.R.S 14-3303 and 14-3308. Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the personal representative at the address be-low. Saundra L
Abrazo medical residents continue to work in the Abrazo network. The licensing process has been completed and hospital officials are currently waiting on the DEA application to be processed. Matlock said they are eagerly anticipating announcing the official opening date. Abrazo Mesa Hospital will be located at 5750 E. Baseline Road. “As soon as we have the go-ahead, we want to be ready to open the doors and be prepared for anything that comes our way,” Matlock said.
Open house
What: Autism Spectrum Therapies When: 2-4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19 Where: 2730 S. Val Vista Drive, Building 10, Suite 161 Information: autismtherapies.com
Pew and Lake, PLC, applicant; Power Road Gate-way, LLC, owner. 2. ZON19-00322 (District 3) Within the 1600 through 1700 blocks of South Dobson Road (west side) and within the 2000 block of West Isabella Avenue (north side). Located west of Dobson Road south of US 60 (10± acres). Rezone from LCPAD to RM-4-PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of a multiple residence development. Brennan Ray, Burch & Cracchiolo, PA, applicant; TIC Dobson Ranch, LLC Etal, owner. 3. ZON19-00357 (District 5) Within the 8000 through 8100 blocks of East McKellips Road (south side). Located west of Hawes Road on the south side of McKellips Road (40± acres). Rezone from RS-35 to RS-15-PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of a single-residence subdivision. Alex Caraveo, Coe & Van Loo Consultants, applicant; Desert
Hughes 995 E Runaway Bay Place Chandler AZ 85249 PUBLISHED: East Valley Tribune, Sept 1, 8, 15, 22, 2019 / 23140
Public Notice CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE
The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinance at the September 23, 2019 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street. 1. ZON19-00304 (District 6) Within the 6000 through 6300 blocks of South Power Road. Located south of Williams Field Road between the northbound and southbound lanes of Power Road (11± acres). Rezone from RM-4-BIZ and LC-BIZ-CUP to RM-4-PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a multiple residence development. Sean Lake,
EAST VALLEY BUSINESS
She said the staff is involved in every aspect of her son’s life to where he has made positive and meaningful strides, emotionally, socially and behaviorally. “When my 2-year-old son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum 10 months ago, AST was my first call to get him started with their treatment team,” she said. “After 10 months of ABA therapy through AST, my almost 3-year-son is now almost indistinguishable from his neurotypical peers.” AST has plans for more locations in the Valley with an eye on Glendale for sometime next year. “As soon as we are up and running, we will start looking at the end of September, October for appropriate space,” Belokas said. Though other companies offer similar services, Belokas said there’s a lot that sets AST apart from them. “We are family-centered and like to individualize our program to the families and individuals we serve,” she said. “We have a vast network of very experienced professionals and we value evidence-based practices and top-service.”
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Vista 100, LLC, owner. 4. ZON19-00403 (District 5) Within the 5600 block of East Longbow Parkway (south side). Located north of McDowell Road and west of Recker Road (3.2± acres). A Council Use Permit (CUP) to allow a hotel use in the Airport Overflight Area-2 (AOA-2); a Bonus Intensity Zone Overlay (BIZ) to allow modifications to the Light Industrial (LI) development stand-ards; and Site Plan Review. Matthew Kosednar, Allen + Philp Partners, applicant; Long-bow Hotel Associates I, LLC, owner. DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 15th day of September 2019. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune Sept 15, 2019 / 23786
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
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