The Mayo Clinic in northeast Phoenix has fired a surgeon who took photos of a patient’s tattooed genitals and showed them to other colleagues.

Chandler Regional Medical Center was named by GetWellNetwork as the “outcomes achievement” winner in patient satisfaction for 2012.

The Cancer Center at Chandler Regional Medical Center provides cancer patients and co-survivors (family and those in the caregiving role) with music therapy, journaling, and art therapy free with the goal to increase positive mood, decrease anxiety and build social networks for support.

Tucked away in an extra room on a patient floor in one of the towers of Banner Boswell Medical Center is a new heart monitoring station capable of keeping an eye on more than 200 patients. Lorraine Gerraughty, the central monitor station manager, explained the new system not only allows the hospital to observe patients’ hearts, but it also gives those patients a little peace of mind and gives doctors and nurses real-time accounts of any issues.

What could be a more compassionate, rewarding thing to do than to make sure someone doesn’t die or suffer alone? Numerous hospice agencies in Arizona, including several in the East Valley, are looking for volunteers to befriend a patient who is dying or in pain. You might be asked to read to a patient, play a game of cards, or simply be there to listen. Some hospice agencies are also seeking volunteer music therapists or those with animals trained in pet therapy to help people who are facing end-of-life issues. If you’d like to help, contact Nancy Trevitt of Sun Valley Hospice, 7227 E. Baseline Road, Mesa, at (480) 558-2002; Katherine Jeffers of Hospice of the Southwest, 450 N. Dobson Road, Suite 108, at (480) 456-9300; Alma Riedel of Grace Hospice, 4515 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, at (480) 775-2599; or Sandra Lafler of Sunrise Health and Hospice, 1840 E. University Drive, Suite 2, Mesa, at (480) 246-3500. A TB test may be required. Hospice agencies ask that volunteers respect a patient’s confidentiality, be professional, and most of all, have a caring spirit.

 Health care reform has returned to the front burner of today’s political conversation, as it should. The cost of health care and health insurance continues to rise, making it more and more difficult for the average person to afford.

PHOENIX - A man who suffers from a multiple drug-resistant form of tuberculosis returned to Arizona after doctors treating him in Colorado said he is no longer infectious.

Good things came to a team that waited. That's the motto the Peoria Panthers (2-0) played by in Friday night's 4A matchup against the Independence Patriots (0-2) as it overcame a quiet first quarter at home to win 41-0. "We just started out slow," said senior running back Ezra Sanchez. "We weren't getting anything going against them. We were just in a funk. But the ?D' did it's job and pulled us back up, and we fed off that." The Panther offense went three-and-out on its first two drives, as Peoria fought to find its rhythm against the Patriots, especially during its second drive. Quarterback Vinnie Spano fumbled a snap on second-and-seven, and running back Jamal Miles fumbled after breaking through the defensive line, giving the ball back to the Patriots midway through the first quarter. They hadn't earned a first down by that point, nor did they cross into Independence territory. However, Peoria's defense, which also forced two straight three-and-outs to start, stood strong allowing two short completions and forcing Independence's third punt of the quarter on its third consecutive three-and-out. "Our defense really stepped up tonight," said Peoria Head Coach Doug Clapp. "When you have 10 new kids playing on one side of the ball you don't know what you're going to get." The Panthers offense took it from there, capping a 12-play, 86-yard drive on Sanchez's 10-yard run to the right corner of the end zone. Sanchez rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries with the touchdown. The drive was paced by Miles, who had runs of 26 and 15 yards to setup the scoring strike. Miles led all rushers with 170 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 46 yards, 6 yards, and 2 yards. Over the season's first two games, Miles has rushed for 274 yards and scored seven touchdowns. "Those two guys (Miles and Sanchez) really complement each other," Clapp said. "Ezra is a slasher while Jamal is a hard runner, getting the tough yards." The momentum gained by the offense played into the defense which stalled a 14-play, 47-yard Patriot drive when they couldn't convert on on a fourth-and-17 pass from quarterback Jeff Sielliger to Tyquan Wilson who fell three yards shy of a first down. Wilson led the Patriots with 84 yards rushing on 19 carries. After that it was the Panthers ground attack that kept Independence at bay. Peoria racked up 304 yards rushing and converted 10 first downs on the ground. Meanwhile, the defense held the Patriots to 159 total yards (126 rushing, 33 passing). It finished with one interception, a fumble recovery on a poorly snapped punt and blocked a punt that was recovered by Xavier Morley, all setting up scores. In fact, six of the Panthers' last seven drives ended with a touchdown. "(Independence) are a much better team than what the score shows," Clapp said. "We just followed our game plan, which was to run the ball and wear them down in the second half. We did a good job executing that plan."

For two years, Steve Nash tore his hair out because the Suns didn’t have a capable backup point guard.

Steve Hardy leans forward and balances his upper body, pressing his fists into the couch. "So I do it like this?" he asks, on tightened elbows.

Steve Hardy leans forward and balances his upper body, pressing his fists into the couch. "So I do it like this?" he asks, on tightened elbows.

Patients of a Valley dentist who declared bankruptcy and closed his office fear they are going to be left with unfinished dental work and bills for completed service.

Emergency room nurses at two Scottsdale hospitals are riding along with firefighters to help understand what patients and paramedics experience in the field.

Emergency room nurses at two Scottsdale hospitals are riding along with firefighters to help understand what patients and paramedics experience in the field.

Carl Hager felt intense relief and joy at the sight of his wife smiling as they hiked among cloud-covered granite cliffs and glaciers.

March 17, 2005

September 6, 2004

Twenty-seven ambulance crews worked through through the night to evacuate patients at a Scottsdale nursing home after its 30-ton air-conditioning system failed Wednesday and the indoor temperature climbed to almost 90 degrees, officials said.

What are the odds?

May 13,2004