PHEM is a critical division of the county’s Department of Public Health, and is working to ensure the public health department’s readiness to identify and respond to potential health threats – be they deliberate or naturally occurring in the environment.

Planning
PHEM’s primary goal is to prepare the residents of Maricopa County readiness to respond to public health threats.
Epidemiology/Surveillance
The Department of Public Health has implemented an enhanced disease surveillance system that rapidly identifies any unusual disease events that may be occurring in the state. Maricopa County maintains an ongoing system that receives and evaluates urgent disease reports and trends.
Health Alert Network/Logistics
This network ensures effective communications among public health departments, healthcare organizations, law enforcement organizations, public officials and others during a public health emergency.
Emergency Public Information
PHEM identifies and develops effective methods of communicating vital health and risk information to the community during a public health emergency.
Education/Exercises
PHEM ensures that key health professionals and the public are trained and prepared to effectively respond in the event of bioterrorism, disease outbreak, or other public health threat.