Governor Doug Ducey last month lifted all Covid-19 restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses. But that doesn’t mean that dining and drinking establishments are taking off their masks and packing in crowds. 

Far from it, said the president and CEO of the (ARA), Steve Chucri.

“Restaurants across Arizona have done an incredible job at implementing mitigation measures, protecting patrons and staff, and remaining flexible,” Chucri said. “Our restaurants know what to do and they’re first priority is keeping employees and diners safe.”

Federal guidelines also require employers take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said.

To discourage bad players, the association is working to educate operators about federal health and safety guidelines, help get hospitality employees vaccinated, and assist employers with obtaining grants and aid to help pay for supplies like personal protective equipment. 

Under federal guidelines, employer’s duty to prevent spread of COVID-19

Governor Ducey’s order lifted restaurant specific requirements such as social distancing and buffet prohibitions. It also eliminated mask mandates. 

Employers, however, should be aware of their obligation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Chucri said. Under the act’s guidelines, employers must protect employees from COVID-19 hazards at the workplace. That includes providing masks, social distancing, and enhanced sanitation protocols. 

OSHA also recently updated its guidance on COVID-19 and is in the process of developing additional standards for employers. Before revising a mask policy for employees or customers, operators should consider the OSHA guidelines, Chucri said. 

“While we do not have specific examples of how OSHA will enforce these provisions in restaurants, we do know that the restaurant industry is high on the agency’s priority list.” 

Before making any changes, Chucri recommends that operators review the OSHA guidance document: .

Encouraging Arizonans to get out of the kitchen

With more than 4 million Arizonans having received at least one dose of vaccine, business is picking up at bars and restaurants statewide. The association, chambers of commerce and restaurant owners are encouraging  Arizonans to get out of the kitchen and head to their favorite restaurant or night spot, even if just for takeout. 

“Most edible time of the year” – Spring Restaurant Week

One way to start is to dine in or take out during 2021 Spring Restaurant Week Friday May 21 to Sunday May 30. This annual statewide event takes diners on a taste tour. Eateries offer a prix-fixe dinner menu for $33 or $44 per person or per couple. 

Restaurants already on board this year are Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort, T. Cook’s at Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Citizen Public House and The Gladly, and more. There are also West Valley restaurants, like Litchfield’s and Red’s Bar and Grill at The Wigwam, plus Urban Margarita and Arrowhead Grill. Other participants include Buck &Rider and Pedal Haus Brewery, according to the , a sponsor of the event. Currently, restaurants can still sign . For diners, a list of participating restaurants and menus will be posted soon at . 

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Ten minutes and $59. That’s all it takes to detect plaque buildup in arteries with a new screening program launched by Abrazo Health in the Phoenix metro region.��

Abrazo recently began offering the quick and affordable test, called AngioScreen, to make it widely available as a prevention tool. Plaque is a “silent” indicator for stroke and heart disease and typically presents no symptoms in the early stages.��

If plaque is found during the test, patients are more likely to take the next step and seek medical treatment, said Phoenix cardiologist Dr. Gopi Cherukuri.��

“Advertising a screening for $100, $200 or $300 is fine but there are a lot of people who won’t want to do it at that price point or who can’t afford it,” Dr. Cherukuri said.“I think when you price something at a more reasonable price point, then they’re more open to think about it.

“If you’re stopping at Starbucks every day on your way to work, you probably spend more than $59 in a course of a month.”

Tracking No. 1 killer��

Through an AngioScreen exam, patients can learn if they are starting to develop plaque and take preventative measures to avoid serious issues five or 10 years down the road, he said.��

Heart disease remains the number one killer of men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors traditionally have used routine physical exams to determine if there are possible�� vascular issues. But such an exam is not useful if a patient has no symptoms to report.����

“If a patient tells me they have pain in their legs when they walk, it could mean they have blockage in an artery,” Cherukuri said. “But they could have minor blockage in their legs or in their carotid arteries and not feel a thing.”

Mobile unit to reach even more��

AngioScreen is a non-invasive ultrasound screening that shows blood flow in the arteries that supply blood to the brain and legs.��

Participants receive a color printout with photos of the carotid arteries and exam results. A nurse provides a brief consultation to explain the results, which participants are encouraged to share with their physician for follow-up. If patients do not have a physician, Abrazo staff will help connect them to one.��

In addition to on-site screenings at the Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital at 1930 E. Thomas Rd, there is a mobile unit that goes out to businesses and organizations. The cost is still just $59 per person.

Abrazo is the only health system in Maricopa County licensed to use AngioScreen. So far, it has done about 100 screenings.

A number of patients learned they have plaque.����

“That’s why we’re doing it,” Dr. Cherukuri said. “We can build nice hospitals and have beautiful institutions and people with lots of initials behind their names, but the reality of it is, if you can’t get healthcare to the people who need it, then what are you doing it for?”

Those interested in scheduling a screening can call toll free at (888) 602-3648 or visit .

To watch a video of an AngioScreen procedure, go to: ��

Phoenix-based Abrazo opening new hospitals��

Abrazo Health, headquartered in Phoenix, operates two hospitals and several campuses in Maricopa County including the Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix. It recently embarked on an expansion program; Abrazo Mesa Hospital opened in October, and two more are scheduled to open next year in Surprise and Cave Creek.��

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It’s not only an office with a view that woos the best and brightest hires today. Believe it or not, dental benefits rank up high in attracting and retaining them, a number of research studies show.

Two out of three employees report that dental insurance is very or extremely important in deciding whether to accept or turn down a job, according to McKinsey & Company.��

Dental benefits now rank higher in importance or as important as disability, life and retiree health insurance, according to surveys conducted by LIMRA,International, Inc., the Harvard Business Review, and others.������

“It really does first and foremost, help an employer stand out from the competition because there are a number of employers, still, that are not offering dental coverage,” said Brad Clothier,��executive vice president of business development for Delta Dental of Arizona, the largest dental benefits provider in the state. “So it does give you a competitive advantage when you look at full compensation packages.”

Member rolls grow with more offerings for small business����

Not too long ago, many smaller businesses could not afford to offer dental benefits for employees. But an industry focus on their needs is putting more people into the dentist’s chair, Clothier said. Even better, it appears to be making employees a lot healthier.��

About five years ago, Delta and other insurance companies began to target smaller businesses with more options, including voluntary dental benefits, where employees pay the full price of premiums.��

During that time, Arizona-based Delta Dental saw its member rolls swell from 893,000 to approximately 1.3 million today, Clothier said.��

“We’ve made a real conscious effort to sell to small businesses with two to 49 employees,” he said. “We’re adding 400 to 500 small businesses a year.��

“That was something we really didn’t focus on a few years ago. Everybody was always after the elephant hire, the big companies.”

Voluntary plans rising in popularity��

“What we’re finding is smaller employers are trying to remain competitive with larger employers by offering comprehensive benefit packages. Dental has become a part of their offering,” Clothier said.��

Today, smaller employers can opt to pay full price for premiums, share the cost of premiums with employees, or have voluntary dental plans.��

The voluntary plans are one reason for Delta Dental’s rapid growth in Arizona, Clothier said.����

“If employers cannot afford it, they can still give people a choice,” he said. “If you’ve got 25 employees and 12 take the dental plan, those are 12 people that are going to have an overall healthier atmosphere for their employers and families.”��

Dental benefits help smaller businesses compete��

Attracting and retaining top employees has become critical in a highly competitive marketplace.��

Superior talent is 400 percent more productive than the average performer, according to studies cited by . In highly complex occupations like software development, high performers are 800 percent more productive.��

Being able to offer comprehensive health benefits including dental and visions can help entice these workers, Clothier said.��

“It used to be medical just got you by, that’s how you get top performing hires.”����

Millions of work and school hours lost to aching teeth

According to the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC), millions of work and school hours are lost each year due to unplanned, or emergency, visits to a dentist. On average, over 34 million school hours are lost and over $45 billion is lost in productivity each year due to unplanned dental care, the CDC .

Regular dental visits prevent dental and other health problems, including gum and heart disease.

Meanwhile, almost 70 percent of adult consumers with dental benefits reported they see the dentist at least once a year versus 40 percent without, according to the 2018 Adult Oral Health Survey.

And that’s good for businesses, Clothier said.����

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Dr. Cecilia Rosales wears many hats at the University of Arizona: Professor of public health, interim associate dean of community engagement and outreach, and associate dean of Phoenix programs at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus.

Rosales also serves as co-chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission’s Health Services Committee, offering her deep expertise in public health infrastructure on both sides of the border to help solve health disparities, educate students and develop a network of support for public health for Arizonans and Sonorans alike. Rosales sat down with 91ֱ�� to discuss the cross-border relationship and her role at the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

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