The Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) released its "Quarterly Information Update" this week. The Update announced that the former Department of Health and Family Services has been renamed the Department of Health Services. This change is the result of a provision in the State’s biennial budget that created a new Department of Children and Families.

The Update includes a number of important notices from DQA and links to the DQA Numbered Memos for April, May, and June, an update on proposed administrative rule changes, and a list of and link to the CMS survey and certification letters received by DQA in the second quarter. Concerning HFS 124, the administrative rule for hospitals, the Update allows the following:

HFS 124 - Hospitals

On April 1, 2005, the Wisconsin Administrative Register published a Statement of Scope of proposed rules to amend Chapter 124. The Department is planning to update Chapter HFS 124 to eliminate overly prescriptive and outdated regulations, clarify the Department’s enforcement authority, and make the rule more consistent with the federal Medicare requirements.

An advisory committee has been formed, including a large number of trade and professional associations, hospitals, and other interested parties, to review the proposed revisions and make recommendations for change. For more information, you may view the Statement of Scope on the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site at http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov/.

Wisconsin led the nation in quality public reporting when it launched CheckPoint in 2004. Now, with more than 50 measures currently reported and dozens more slated for addition within the next couple of years, Wisconsin continues to be a leader in public reporting.

A new paper that lists both current and future measures that are publicly reported on CheckPoint (www.wicheckpoint.org) is now available in the WHA Toolkit (www.wicheckpoint.org/docs/cpmeasures7-08.pdf). It is a valuable resource for hospital quality professionals, medical officers, and CEOS in their communications with physicians, nurses, and others who have a direct or indirect responsibility for quality reporting. The paper also includes a tentative timeline for when the measures will be added.

"Wisconsin hospitals were early adopters of quality public reporting and it has certainly helped accelerate our quality improvement efforts, as reflected in the fact that for two years, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has ranked Wisconsin at the top for the quality of care they deliver," according to Dana Richardson, WHA vice president, quality. "As we add more information to CheckPoint over time, we will enhance the value of this information for consumers, purchasers and hospitals."

The WHA Toolkit is a shortcut to finding in-depth information on many health care issues. The Toolkit resource papers, written and updated frequently by WHA staff, now address more than 21 subject areas. To access the Toolkit, go to www.wha.org/toolKit/default.aspx.

The Wisconsin Hospitals state political action funds fundraising campaign topped the $145,000 mark this week. The state political action funds include the Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit and Wisconsin Hospitals PAC. To date, the campaign garnered a total of $145,032 in contributions. This puts the 2008 campaign at 69 percent of its $210,000 goal.

Individual contributors are up as well. In 2008, 412 individuals have contributed an average of $352. At this same time last year, 330 individuals had contributed.

2008 contributors to date are listed on pages 5-6. Individual contributors are by name and affiliated organization. Contributors are listed alphabetically by contribution category.

For more information, contact Jodi Bloch at 608-217-9508 or Jenny Boese at 608-274-1820.


Contributions Ranging from $1 - $249

Abels, Maya         Aurora Health Care

Ackerman, Jamie         Sacred Heart Hospital

Adams, Daniel         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Anderson, Mark         Sacred Heart Hospital

Anich, Matthew         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Arendt, Kathleen         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Ashbeck, Norbert         Good Samaritan Health Center of Merrill

Axelsen, Kathy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Ayers, Mandy         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Baer, James         Shawano Medical Center

Barkovich, Catherine         Sacred Heart Hospital

Bauer, David         Sacred Heart Hospital

Beckler, Rick         Sacred Heart Hospital

Bellin, Carolyn         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Bernklau, Robert         Memorial Health Center

Bjork, Ted         Westfields Hospital

Block, Jennifer         Sacred Heart Hospital

Bloom, Deb         Sacred Heart Hospital

Bosio, David         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Bouvat, Dale         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Bowe, Cynthia         Sacred Heart Hospital

Bowman, Andrew         Sacred Heart Hospital

Brauer, Theresa         Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc

Brenny, Terrence         Stoughton Hospital Association

Brockman, Susan         Meriter Hospital

Bryans, Richard         Sacred Heart Hospital

Burgener, Jean         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Burtch, Sue         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Busch, Rebecca         Spooner Health System

Campau, Patricia         Columbia St. Mary’s-Columbia Campus

Carlson, Carol         Sacred Heart Hospital

Carr Lee, Mary         Meriter Hospital

Carrier-Diemer, Peggy         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Censky, Bill         Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Cich, Dawn         St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior

Cisler-Cahill, Lorna         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Clapp, Nicole         Grant Regional Health Center

Cleveland, Herbert         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Coblentz, Kathy Jo         St. Joseph’s Community Health Services

Cohen, Joan         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Colby, Daniel         Mercy Health System

Coller, James         St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center

Colpaert, Gary         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Danzinger, Marcia         Sacred Heart Hospital

Davis, Kathleen         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

DeMars, Nancy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Derks, Darla         Sacred Heart Hospital

DeWitt, Pamela         St. Joseph’s Community Health Services

Dittrich, Peggy         Memorial Health Center

Dougherty, Kim         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Ducommun, Shellie         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Dwyer, Maxine         St. Mary’s Hospital

Eady, Diane         Sacred Heart Hospital

Erickson, William         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Eskridge, Melissa         Sacred Heart Hospital

Evenson, Wendy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Ewing, Thomas         Aurora Health Care

Facey, Alice         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Fink, MD, Jordan         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Fisker, Nancy         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Floyd, Duane         Watertown Memorial Hospital

Fochs, Mary         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Folstad, John         Sacred Heart Hospital

Galfano, Vic         Sacred Heart Hospital

Gantner, Sue         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Garavet, Scott         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Garcia, Dawn         Sacred Heart Hospital

Gengler, Tim         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gilmore, Ronald

Godden, Scott         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Gorecki, Susan         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Govier, Mary         Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Green, Mary Jean         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Gruber, Richard         Mercy Health System

Gulan, Maria         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gulicksrud, Lynn         Sacred Heart Hospital

Hassemer, Robert         Sacred Heart Hospital

Hedrington, Brian         Sacred Heart Hospital

Hieb, Laura Bellin         Memorial Hospital

Hink, Dawn         Sacred Heart Hospital

Hoege, Beverly         Reedsburg Area Medical Center

Holmes, Sheri         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Iding, Laura         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Jablonske, William         St. Joseph’s Hospital

Jacobsen, Joan         Meriter Hospital

Jain, Raj         St. Mary’s Hospital

Jay, John         Community Memorial Hospital

Jelle, Laura         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Jensema, Christine         St. Nicholas Hospital

Johnson, Jean         Sacred Heart Hospital

Johnson, Kim         Sacred Heart Hospital

Johnson, Patricia         Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home

Jones, Linda         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kachelski, Barb

Kaiser, Ann         Sacred Heart Hospital

Karoliussen, Dave         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals-Tomahawk

Kempen, Patricia         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kleinschmidt, Sharon         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Klinge, Ann         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Koeppl, Gina         St. Mary’s Hospital

Korff, Sally         St. Nicholas Hospital

Kuehni-Flanagan, Tracy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Larson, Piper         Sacred Heart Hospital

Lien, Kristine         Sacred Heart Hospital

Lucas, Roger         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

LuCore, Pat         Sacred Heart Hospital

Luskin, Ronald         Arnold and O’Sheridan, Inc.

Lynch, Sue         Franciscan Skemp Healthcare

Mackey, Theresa         Sacred Heart Hospital

Marks, Susan         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Marsch, Jean         St. Vincent Hospital

Maulson, Andrea         St. Mary’s Hospital

Maurer, Mary         Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

McCoic, Kristie         St. Joseph’s Community Health Services

McKay, Jean         Sacred Heart Hospital    

Meicher, John         St. Mary’s Hospital

Meyer, Markie         Community Memorial Hospital

Mickelson, Ronald         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Mohr, Carol         Sacred Heart Hospital

Morauske, Michelle         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Mulder, Doris         Beloit Memorial Hospital

Myre, Judy         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals-Tomahawk

Neitzel, Kristin         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Nelson, Mark         Sacred Heart Hospital

Nemeth, Joseph         Mercy Health System

Ness, Nita         Sacred Heart Hospital

Nezworski, Joe         Sacred Heart Hospital

Nohelty, Pete         Sacred Heart Hospital

Norell, Brett         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Nulsen, Kate         Sacred Heart Hospital

Oerter, Tracy         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Olson, Bonnie         Sacred Heart Hospital

Padilla, Gil         Sacred Heart Hospital

Palecek, Steve         Sacred Heart Hospital

Peck, Lori         Memorial Health Center

Peiffer, Susan         Sacred Heart Hospital

Pengra, Mary         Sacred Heart Hospital

Penovich, Carrie         Aurora Health Care

Peters, Kenneth         Bellin Memorial Hospital

Petersen, Susan         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Peterson, Brenda         Sacred Heart Hospital

Pielhop, Judy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Piper, Barb         Sacred Heart Hospital

Pittenger, Jeanne         Sacred Heart Hospital

Policello, Louise         Bay Area Medical Center

Pollard, Dennis         Community Memorial Hospital

Poquette, Jane         Sacred Heart Hospital

Powell, Stacey         Sacred Heart Hospital

Powers, Mary         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Preston, Mark         Sacred Heart Hospital

Prince, Nancy         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Rademacher, David         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Rasmussen, Kathy         Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home

Reinke, Kathy         Shawano Medical Center

Richbourg, Mary         Sacred Heart Hospital

Roethle, Linda         Bellin Psychiatric Center

Rosien, Shirley         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Rothfuss, James         Meriter Hospital

Roundy, Ann         Columbus Community Hospital

Santini, Kathy         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Schaefer, Mark         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Schaetzl, Ron         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Schneck, Judy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Schnell, Carol         Sacred Heart Hospital

Schoff, Dennis         Sacred Heart Hospital

Schraufnagel, Patricia         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Schultz, Becky         Sacred Heart Hospital

Scinto, Jeanne         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Selberg, Heidi         St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center

Sergerstrom, Amy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sergey, Mark         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sheehan, Heather         Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home

Skulan-Balmer, Anna Marie         Sacred Heart Hospital

Skye, MD, Dorothy         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Smith, Julie         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sood, Manu         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Sorenson, Heather         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sorenson, James         Sacred Heart Hospital

Soward, Cindy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Spindler, Greg         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sprengler, John         Sacred Heart Hospital

Stefonek, Duane         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Stelzer, Jason         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Stone, Stacy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Storing, Sandy         Sacred Heart Hospital

Sullivan, Anne         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Swanson, Becky         Sacred Heart Hospital

Swiderski, Julie         Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

Tandberg, Chris         Sacred Heart Hospital

Tate, Marceline         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Tietz, Llewellyn         Community Memorial Hospital

Totka, Joan         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin    

Tryba, Jennifer         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

VanDeVoort, John         Sacred Heart Hospital

Vogler, Linda         Sacred Heart Hospital

Vogt, Paula         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Voigt, Yolanda         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Waldoch, Timothy         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Walker, Troy         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Werlein, George         Sacred Heart Hospital

Werner, Andrea         Bellin Memorial Hospital

Westbrook, Diane         River Falls Area Hospital

Wiedeman, Karen         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Wise, Rich         Sacred Heart Hospital

Woleske, Chris         Bond Health Center

Worthing, Kellis         Sacred Heart Hospital

Wymelenberg, Tracy         Aurora Health Care

Zemaitis, Tom         Sacred Heart Hospital

Zimmerman, Christine         Sacred Heart Hospital


Contributions Ranging from $250 - $499

Abitz, John         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Arnett, E. Stuart         Aurora Health Care-South Region

Bagemihl, Katherine         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Bestor, William         Community Memorial Hospital

Biros, Marilyn         SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Blanchard, Michael         Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Brandel, Patrick         Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Bruss, Lori         Roberts Group, The

Bukowski, Cathy         Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Byrne, MD, Frank         St. Mary’s Hospital

Calhoun, William         Mercy Medical Center

Callies, Julie         WHA Information Center

Canter, Richard         Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

Carlson, Dan         Bay Area Medical Center

Clough, Sheila         Howard Young Medical Center

Coleman, John

Conwell, Lisa         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Cryns, Janice         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Curran, Joan         Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Danner, Dean         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Deich, Faye         Sacred Heart Hospital

Dettman, Amy         Bellin Memorial Hospital

Dietsche, James         Bellin Memorial Hospital

Dooley, Richard         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Drengler, Kathryn         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Erickson, Robert         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Greene, Roxanne         Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Grundstrom, David         Flambeau Hospital

Gutekunst, Penny         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Hammel, Jennifer         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Harding, Edward         Columbus Community Hospital

Hattem, Marita         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Hessert, Peter         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Hilt, Monica         Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Huettl, Patty         Sacred Heart Hospital

Huggins, Melissa         Meriter Hospital

Huys, Geoffrey         Ministry Health Care

Hymans, Daniel         Memorial Medical Center - Ashland

Jablonski, James         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Jamieson, Donna         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Jenks, David         Aurora Health Care

Jensen, Christopher         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Jentsch, Lisa         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Johnson, Charles         St. Mary’s Hospital

Johnson, Roy         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Jones, Tom         St. Joseph’s Community Health Services

Kaufman, Bruce         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kersten, Juliet         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Klauck, James         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Klunk, Timothy         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kolb, Marvin O.         West Allis Memorial Hospital

Kostroski, Sharon         Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Mantei, Mary Jo         Bay Area Medical Center

McGee, Fred         Meriter Hospital

Melzer-Lange, Marlene         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Mourey, Gerald         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Murphy, Michael         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Neet, Bradley         Saint Michael’s Hospital

Neikirk, Jon         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Nelson, Nanine         ProHealth Care

Nevers, Rick         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Olive, Willie         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Olkowski, Leland         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Ordinans, Karen         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Pandl, G. John         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Pandl, Therese         Columbia St. Mary’s-Milwaukee Campus

Pedretti, Julie         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Peterson, Douglas         Chippewa Valley Hospital and Oakview Care Center

Post, A Charles         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Potts, Dennis         Aurora Health Care

Ross, Forrest         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Roth, Stephen         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Rowe, Jeanne         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Rudolph, Wad         Sacred Heart Hospital

Schmidt, Richard         C.G. Schmidt

Schulz, Janet         ProHealth Care

Sczygelski, Sidney         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Sisney, Mary         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Sperka, Julie         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Staffileno, Gerri         Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee Campus

Stewart, Jeff         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Stout, Johni         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Stuart, Philip         Tomah Memorial Hospital

Tapper, Joy         Milwaukee Health Care Partnership

Thiel, Mike         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Thometz, John         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Twinem, Thomas         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

VanCourt, Bernie         Bay Area Medical Center

Vogel, Martin         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Warmuth, Eric

Weisman, Steven         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Werner, Cinda         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Woodward, Jim         Meriter Hospital

Worrick, Gerald         Door County Memorial Hospital


Contributions Ranging from $500 - $999

Allison Stonebraker, Pat         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Anderson, Sandy         St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Bloch, Jodi         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Borgerding, Dana

Braddock, Michelle         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Brasseaux, Mary         St. Nicholas Hospital

Buerstatte, Gary         ProHealth Care

Devermann, Robert         Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh

Duncan, Larry         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Dunigan, Thomas         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Falvey, Patrick         Aurora Health Care

Fehring, Chuck         Ministry Health Care

Frank, Jennifer         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Guffey, Kerra         Meriter Hospital

Gutzeit, Michael         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Heifetz, Michael         SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Herzog, Mark         Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Jones, Michael         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kerwin, George         Bellin Memorial Hospital

Korom, Nancy         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Maxson-Cooper, Pamela         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

McNally, Maureen         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Merline, Karen

Miloszewicz, Angela         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Minkus, Michelle

Mlynarek, Robert         Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Neufelder, Daniel         Affinity Health System

Niemer, Margaret         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Noll, Gerald         Rogers Memorial Hospital

Norton, Andrew         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

O’Connell, Blaine         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Olson, David         Bay Area Medical Center

Postler-Slattery, Diane         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Potter, Brian         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Quinn, Connie

Radoszewski, Pat         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Reynolds, Sheila         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Richards, Theresa         Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Robertstad, John         Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

Roeper, Randy         Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh

Ronstrom, Stephen         Sacred Heart Hospital

Runge, Charles         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Sachdeva, Ramesh         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Sale, Nora         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Schafer, Michael         Spooner Health System

Schmidt, Michael         Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Schoof, Susie         Essie Kammer Consulting Group

Shabino, Charles, M.D.         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Ship, Mark         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Teigen, Bobbe         Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc

Titus, Rexford         ProHealth Care

Wallace, Michael         Fort HealthCare

Welch, Kimberly         Aurora Health Care

Wong, George         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin


Contributions Ranging from $1000 - $1999

Bazan, Bill         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Birkenstock, Timothy         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Boese, Jennifer         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Britton, Gregory         Beloit Memorial Hospital

Bruce, Bill         St. Joseph’s Community Health Services

Buettner, Susan         Aurora Health Care

Christensen, Cinthia         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Cutler, Dave         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Eddy, Lee Anne         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Eichman, Cynthia         Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Ela, Susan         Aurora Health Care

Erwin, Duane         Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gazzana, Thomas         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Grasmick, Mary Kay         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Kachelski, Joe         WHA Information Center

Karuschak, Michael         Amery Regional Medical Center

Koehler, Thomas         Aurora BayCare Medical Center

Kosanovich, John         Watertown Memorial Hospital

Kryda, MD, Michael         Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Leitch, Laura         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Martin, Jeff         Ministry Health Care

Merline, Paul         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Mettner, Michelle         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Mohorek, Ronald         Ministry Health Care

Moulthroup, David         Rogers Memorial Hospital

Munson, Kenneth         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Nestor, Donald         Aurora Health Care

O’Brien, Mary         Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center

Olson, Edward         Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Richardson, Dana         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Roller, Rachel         Aurora Health Care

Size, Pat

Smith, Linda         Aurora BayCare Medical Center

Stanford, Matthew         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Starmann-Harrison, Mary         SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Tyre, Scott         Capitol Navigators, Inc

Van Cleave, Bruce         Aurora Health Care

Warmuth, Judith         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Westrick, Paul         Columbia St. Mary’s-Milwaukee Campus


Contributions Ranging from $2000 - $2999

Bjork, Tanya

Borgerding, Eric         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Braddock, Jonathan         WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Brenton, Mary E.

Buser, Kenneth         Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints

Fale, Robert         Agnesian HealthCare

Petasnick, William         Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Quinn, George         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Rudolph, Colin         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Vice, Jon         Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin


Contributions $3000 and up

Brenton, Stephen         Wisconsin Hospital Association

Desien, Nicholas         Ministry Health Care

Turkal, MD, Nick         Aurora Health Care

Size, Tim Rural         Wisconsin Health Cooperative

The Wisconsin Hospital Association expressed serious concerns to three Members of Congress this week over legislation on health information technology. The bill, HR 6357, Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act [PRO(TECH)T Act] of 2008, passed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee late last week and should go before the House Ways & Means Committee. Rep. Tammy Baldwin serves on Energy & Commerce while Reps. Kind and Ryan serve on Ways & Means.

WHA sent a joint letter with the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality and Rural Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative to each of these three legislators outlining the detrimental impact the PRO(TECH)T Act will have on Wisconsin. Access WHA’s letter at: www.wha.org/governmentRelations/pdf/HR6357letter7-28-08.pdf.

"HR 6357 has the potential to put Wisconsin back years with respect to our nationally-recognized leadership efforts on quality and patient safety improvement," said WHA President Steve Brenton. "The administrative and disclosure requirements run counter to everything we’ve tried to do proactively to promote electronic medical records."

At issue are several provisions in HR 6357 that would dramatically increase the administrative burden on health care providers as well as create barriers to quality and patient safety improvement efforts.

Under the bill, providers utilizing an electronic medical record must receive consent to use that information for health care operations or payment. Costs of implementing and maintaining electronic medical records are consistently recognized as a significant barrier to adoption of electronic medical records, and this requirement will increase administrative costs and create an even more ominous barrier to adoption of electronic medical records. Additionally, Wisconsin is a leader in advancing evidenced-based improvements in health care quality and safety, and these efforts are dependent on complete data, which will be reduced under these provisions.

HR 6357 also requires that providers utilizing an electronic medical record must account for disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Interestingly enough, at the recommendation of Governor Doyle’s multi-stakeholder eHealth Care Quality and Patient Safety Board, Wisconsin repealed a similar state accounting requirement earlier this year in order to reduce barriers to electronic medical record adoption in Wisconsin.

A late arriving amendment last week to a relatively innocuous Health Information Technology (HIT) bill demonstrates the danger of the legislative process. And now unless "fixed" during upcoming deliberations, the legislation has the potential for thwarting future efforts to implement EMR and putting the brakes on provider efforts to measure and publicly report quality and safety outcomes.

As approved last week by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, HR 6357 creates expensive and needless administrative requirements for hospitals and physician clinics which either have or are considering investing millions of dollars in EMR systems. Ironically, these systems are viewed by many (including both Presidential candidates) as a key for improving clinical performance and reducing rising health care costs! Specifically, the amendment requires providers using EMR to:

• Obtain patient consent for using the information for health care operations or payment.
• Obtain patient consent for using the information for quality improvement activities.
• Track and account for disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations.

These administrative mandates will require a significant resource commitment and create a new liability for hospitals and clinics. Here’s a link (http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=7236) to an excellent (and disconcerting) discussion of the issues involved that comes from the written testimony of Marshfield Clinic physician Dr. Douglas Reding.

Despite the protestations of the radical privacy lobby (led by the ACLU), current HIPAA regulations provide adequate safeguards for necessary patient privacy protections. These safeguards have been carefully fashioned in D.C. and in state capitols across the nation over the past few years. Importantly, parallel HIT legislation discussed and debated in Madison earlier this year by Governor Doyle’s eHealth Care Quality and Patient Safety Board actually rejected similar proposals due to concern that they would impede the diffusion of EMR in Wisconsin—a state that leads the nation in HIT capital investment and is the home to two major EMR vendors.

Fortunately, the legislation now resides in the House Ways and Means Committee and two able Wisconsin members (Paul Ryan and Ron Kind) will have the opportunity to support modifications that will undo the pending damage.

Steve Brenton
President

WHA’s 2008 Annual Convention will be September 17-19 at the KI Convention Center and the adjoining Hotel Sierra (formerly Regency Suites) in downtown Green Bay.

This year’s convention features internationally-known health care futurist Ian Morrison who will provide new insights on the future of health care and how the health care provider’s playing field will change, particularly following the 2008 elections. Following his presentation, a CEO reactor panel will share their thoughts on the future of health care and provide a Wisconsin perspective on Morrison’s message, moderated by Leo Brideau, president and CEO of Columbia-St. Marys, and chair of WHA’s Task Force on Access and Coverage.

AHA Chair Bill Petasnick, president and CEO, Froedtert and Community Health, will describe AHA’s Health for Life reform initiative. Petasnick presented this initiative at the recent WHA Board Planning session. For details on that presentation, see www.wha.org/pubArchive/special_reports/2008BoardPlanReview.pdf.

Other issues that are on deck at the convention include Wisconsin’s Workers Compensation program, on-call coverage issues, and an examination of the revamped IRS Form 990 and the importance of making hospital’s finances, billing/collection policies, and community benefits more transparent. A closing session will focus on leadership, presented by Major General David Rubenstein, deputy surgeon general for the U.S. Army and 2008-2009 ACHE chairman.

On August 12, WHA and the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health are co-sponsoring a one-day program, "Life Safety Code Regulations for Hospitals: Examining Joint Commission Changes & Common State Regulation Issues" in Madison. This program will assist attendees in navigating the changes that The Joint Commission is making to their standard with respect to Life Safety for 2009 under their Standards Improvement Initiative and better understand the Wisconsin state surveyors’ process and perspective relative to Life Safety Code regulations.

Susan McLaughlin, current Codes and Standards consultant to the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and former associate director of standards interpretation for The Joint Commission, will provide current information on the survey process, compliance, and interpretation of the code and its changes.

In addition, David Soens, lead engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, will discuss the common and most pressing compliance issues that face Wisconsin hospitals in the area of Life Safety Code, from the state surveyor’s perspective.

Today 47 million Americans, including more than 9 million children, are living without health care coverage. Overwhelmingly, the uninsured live in working families but either are not offered health insurance or cannot afford offered plans. In 2005, more than eight in 10 uninsured individuals came from working families.

Affinity Health System has taken positive steps to help families without adequate insurance coverage find programs and coverage. During Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27 to May 3, Affinity launched a program to provide registration sites at local hospitals to assist individuals and families to sign up for appropriate state-funded programs.

Volunteers from Affinity Health System facilities staffed the registration sites and assisted more than 50 individuals and families with public assistance program sign-ups. Representatives from Human Services in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties partnered with Affinity for this event.

On-site enrollment opportunities for state-funded assistance programs such as BadgerCare Plus, which is primarily for children and pregnant women, FoodShare and other state-funded programs were provided.

"This effort is consistent with Affinity’s mission to further the healing ministry of Christ by providing services that promote the health and well being of the communities we serve, especially the poor," said Carrie Hankes, Affinity vice president of Mission and Learning Services. "We know that this effort will not solve the problem of the uninsured, but we hope it is a positive first step to help local people who don’t have insurance coverage."

Conducting over 60 free health screening, organizers declared the Women’s Wellness Event held Saturday, September 30, 2006 a success.

Health care screenings conducted for free included Cholesterol Screening and Skin Cancer Screening. The new and advanced Resting Metabolic Rate Measurement test was offered on a limited basis at cost.

Participants pre-registered for all screenings. The screening appointments filled fast with many participants sighting their lack of health insurance as a motivator in attending.

Besides the free health screenings, attendees were able to hear the wit and wisdom of keynote speaker Lucy Gilles-Khouri with her tips on stress management.

Attendees were greeted with delicious muffins, bagels and a fresh fruit spread. Mini display booths provided information on everything from volunteering and nutrition to at-home exercise programs and new therapies. Some chose to pamper themselves by indulging in a chair massage or shopping in the gift shop.

Two free cooking demonstration sessions were filled to capacity. Upland Hills Health’s registered dietician Jamie Austin demonstrated five easy, low-fat and nutritious recipes that participants were able to sample. Information on nutrition and low fat cooking were the focus of the cooking demonstrations.

"Our goal is to reach out to community members and provide them with information on new health care options and healthier lifestyle choices," explained Lawson. "The challenge is to effectively reach people that are already over-booked with life’s demands."

The event culminated in the giveaway of two "Stress-Reliever" baskets brimming with everything from gourmet delicacies and soothing teas to herbal eye packs and scented bath gels.

One way that Langlade Hospital reaches out to the community is to provide support to the Boys & Girls Club of Langlade County to help in building healthier children through the snack and meal programs offered at the Boys and Girls Club.

Every day during the summer schedule, the Boys and Girls club offers Club Members a balanced breakfast consisting of cold cereals or oatmeal with milk, in addition to yogurt, applesauce, cheese sticks, crackers and fruit that are available as a supplement at every meal. Also, every Club Member is provided a cold box lunch every day. The lunch consists of sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, chips or a pasta cup and milk with the option of adding yogurt, applesauce, cheese sticks, crackers and fruit. Club Members are required to maintain healthy eating habits by being required to take the correct number of foods from each food group for every meal.

During the school year the club offers Club Members an after school snack that consists of a sandwich, fruit/vegetable, cheese sticks, applesauce, yogurt, juice box, milk and crackers. Of course, the kids are allowed to choose snacks that they enjoy but must pick from the five basic food groups to ensure they are receiving a balanced snack.

The Boys and Girls Club holds an Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Club Members and their families. It is just one more step in making sure that Club Members have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Dinner.

Langlade Hospital along is proud to support the Boys and Girls Club of Langlade County – A Positive Place for Kids.

Submit hospital community benefit stories to Mary Kay Grasmick, editor, at mgrasmick@wha.org.

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