A recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal referred to Wisconsin as "Alabama North," WHA Senior Vice President Eric Borgerding told reporters attending a news conference sponsored by the Wisconsin Hospital Association and the Wisconsin Medical Society at the State Capitol on August 25.

"That is a not-so-subtle reference to the fact that Wisconsin has become a much more litigation-friendly environment following the Supreme Court decision to eliminate caps on non-economic damages," Borgerding chided.

"On the other hand, we have also seen a tremendous amount of activity in the six weeks since the decision. The speaker’s Task Force was created, and legislators on both sides of the aisle are working diligently to craft a solution to what they know is a problem on the horizon," Borgerding said. "We commend all of these rapid responses. We are anxious to work with the Legislature and the Governor not only to pass a bill, but to enact a law that will address this situation."

Brad Cole, mayor of Carbondale, Illinois, described himself as "just a country boy from Southern Illinois," but he brought a stunning and sobering message to reporters, legislative staffers, and trial attorneys gathered at the news conference in Madison.

Mayor Cole related a personal and painful story of how the lack of access to neurologists in the Town of Carbondale may have contributed to the death of his friend after she suffered severe head trauma. It was four hours after her fall down a flight of stairs before she was able to see a neurosurgeon because she had to be transported by helicopter to St. Louis, Missouri, 100 miles away.

"Part of this story began months before my friend’s fall. It began in May 2004 when our region’s only two neurosurgeons stopped seeing patients and closed their successful practices to move out of Illinois. They moved because of the unfriendly environment that had been created," Cole related.

When the Illinois General Assembly was unwilling to address some type of substantive reform, Mayor Cole took matters into his own hands. He proposed a local city ordinance that placed a cap on non-economic damages and also placed a venue restriction on where suits could be filed.

Those actions catapulted the issue to a statewide level "like no one ever imagined," he said. Medical liability became the central and deciding factor in a statewide Supreme Court justice election and it forced the state legislature to finally address this issue.

"And I am pleased to say at this moment, the Governor of Illinois is signing into law liability reforms and other caps to help protect our physicians, but especially to protect the citizens of my community," Cole said.

He added, "No one knows what type of similar situations will arise here in Wisconsin if the system is allowed to spiral down out of control in the absence of a cap and necessary physician protections."

"I encourage the Wisconsin general assembly and the people of Wisconsin to come before this measure and return it to law to protect your friends, family and neighbors," Cole concluded.

Later in the news conference, Sandy Anderson, president of St. Clare’s Hospital in Baraboo, seized the opportunity to respond to a question from a reporter who asked if the speakers have "seen the ball rolling on this issue?"

Anderson responded, "I can tell you I have interviewed two orthopedic surgeons in the past two weeks and the first words that came out of their mouths, were, ‘what is going to happen to our malpractice rates?’ And the answer I had to give them was, ‘I don’t know…I really don’t know’."

Susan Turney, MD, CEO/EVP of the Wisconsin Medical Society said, "If family medicine doctors in small communities no longer deliver babies because their liability insurance rates are going off the charts, where will that leave our patients?"

Confirming Turney’s comment, Anderson said unlike larger communities, almost all family medicine doctors in rural areas deliver babies. Anderson, who came to Wisconsin from Ohio, one of AMA’s 20 medical liability crisis states, said liability insurance rates drove family medicine doctors to stop delivering babies. Fortunately, she said the community was able to retain one obstetrician, who was on call "365 days a year."

"Unfortunately, on the day I was to deliver our girls, he happened to be out on his farm and it was difficult for him to get in. There was a chance I was going to have to be transported one hour away. I thought that was appalling," she said.

"It took Ohio only two years to raise the liability rates to the point where family practitioners could no longer afford to deliver babies. We don’t want to see that happen here," Anderson cautioned.

The following is a news release that was issued by WHA to the statewide press on August 25, 2005.

MADISON (August 25, 2005)—— Concerns that health care costs will rise is just one reason why the public supports reinstating a cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. Just six weeks ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the cap, but according to a statewide poll released today by the Wisconsin Hospital Association and Wisconsin Medical Society, public support is already overwhelmingly in favor of putting an effective cap back in place.

More than 75 percent of Wisconsin residents who were asked said they would favor a new law to reinstate a limit on medical malpractice damage awards that are related to pain and suffering. Support is so strong, in fact, that it carries to the voting booth as 68 percent of the respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate for the state legislature who supported a cap. That sentiment is derived from a bi-partisan sampling of 500 Wisconsin voters, including some who said they had filed a personal injury lawsuit in the past.

In addition to rising health care costs, respondents said they fear that without a cap, a medical liability crisis will force doctors to stop practicing in or leave Wisconsin. There was also a fear that access to obstetrical care and life-saving services, such as brain surgery, will be limited.

Experiences in other states prove these concerns are very real. Skyrocketing medical liability premiums have caused physicians to stop practicing in states without caps, such as Oregon, Washington and Illinois, to name just a few. Trauma units have closed in southern Illinois, and one-third of the obstetricians in Oregon have stopped delivering babies in that state only three years after losing their cap on non-economic damages.

WHA Senior Vice President Eric Borgerding said Wisconsin can’t afford to take a "wait and see what happens" position.

"We had an enviable medical malpractice environment before the Supreme Court struck down the caps because it protected injured patients while ensuring that all patients could access medical care," Borgerding said. "The more the public learns about the consequences the high court’s action will have on their access to health care when they need it, the more supportive they are of restoring the cap."

Gene Ulm, a partner in Public Opinion Strategies, the polling group that conducted the study for WHA and the Society, agreed with Borgerding. Ulm said the results clearly show that residents here don’t want to repeat other state’s mistakes.

"Support was strong, 66 percent, even before respondents were asked to react to factual statements that described how access to health care changed in states without caps," Ulm explained. "After they heard that high medical liability premiums cause physicians to leave, trauma centers to close, and women to show up to deliver babies without having any prenatal care because there was not an obstetrician in their community, the public support for reinstating the cap goes through the roof."

When malpractice insurance rates soar, it leaves rural and inner cities areas particularly vulnerable to physician shortages. Sandy Anderson, president of St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, said recruiting and retaining physicians is an on-going challenge. One made even more difficult now.

"Physicians are in demand in all areas of the country," said Anderson. "Rural hospitals in Wisconsin are not only competing with larger cities for doctors, but with other states."

"The difficulty we have is getting physicians to come to a rural area to practice," Anderson continued. "That difficulty is compounded if they won’t even consider coming to Wisconsin."

Borgerding emphasized that 89 percent of those asked said the Governor and Legislature should consider this issue a "priority."

"Clearly, state legislators should know that their constituents are concerned about the future of health care in Wisconsin, and they are willing to vote for those candidates who support making health care accessible to all citizens in our state," he concluded.

This coming Tuesday, August 30, the organizational meeting of the Speaker’s Task Force on Medical Malpractice Reform will occur in Madison. The 10-member group—five lawmakers and five public members—is charged with developing legislation to preserve Wisconsin’s favorable (until last month’s Supreme Court decision) medical liability climate. And the central theme that will become a mantra during Task Force discussions is the need to reinstate a statutory cap on non-economic damages.

As revealed this week at a State Capitol press conference, public support for caps on non-economic damage awards is extremely strong with 75 percent of survey respondents favoring caps and 18 percent opposing award limits. And one-half of respondents indicated strongly favorable support for monetary limits.

A further review of survey results shows that the public understands the consequences of a capless world and the urgency of restoring a stable medical malpractice environment. Survey respondents consider non-economic damage caps to be a high priority for address by Governor Doyle and the Wisconsin Legislature. Specifically, 89 percent identify the issue as a priority…and 68 percent of survey respondents say that they will be more likely to vote for candidates in the future who support strict limits on non-economic damage awards.

The political climate for undoing the damage created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July is present. The legislative will for addressing the issue this fall is strong. Statewide editorial support, focusing on potential future access problems and health care cost concerns, is also evident. There are but two significant questions: Where will Governor Doyle be on the issue? And how will the Wisconsin Supreme Court eventually rule on a "legislative fix"? The answers to those questions, of course, will ultimately determine whether a legislative fix—as opposed to a constitutional amendment—will be the vehicle for restoring award caps.

Wisconsin’s historically favorable medical malpractice environment is not due solely to caps on non-economic damages. The presence of the Patient Compensation Fund, which acts as a re-insurer for large claims; the presence of well regarded community-focused hospitals and physician groups; and the comparatively high quality health care provided by Wisconsin’s providers, all contributed to what was a blending of favorable factors that made Wisconsin almost unique among the states. But the fact is, one of those important ingredients is now absent and its restoration must be our most significant, short-term advocacy priority.

Steve Brenton
President

While the temperature outside may be cooling off as the end of summer approaches, the thermometer measuring contributions to the Wisconsin Hospitals PAC, Conduit and AHA PAC continues to climb. Contributions have reached nearly $143,000, which accounts for 82 percent of the goal to raise $175,000 in this calendar year.

"While we are getting closer to reaching the goal, it is even more imperative that we reach that goal and even exceed that goal if we can. We must be able to support our friends in their re-election campaigns and work to elect new representatives who understand the value of hospitals to their communities, while working to defeat those who don’t," according to WHA’s Jodi Bloch, vice president, government affairs.

Special thanks goes out to the following individuals who have contributed to the 2005 Campaign.

Contributions ranging from $1 - $249

Kowalkowski, Carolyn     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Baalrud, Laura     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Korff, Sarah     St. Nicholas Hospital

McKay, Jean     Sacred Heart Hospital

Melby, Shirley     Tri-County Memorial Hospital

Olszewski, Kathleen     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Skulan-Balmer, Anna     Sacred Heart Hospital

Tandberg, Christine     Sacred Heart Hospital

Axelsen, Kathern     Sacred Heart Hospital

Anderson, Mark     Sacred Heart Hospital

Margan, Rob     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Carlson, Carol     Sacred Heart Hospital

Gullicksrud, Lynn     Sacred Heart Hospital

Hon, Ronald     Sacred Heart Hospital

Hundt, Pamela     Sacred Heart Hospital

Konopacky, Kathy     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Lien, Kristine     Sacred Heart Hospital

Mickelson, Ronald     St. Clare Hospital & Health Services

Ose, Peggy     Riverview Hospital Association

Pielhop, Judy     Sacred Heart Hospital

Piper, Barbara     Sacred Heart Hospital

Reinke, Kathy     Shawano Medical Center

Smalley, Scott     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Spanos, Chris     Meriter Hospital

Wulff, Gary     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Anderson, Sherry     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Krause, Elaine     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Seldal, Kent     Memorial Medical Center

Barkovich, Catherine     Sacred Heart Hospital

Gahagan, Marsha     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Marcouiller, Don     Memorial Medical Center

Carlson, Kathleen     Memorial Medical Center

Monien, Yvonne     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Schrage, Karen     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Lucas, Ann     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Aittama, Craig     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Anich, Matthew     Memorial Medical Center

Barry, Barbara     Memorial Medical Center

Betthauser, Sue     Mile Bluff Medical Center

Brunner, Pam     Sacred Heart Hospital

Caven, Michael     Memorial Medical Center

Cohen, Joan     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Dittrich, Peggy     Memorial Health Center

Drengler, Kathryn     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Dwyer, Amy     Sacred Heart Hospital

Gamroth, Charlotte     Tri-County Memorial Hospital

Giedd, Jan     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Lorenz, Bruce     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Maurer, Mary     Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Meicher, John     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Meixelsperger, Jeffrey     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Meyer, Markie     Community Memorial Hospital

Nezworski, Joseph     Sacred Heart Hospital

Nicolaus, David     Flambeau Hospital

O’Brien, Susan     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Olson, Keri     St. Clare Hospital & Health Services

Ott, Virginia     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Pengra, Mary     Sacred Heart Hospital

Pittsley, Kim     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Polenz, Scott     Sacred Heart Hospital

Posthuma, Diane     Waupun Memorial Hospital

Richbourg, Mary     Sacred Heart Hospital

Santini, Kathy     Memorial Medical Center

Schmelzle, Barbara     Sacred Heart Hospital

Skifton, Russell     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Smith, Ellen     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Sullivan, Anne     Memorial Medical Center

Voigt, Yolanda     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Vorwald, Virginia     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Aminpour, Ali     Sacred Heart Hospital

Clark, Dennis     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Craft, Carolyn     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Dalebroux, Steve     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Baetke, Jan     Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc

Baker, David     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Beckler, Rick     Sacred Heart Hospital

Beers, William     St. Clare Hospital & Health Services

Benn, Cheryl     Sacred Heart Hospital

Benusa, Kris     Tri-County Memorial Hospital

Bessen, Paulette     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Boyce, Sherry     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Bradford, Deborah     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Burmeister, Kerry     Columbia St. Mary’s-Milwaukee

Buss, Diane     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Christensen, Leslie     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Clark, Julie Ann     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Coats, Robert     Meriter Hospital

DeMars, Nancy     Sacred Heart Hospital

Fedie, Robin     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Folstad, John     Sacred Heart Hospital

Gantner, Sue     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gaskell, Rose     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Goffinet, Jo     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Haeberle, Judith     ProHealth Care

Hartman, Katherine     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Hassemer, Robert     Sacred Heart Hospital

Heider, Lisa     Community Memorial Hospital

Hemes, Lisa     St. Elizabeth Hospital

Hook, James     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Huemmer, Paul     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Jahnke, John     Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Jensema, Christine     St. Nicholas Hospital

Johnson, Kimberly     Sacred Heart Hospital

Jones, Mary     Meriter Hospital

King, Steve     Saint Michael’s Hospital

LaBarge, Margie     Saint Michael’s Hospital

LuCore, Michael     Sacred Heart Hospital

LuCore, Patricia     Sacred Heart Hospital

Maersch, Nancy     Meriter Hospital

Marnell, John     Hudson Hospital

Marten, Donna     Sacred Heart Hospital

Mason, Robert     Sacred Heart Hospital

Mathews, Larry     St. Vincent Hospital

May, Carol     Mercy Health System

McKenzie, Paula     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Niekamp, Robert     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Padilla, Gilbert     Sacred Heart Hospital

Pahl, Joan     Meriter Hospital

Peot, Tracy     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Peskie, Walt     Flambeau Hospital

Pfeifer, Patricia     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Possin, Charles     Meriter Hospital

Ries, John     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Rothenbuehler, Gary     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Schultz, Rebecca     Sacred Heart Hospital

Schwoegler, Mary     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Shipman, Elisa     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Shoup, Judy     St. Michael Hospital

Shulfer, Susan     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Sparks, Steven     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Sprengeler, John     Sacred Heart Hospital

Stanton, Gary     Memorial Health Center

Stubbs, Pat     Mile Bluff Medical Center

Studer, Vince     Shawano Medical Center

Swanson, Bert     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Thorsness, Tom     Sacred Heart Hospital

VanDeVoort, John     Sacred Heart Hospital

Watts, Susan     St. Vincent Hospital

Bundner, Mark     Meriter Hospital

Chandler, Susan     Meriter Hospital

Deich, Faye     Sacred Heart Hospital

Eckman, Theresa     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Elsen, Mary Pat     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Facey, Alice     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Groth, Kathy     Meriter Retirement Services

Jacobsen, Joan     Meriter Hospital

Jelle, Laura     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Marggi, Michele     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Roethle, Linda     Bellin Psychiatric Center

Ruehl, Teena     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Schaetzl, Ron     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Skiles, Anna     Meriter Hospital

Walker, Troy     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Weden, Mary     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Werner, Kathleen     Meriter Hospital

Whiteaker, Les     Memorial Medical Center

Albers, Kirstin     Meriter Hospital

Anderson, Frances     Meriter Retirement Services

Anderson, Susan     Beloit Memorial Hospital

Baer, James     Shawano Medical Center

Beck, James     All Saints Healthcare

Beglinger, Joan     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Benson, Karen L     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Boland, Susan     All Saints Healthcare

Brenny, Terrence     Stoughton Hospital Association

Carr Lee, Mary     Meriter Hospital

Coller, James     St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center

Dassenko, Dennis     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

DesJarlais, Robert     Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc

Dittmar, Clarence     Community Memorial Hospital

Driggers, Steve     Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Dwyer, Maxine     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Fenske, William     Agnesian HealthCare

Flanagan, Tracy     Sacred Heart Hospital

Forbush, Marilyn     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Fry, Robert     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Gilles-Khouri, Lucy     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Helin, Shelby     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Herbert, William     Meriter Hospital

Hoege, Beverly     Reedsburg Area Medical Center

Jablonske, William     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Kramper, Edward     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Lemke, Debra     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Lensen, Kathie     St. Nicholas Hospital

Macken, Thomas     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Martin, Julie     Meriter Hospital

McAvoy, Michael     All Saints Healthcare

McCloskey, Lynne     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Meyer, Loren     All Saints Healthcare

Mohr, Carol     Sacred Heart Hospital

Mosack, Kathleen     Sacred Heart Hospital

Mueller, Bonita     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Mugan, James     Agnesian HealthCare

Nicklaus, Ronald     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Nohelty, Peter     Sacred Heart Hospital

Overholt, Peter     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Pangborn, Janet     St. Michael Hospital

Pechan, Marlene     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Peiffer, Susan     Sacred Heart Hospital

Piehl, Steven     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Pieters, Donald     St. Nicholas Hospital

Pinekenstein, Barbara     Meriter Hospital

Post, A Charles     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Prince, Nancy     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Riegler, John     Aurora Health Care

Rocole, Theresa     All Saints Healthcare

Rothfuss, James     Meriter Hospital

Rounds, Thomas     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Rubenzer, Deanne     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Schmidt, Kari     Aurora Health Care

Schultz, Rhea     Meriter Hospital    

Schulz, Janet     Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

Sio, Tim     Meriter Hospital

Stenson, Jill     Agnesian HealthCare

Sutton, Mary     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Thompson, Mark     Aurora Health Care

Thundercloud, Debbie     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Utech, Laura     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Van Winkle, Gregory     Community Memorial Hospital

Ballentine, Anne     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Callies, Julie     WHA Information Center

Boylan, Michelle     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Burgener, Jean     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Burgett, Lyle     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Casanova, James     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Clark, Mary Ann     Cumberland Memorial Hospital

Danner, Forrest     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Dietrich, Dean     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Dietsche, James     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Ellis, Nancy     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Erickson, Robert     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gengler, Tim     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Gifford, Bridget     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Hessert, Peter     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Klauck, James     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Maloney, Barbara     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

McBrearty, Mary Jo     St. Nicholas Hospital

Nevers, Rick     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Petersen, Mary Beth     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Postler-Slattery, Diane     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Raaum, Karl     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Roberts, Mary     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Scherff, Pam     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Schroeder-Jaeger, Keri     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Sczygelski, Sidney     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Svetlik, Joe     Reedsburg Area Medical Center

Yunk, Dennis     Agnesian HealthCare

Bellin, Carolyn     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Bernklau, Robert     Memorial Health Center

Burger, Kristy     Moundview Memorial Hospital/Clinics

Connell, Marilyn     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Franson, Patricia     Meriter Hospital

Hemes, Jim     St. Elizabeth Hospital

Hinner, William     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Hisgen, William     Meriter Hospital

Hofer, John     Bay Area Medical Center

Leonard, Mary Kay     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Lockhart, MD, Jack     Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Mulder, Doris     Beloit Memorial Hospital

Onsager, Sandra     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Peterson, Douglas     Chippewa Valley Hospital/Oakview Care

Schill, Jane     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Schriner, Janet     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Strombom, Peter     Meriter Hospital

Cote, Sean     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Schumacher, Elizabeth     Meriter Hospital

Ambrosius, Mark     St. Luke’s Medical Center

Arnett, E. Stuart     Aurora Health Care-South Region

Baker, Chris     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Bestor, William     Community Memorial Hospital

Bezucha, Gary     Boscobel Area Health Care

Biros, Marilyn     SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Blanchard, Michael     Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Blask, Daniel     ProHealth Care

Buerstatte, Gary     Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Bukowski, Cathy     Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Dallman, Michael     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Dreher, Charles     Columbia St. Mary’s-Milwaukee

Ellis, Sandra     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

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

Fischer, Kay     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Fish, Linda     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Greene, Roxanne     Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Grimstad, Vicki     Aurora Health Care

Hamilton, Mark     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Hammer, Michael     Good Samaritan Health Center of Merrill

Hanson-Melzer, Rita     St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center

Harding, Edward     Columbus Community Hospital

Heifetz, Michael     SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Hendricks, Richard     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Hill, Cheryl     Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee Campus

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

Hinton, George     Aurora Sinai Medical Center

Hoff, Linda     Meriter Hospital

Huettl, Patty     Sacred Heart Hospital

Hyland, Carol     Agnesian HealthCare

Jablonski, James     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Jaeger, Lee     Aurora Health Care

Jensen, Russell     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Johnson, Curtis     Tri-County Memorial Hospital

Krauklis, Gene     Aurora Health Care-South Region

Kuiper, Laurie     Aurora Health Care

Lange, MD, George M.     Wisconsin Medical Society

Mattes, Dan     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

McCutcheon, Norma     Wisconsin Heart Hospital, The

Miller, Barbara     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Mlynarek, Robert     Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

Neidenbach, Joseph     St. Vincent Hospital

Neikirk, Jon     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Nelson, Nanine     ProHealth Care

Nick, Mary     Meriter Hospital

Norton, Andrew     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Nunn, Jake     St. Luke’s Medical Center

Olkowski, Leland     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Paul, Mary Kay     Columbia St. Mary’s

Penczykowski, James     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Peterson, Kimberly     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Rouzer, Cindy     Spooner Health System

Sanicola, Suzanne     Columbia St. Mary’s-Columbia

Siebecker, William     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Spieckerman, Jill     Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Hospitals

Steevens, Alan     St. Clare Hospital & Health Services

Tait, Karen     Howard Young Medical Center

Weisman, Steven     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Werner, Cinda     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Miloszewicz, Angela     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Bayer, Tom     St. Vincent Hospital

Brandel, Patrick     Holy Family Memorial Medical Center

Ayers, Mandy     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Schumann, Shannon     WHA Information Center

Carlson, Dan     Bay Area Medical Center

Christianson, Roger     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Decker, Michael     Divine Savior Healthcare

Friese, Carolyn     St. Vincent Hospital

Hymans, Daniel     Memorial Medical Center

Kellar, Richard     West Allis Memorial Hospital

Kuzel, Russel     Aurora Health Care

Mantei, Mary Jo     Bay Area Medical Center

McGee, Fred     Meriter Hospital

Meyer, Miles     Meriter Hospital

Myers, Raymond     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Neet, Bradley     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Oberholtzer, Curt     Bay Area Medical Center

Priest, MD, Geoffrey     Meriter Hospital

Rickelman, Debbie     WHA Information Center

Ronstrom, Stephen     Sacred Heart Hospital

Simuncak, Sandra     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Skaden, John     Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Van Court, Bernie     Bay Area Medical Center

Needham, Jean     Holy Family Hospital

Pandl, Therese     Columbia St. Mary’s-Milwaukee

White, Michelle     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Barnett, Jane     University Health Care, Inc.

Bultema, Janice     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Byrne, Frank     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Devermann, Robert     Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh

Grundstrom, David     Flambeau Hospital

Anderson, Sandy     St. Clare Hospital and Health Services

Buck, Catherine     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Christensen, Cinthia     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Duncan, Larry     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Dykehouse, Rodney     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Entwistle, David     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Flowers, Patty     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Forman, Elizabeth     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Getto, Carl     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Goodenow, John     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Grady, Glen     Memorial Medical Center

Groepper, Ron     St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center

Gutzeit, Michael     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Heisler, John     SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Johnson, Charles     St. Marys Hospital Medical Center

Jones, Michael     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kerwin, George     Bellin Memorial Hospital

Ketterhagen, James     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Kinsella, Connie     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Korom, Nancy     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Kosanovich, John     Watertown Memorial Hospital

Martin, Jeff     Saint Michael’s Hospital

Modjeska, Alicia     St. Michael Hospital

Niemer, Margaret     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

O’Connell, Blaine     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Potter, Terri     Meriter Hospital

Range, Richard     Baldwin Area Medical Center

Reynolds, Sheila     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Richards, Theresa     Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Robertstad, John     Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

Runge, Charles     Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital

Schafer, Michael     Spooner Health System

Schmidt, Michael     Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Schroeder, Patricia     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Standridge, Debra     St. Francis Hospital

Steiner, Garith     Vernon Memorial Healthcare

Teigen, Bobbe     Aurora Medical Center - Manitowoc

Thompson, Scott     Aurora Health Care

Frank, Jennifer     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Grasmick, Mary Kay     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Brasseaux, Mary     St. Nicholas Hospital

Richardson, Dana     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Buser, Kenneth     All Saints Healthcare

Riddle, Roberta     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Eichman, Cynthia     Our Lady of Victory Hospital

Falvey, Patrick     Aurora Health Care

Fish, David     St. Joseph’s Hospital

Karuschak, Michael     Amery Regional Medical Center

Kief, Brian     Howard Young Medical Center

McCausland, Maureen     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Meyer, Daniel     Aurora Sheboygan Mem. Medical Ctr.

Morgan, Dwight     Aurora Health Care

Wick, Timothy     Burnett Medical Center

Reardon, John     Memorial Medical Center

Anderson, Loren     Aurora Health Care-South Region

Banks, P. Gregory     Aurora Health Care - Kettle Moraine

Birkenstock, Timothy     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Bolz, Terry     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Bonk, Daniel Aurora     Sheboygan Mem. Medical Ctr.

Brideau, Leo     Columbia St. Mary’s-Columbia Campus

Britton, Gregory     Beloit Memorial Hospital

Buettner, Susan     Aurora Health Care

Desien, Nicholas     Ministry Health Care

Dunigan, Thomas     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Ela, Susan     Aurora Health Care

Fale, Robert     Agnesian HealthCare

Gazzana, Thomas     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Huxley, Eliot     Aurora Health Care

Johnson, George     Reedsburg Area Medical Center

Kaufman, Nancy     Aurora Health Care

Koehler, Thomas     Aurora BayCare Medical Center

Milakovich, Paul     Aurora Health Care

Munson, Kenneth     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Olson, Edward     Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Rudolph, Colin     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Shabino, Charles     Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Smith, Linda     Aurora BayCare Medical Center

Steinman, John     Aurora Health Care

Tapper, Joy     Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Titus, Rexford     ProHealth Care

Turkal, Nick     Aurora Health Care

Walsh, Lorelle     Aurora Health Care

Bazan, Bill     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Bloch, Jodi     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Braddock, Jonathan     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Cutler, Dave     WHA Financial Solutions, Inc.

Dell Uomo,     Paul Covenant Healthcare System, Inc.

Quinn, George     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Kachelski, Joe     WHA Information Center

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

Leitch, Laura     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Stanford, Matthew     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Olson, David     Bay Area Medical Center

Nannis, Paul     Aurora Health Care

Warmuth, Judith     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Eiler, Gary     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Vice, Jon     Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Starmann-Harrison, Mary     SSM Health Care-Wisconsin

Wolf, Edward     Lakeview Medical Center

Sollenberger, Donna     University of Wisconsin Hospital/Clinics

Brenton, Mary E.     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Brenton, Stephen     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Borgerding, Eric     Wisconsin Hospital Association

Size, Tim Rural     Wisconsin Health Cooperative

Howe, Edwin     Aurora Health Care

Stopping along the way for refreshment at the Starbucks in the lobby, Congressman Mark Green (R-8th) began his visit at Saint Joseph’s Hospital/Ministry Health Care by greeting hospital administration and staff before taking a quick walking tour of the facility.

During the tour, Congressman Green discussed the issue of community benefits with Ann Boson, Foundation manager, and Mike Blanchard, vice president of administrative services, both of whom shared facts about the over $5 million in charitable care provided to over 1,220 individuals. In addition, they mentioned the $396,638 in donations that Saint Joseph’s Hospital/Ministry Health Fund provides to support community programs and services. Both also cited new efforts to reduce costs and length of stay while working with businesses to improve the health of their employees through improved information and referral.

In turning to the Supreme Court’s recent medical malpractice ruling, Michael Schmidt, President, made sure to thank Green for authoring the 1995 legislation that established the caps on non-economic damages. Schmidt indicated he is looking forward to the work of the Medical Malpractice Reform Task Force, recently created by Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo), that will review legislative options for reform. Congressman Green communicated his concern over the issue as well as the future for health care in the state. Green further indicated health care was one of his top priorities.

Karla Ashenhurst, Government Affairs Director for Ministry Health Care, encouraged Congressman Green to hold health care listening sessions at Saint Joseph’s or another Ministry site and asked him to encourage Representative Gielow to bring the Speaker’s Task Force on Medical Malpractice reform to Saint Joseph’s for a hands-on assessment of the crisis at hand. President Schmidt concluded with an offer to provide staff experts with administrative or clinical information, as hospitals work together to make Wisconsin a state that will continue to draw some of the finest physicians in the nation.

The full education agenda and registration materials for the 2005 Wisconsin Quality & Safety Forum are included in this week’s packet and are available on-line at www.wha.org.

Health care quality managers, risk managers, CEOs/administrators, clinician managers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, patient care services staff, quality improvement team members, and others should plan to attend this year’s Quality & Safety Forum, scheduled for October 17-18 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton.

Register today, and don’t forget to ask for the WHA Quality & Safety Forum room block at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel when making your hotel reservation. Call 800-242-3499 to make your hotel reservation. The special room rate will be available only until September 18.

The WHA Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors has agreed to continue the health care career scholarship program at technical colleges throughout Wisconsin for the 2005-2006 school year.

The scholarship program offers two scholarships to each of the state’s 16 technical colleges. The unique twist to the WHA Foundation scholarship program is that, unlike most scholarships, it covers actual tuition and book expenses, up to $2,000, for the final semester of a two-year, health care-related degree program. The intention is to assist and encourage students to make that one final push toward graduation and a career in health care.

Since the inception of the WHA Foundation scholarship program in 2003, scholarships have been granted to 58 students from all 16 technical colleges, worth approximately $69,000. For students who received the scholarships, they were able to complete their education and join the health care workforce, many at WHA member hospitals.

Of the 58 scholarship recipients, 41 were pursuing associate degrees in nursing. Others were pursuing degrees in radiography, health information technology, respiratory care, occupational therapy, sonography and physical therapy.

"The WHA Foundation is happy to play a part in supporting students training for health occupations and is pleased to enhance the many scholarship initiatives that our member hospitals and hospital volunteer organizations offer each year," said Jennifer Frank, executive director of the WHA Foundation.

Register today for the 2005 WHA Annual Convention, scheduled September 21-23 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Also, the final cut-off date for room reservations at the Kalahari Resort is Monday, August 29. Call 877-253-5466 to make your reservations today.

A strong line-up of presentations will bring the 2005 theme of "Health Care Leadership in an Era of Transparency" to life. This year’s convention begins with Dr. Jim Reinertsen, senior fellow for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, president of The Reinertsen Group and former hospital CEO, discussing the changes and challenges of a successful health care leaders in this era of transparency. Thursday afternoon is devoted to the topic of community benefits, with an update from WHA’s Task Force on Community Benefits, a "lessons learned" presentation by an Illinois hospital fighting to regain its tax-exempt status, and a panel highlighting some of Wisconsin hospitals’ most innovative community benefit programs.

The Wisconsin Chapter of ACHE is presenting a Category I (ACHE education) workshop entitled "Medical Staff Relations" on September 23, following the adjournment of the WHA Annual Meeting.

Few issues have greater impact on the success of a health care organization or an individual health care executive than that of medical staff relations. Understanding how to foster strong relationships between the medical staff and the organization can pay immeasurable benefits.

Panelists will share successful strategies for involving the medical staff in decision-making and planning and how to align the medical staff with organizational strategies. Attendees will learn some of the most effective communication vehicles to use with medical staff, what to do when medical staff competes with you, and how to deal with "oppositional factors" within the medical staff.

This program has been developed and is presented locally by the Wisconsin Chapter of ACHE. The American College of Healthcare Executives has awarded one (1) Category I (ACHE education) credit hour to this program.

The presenting panel will include John Rosing, MHA, FACHE, practice director of accreditation and regulatory services for the Greeley Company, who will act as moderator; Frank Byrne, MD, president of St. Marys Hospital Medical Center of Madison; James Casanova, MD, CPE, FACHE, senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer for Aspirus Wausau Hospital of Wausau; and Michael Unger, MD, vice president of medical affairs for Community Memorial Hospital of Menomonee Falls.

The conference will be held at the conclusion of the WHA Annual Convention, on Friday, September 23, 2005, from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. There is no cost to register for this event, but pre-registration is requested. A brochure with registration form can be found on the web site at www.wha.org. Easy, on-line registration is available as well.

The Bureau of Quality Assurance amended its statewide variance concerning the authentication of physician orders effective August 22, 2005. In a recently released memo, BQA advised hospitals that the new statewide variance for HFS 124.12(5)(b)(11) concerning the authentication of physician orders is 48 hours rather than the previous variance of 72 hours. The new variance reads as follows:

"Medical staff by-laws and rules shall include . . . as statement specifying categories of personnel duly authorized to accept and implement medical staff orders. All orders shall be recorded and authenticated. All verbal and telephone orders shall be authenticated by the prescribing member of the medical staff in writing within 48 hours of receipt."

Under the federal Interpretive Guidelines for the Medicare Conditions of Participation, all oral or telephone orders for drugs and biologicals must be signed by the prescribing practitioner at the earliest of the following:

• The next time the prescribing practitioner provides care to the patient, assesses the patient, or documents the information in the patient’s medical record;
• The prescribing practitioner signs or initials the verbal order within time frames consistent with federal and state law or regulation and hospital policy;
• Within 48 hours of when the order was given.

A copy of the BQA memo is available at http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/BQAnodMems.htm.

For the fourth time this year, Stoughton Hospital activated its Tornado warning procedure, but for the first time, it wasn’t a drill. On August 18, 2005, the ER staff was aware of the impending tornado because of the sirens, and then saw the funnel cloud from the north windows near the ER. They quickly implemented the Disaster Response protocol for the tornado that struck the north side of Stoughton moments earlier. Throughout the evening, the hospital was in constant contact with the Dane County Emergency Command Center as well as the American Red Cross. More than 80 professional, ancillary and volunteer staff reported to the hospital to aid victims and their families.

According to Jane McGuire, public relations and planning manager, "Stoughton Hospital, as well as the City of Stoughton Fire and EMS squads, had employees and volunteers, some whose own homes were affected by the disaster and yet they still responded in the field or to the hospital to help serve the greater community during its time of need. Their dedication and selflessness is an inspiration to us all."

The hospital released the following information regarding those who presented to the hospital: 20 were treated and released, two were admitted to Stoughton Hospital in fair condition, and 1 transferred via helicopter to a Madison hospital.

In the days following the tornado, Stoughton Hospital continued to provide care for disaster clean-up related injuries. Since the initial victims were treated, over 30 people have received care for disaster/clean-up related injuries. The majority of injuries were related to corneal abrasions, lacerations (some from chain saws), nail puncture wounds with related tetanus vaccination, and bee stings.

Hospital President Terry Brenny summed up the past few days, "The hospital would like to extend its appreciation to its staff as well as the emergency response teams throughout the Stoughton area who provided assistance. The hospital is also grateful for the outpouring of support it has received from the community."

Other area hospitals offered support: UW Hospital donated 1200 meals a day for the first two days after, along with donating supplies; and Meriter gave the American Red Cross supplies like bottled waters, fresh fruit and snacks.

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