THE VALUED VOICE

New Report: Wisconsin Hospitals Create andStrengthen Partnerships to Improve Health CareQuality

Wisconsin health care quality ranks among highest in the nation

Today, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) released its 2018 Quality Report, which highlights the partnerships between hospitals and patients, families, legislators and other stakeholders to continually improve health care in our state. Wisconsin hospitals and health systems share best practices as part of ongoing quality improvement initiatives. These efforts keep Wisconsin a national leader in health care quality—Wisconsin ranks first in the Midwest and fourth in the nation according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

“Wisconsin is known for its high-quality health care delivery because of the unique collaborative and innovative culture among our hospitals and health systems,” said Eric Borgerding, WHA President and CEO. “Our members share data, best practices, and lessons learned which leads to better outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, operational efficiencies, and attracts a quality workforce.”

WHA Chief Quality Officer Beth Dibbert added, “Wisconsin hospitals provide personcentered care using a variety of diverse and supportive strategies to help patients along the road to wellness. Providers are reaching beyond hospital walls to help address social determinants, such as homelessness or food insecurity, to promote a successful post-hospital transition.”

Below are several examples of the partnerships and quality improvement initiatives included in the 2018 Quality Report:

• More than 80 Wisconsin hospitals have partnered with another 230 hospitals across Michigan and Illinois in the Great Lakes Partners for Patients Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (GLPP). Hospitals succeed in reducing adverse patient events and readmissions through an all-share, all-learn collaborative approach.
• Hospitals are actively including patients and families in developing and implementing best-practice, innovative strategies to reduce harmful infections and prevent patient falls. Learn more about these innovative strategies by reading the 17 examples in the report.
• WHA developed the Physician Quality Academy which helps physicians engage with quality improvement efforts utilizing implementation science, which improves the health of patients and patient populations by creating care processes that bring evidence-based best practices to the bedside.
• Sepsis mortality, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), and other infection rates have declined in Wisconsin through the application of best practice strategies and collaborative sharing between hospitals.
• WHA worked with Wisconsin lawmakers to pass, enact and implement the Health Care Data Modernization Act. Since 2016, this bipartisan legislation has enhanced the utility of Wisconsin’s hospital and ambulatory surgery center discharge data program by more efficiently deploying health care resources to address population health needs in Wisconsin communities.
• WHA’s CheckPoint website drives quality improvement through transparency. Throughout its history, CheckPoint has posted 115 different measures of clinical care and patient outcomes. The WHA Measures Team, representing more than 40 hospitals and health systems in Wisconsin, oversees more than 50 measures on the current site, ensuring the data reported is relevant, actionable, and representative of the care and services most hospitals provide. Visit www.wicheckpoint.org for more information.