The Wisconsin Hospital Association is excited to announce the opening of the application process for the 2026 Excellence in Quality and Patient Safety Award program. This annual recognition celebrates hospitals and health systems across Wisconsin for their outstanding efforts to improve patient care, safety and outcomes.
Why Apply?
Participating hospitals will benefit from:
This is your chance to share your story, inspire others and highlight the meaningful work your team is doing to advance health care quality and safety.
Excellence in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Award
The Excellence in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate exemplary improvements in quality, patient safety and outcomes
Award Classifications
Four hospitals will be awarded based on these categories:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals:
1 - Critical Access Hospital - 1 to 25 beds
1 - General Medical Surgical Hospital - 26 to 99 beds
1 - General Medical Surgical Hospital - 100 beds and greater
Specialty Care Hospital
1 - Psychiatric/Behavioral Health, Long-term Acute Care, or Rehabilitation Hospital
Topic Examples
Eligibility
Note: Previous award winners are not excluded and can apply each year.
Apply Now
Please click the button below to complete the required applicant contact information form.
Application Deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (CT)
We look forward to celebrating your innovation and impact!
2025 Excellence in Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety Award Winners
HealthPartners Collaboration-Amery Hospital & Clinic, Hudson Hospital & Clinic and Westfields Hospital & Clinic
HealthPartners Collaboration-Amery Hospital & Clinic, Hudson Hospital & Clinic and Westfields Hospital & Clinic won for Swing Bed Optimization (Critical Access Hospital 1-25 Bed Category)
Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital
Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital won for Improving Mortality Index (General Medical Surgical Hospital (26-99 Bed Category)
Aurora Medical Center - Summit
Aurora Medical Center - Summit won for Age-Friendly 4Ms Implementation – Improving Care and Patient Experience for Older Adults (General Medical Surgical Hospital 100+ Bed Category)
UW Health Rehabilitation Hospital
UW Health Rehabilitation Hospital won for Neurological Physical Therapy Program (Specialty Hospital Category)
Honorable Mentions
WHA would also like to recognize nominations that received honorable mention. The 2025 Excellence in Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety Award honorable mentions are:
Critical Access Hospital 1-25 bed size category:
General Medical Surgical 26-99 bed size category:
General Medical Surgical 100+ bed size category:
Congratulations to all the 2025 WHA Quality Award recipients, honorable mentions and nominees.