Over 50,000 patients cared for every day at Wisconsin hospitals 

Wisconsin hospitals cared for nearly 53,000 people each day in 2012 according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center (WHAIC) and published in the Guide to Wisconsin Hospitals. BixTimes.com released last week that Wisconsin hospitals delivered 64,255 babies i in 2012; 2,419 of those newborns required care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). WHAIC reported that in 2012, 148 Wisconsin hospitals provided uncompensated health care services on more than 1.2 million hospital visits by patients who were uninsured, underinsured and low income. To read more, CLICK HERE. 

Local researchers say EMR access could impact patient care

Access to electronic health records may significantly impact interpretations of head CT scans and the care patients receive, according to a team of current and former Medical College of Wisconsin researchers.

In a recent study published in Health Affairs, three neuroradiologists compared data for 2,000 CT exams produced by ED physicians with analyses generated by interpreting radiologists who had access to electronic health record-derived patient data. The radiologists predicted access to the EHR data would “very likely” adversely affect interpretations of the CT scans in 9 percent of cases and “possibly” have a clinically significant impact in 22 percent of cases. To read more, CLICK HERE.

JUNE EVENT: WHN to cover the future of long-term care

The number of Wisconsin seniors over the age of 65 is expected to nearly double by 2035, inevitably leading to an increased demand for long-term care supports and services. Who will deliver this care and how will it be paid for?

Join a panel of experts at a Wisconsin Health News (WHN) briefing Tuesday, June 3 at the Madison Club. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 am. The briefing begins at noon. Panelists include: Robert Kellerman, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources; Tom Lutzow, Independent Care Health Plan; Tom Moore; Wisconsin Health Care Association and Kitty Rhoades, Department of Health Services. David Zimmerman, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis, will moderate.

Lunch is $30 for Wisconsin Health News subscribers and $40 for non-subscribers. For more information, contact Tim Stumm at (608) 216-8898; tstumm@wisconsinhealthnews.com or Eric Ostermann at (920) 560-5610; eric@badgerbay.co.

Wisconsin healthcare orgs among Becker’s great places to work

Eight healthcare providers and one electronic medical records vendor from Wisconsin made this year’s “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” list, Becker’s Healthcare recently announced.

Each organization earns recognition based on the benefits, wellness programs, commitment to diversity, professional development opportunities and work environment it provides. Becker’s editorial team selected its healthcare providers and businesses as best places to work through nominations and research. No organization can pay to be included in the list.

Wisconsin winners include:

1. Agnesian HealthCare, Fond du Lac
2. Ambulatory Surgical Center of Stevens Point, Stevens Point
3. Epic Systems, Verona
4. Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
5. Gundersen Health System, La Crosse
6. Holy Family Memorial, Manitowoc
7. Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin, Glendale
8. ThedaCare, Appleton
9. University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison

To read more, CLICK HERE.

Infection rates are either on target or exceed expectations

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says infection rates at Wisconsin healthcare facilities are near or better than national rates in four key categories.

Wisconsin’s standardized infection ratio for central line-associated bloodstream infections was significantly better than the national ratio (0.45 compared to 0.56), according to the CDC report released late last month. The same goes for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (0.79 compared to 1.03). Meanwhile, the state ratio was similar to the national ratio for colon surgeries (0.83 versus 0.80) and abdominal hysterectomies (0.97 versus 0.89).

About 800 Wisconsinites fell victim to surgical infections in 2013, compared to about 400 catheter-associated urinary tract infections and close to 180 central line-associated bloodstream infections.

While hospital reporting of healthcare-associated infection data is voluntary in Wisconsin, nearly all of the state’s hospitals are now reporting that information to DHS. “Wisconsin hospitals have made strides in reducing infections but we know our work is never done,” said Kelly Court, chief information officer for the Wisconsin Hospital Association. To view the infographic, CLICK HERE. 

This post was written and researched by Trish Skram. If you have other news, resources or links to share, please comment below or email Trish Skram, blogger and research content specialist for WHPRMS, at trishskram@gmail.com.