Nearly 1,000 hospital and health care leaders, providers, staff, trustees and volunteers participated in WHA’s annual Advocacy Day on April 19, the first held in person since the pandemic. Former Govs. Jim Doyle and Tommy G. Thompson were keynote speakers at the event that also included an address by current Gov. Tony Evers and a bipartisan state legislative panel of Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Pat Testin (R-Stevens Point).

In addition to the program, Advocacy Day grassroots advocates also visited state senators and representatives at the Wisconsin State Capitol, calling on the Legislature to discuss solutions to health care funding and workforce shortages Wisconsin hospitals have faced for the past several years.
 

Inaugural Quality Improvement Showcase

Twenty-three posters were featured, representing 50 Wisconsin hospitals and health systems, highlighting their hospitals’ improvement projects. Topics were wide ranging and included Age-Friendly Health Systems, reducing opioid prescriptions,  reducing health disparities, and reducing readmissions. Presenters, representing hospital staff responsible for improving patient care, patient safety and access and creating value, had an opportunity to interact with their legislators and other hospital staff leaders.