With the safety of the state’s hospital and health care workers of paramount importance as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop, WHA made the very difficult decision to cancel two of its upcoming premier events: the Physician Leadership Development Conference scheduled for March 13 and 14 and Advocacy Day 2020 scheduled for March 18.
“Our foremost priority is the health and safety of our member caregivers and their patients,” WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding said in the announcement of the cancellations. “The fact is, the potential health risk to attendees and impact community spread could have on Wisconsin’s health care workforce outweigh the benefits of holding these events.”
The cancellation of WHA events mirrors actions taken throughout the state and nation, with gatherings bringing groups of people together in close proximity being postponed or eliminated altogether. Earlier today Gov. Tony Evers
declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Join WHA’s Virtual Advocacy Day
WHA will take Advocacy Day virtual on March 18 with the launch of a Virtual Advocacy Day resource webpage, including a Health Care Issues Briefing via webinar, a virtual quality advocacy showcase, and more health care policy resources. Most importantly, WHA advocates can join thousands of other grassroots advocates from across the state in making March 18 a day of action.
Through the Hospitals Education & Advocacy Team (HEAT), WHA will be organizing a mass virtual advocacy campaign enabling advocates to easily contact their legislators to express the importance of public policy that supports Wisconsin’s hospitals.
The website will launch at 7 a.m. on March 18 with the direct link provided exclusively to HEAT members and individuals who previously registered for 2020 Advocacy Day. If you did not register for Advocacy Day and you are not sure if you are a HEAT member,
sign up here to receive the alert with the link to Virtual Advocacy Day resources and to join our day of action advocacy campaign.