THE VALUED VOICE

White House Coronavirus Coordinator Deborah Birx, M.D. came to Verona on August 31, meeting face-to-face (while masked and socially distanced in an EPIC conference room) with leading state health care representatives to discuss Wisconsin’s COVID-19 experiences. Two of those attendees included former WHA Board Chair and SSM Health - Wisconsin President Damond Boatright and WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding.
 
WHA highlighted the challenges Wisconsin hospitals and health systems are facing regarding acquisition of adequate COVID-19 testing supplies and obtaining timely and useful results, stressing that testing capabilities are important for allowing Wisconsin hospitals and health systems to continue providing care in both COVID and non-COVID areas. “We’re pleased WHA was asked as one of the state’s health care leaders to have face time with Dr. Birx,” Borgerding said. “Those opportunities don’t happen all the time, and it speaks to the respect our leading policymakers have regarding WHA’s knowledge and expertise.”
 
Other attendees included UW System President Tommy G. Thompson, EPIC Systems CEO Judy Faulkner and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Regional Director Douglas O’Brien.