UW Health, Madison, 2023 Community Benefits
- Health Equity
- Charity Care/Free Clinics
- Growing and Developing Our Health Care Workforce
- Hospital-Supported Initiatives
Addressing Equity through Charitable Giving
As part of its commitment to dismantle racism, UW Health adopted a partner-centered philosophy of giving that employs equity and anti-racism principles, including nonbureaucratic decision-making, transparent communication and shifting power to those with lived experience. It removes unnecessary barriers to funding and centers voices of color while allowing UW Health to remain highly engaged with the work, outcomes and challenges of community partners.
UW Health prioritizes partnering with organizations led by people of color that address the organization’s community health improvement and diversity, equity and inclusion priorities. They focus on building authentic relationships to gain firsthand knowledge of the work and needs in the community.
In FY22, UW Health partnered with 245 local non-profit organizations and contributed $6.5m in cash and in-kind contributions to the community. Seventy-two percent of their cash contributions went to organizations led by people of color. One partnership example is the YWCA of Madison, which is widely recognized as a community leader for its work to eliminate racism and empower women. The organization takes a holistic approach to helping people by addressing the root causes of poverty such as homelessness, unemployment/underemployment and racism. CEO Vanessa McDowell said of UW Health’s annual contribution, “I can’t tell you how much it meant to my staff and me that UW Health heard our challenges and trusted us to have the best solutions to combat these challenges.”
By supporting organizations led by people of color, UW Health is living its mission to dismantle racism and is effectively addressing health equity in its community.
UW Health prioritizes partnering with organizations led by people of color that address the organization’s community health improvement and diversity, equity and inclusion priorities. They focus on building authentic relationships to gain firsthand knowledge of the work and needs in the community.
In FY22, UW Health partnered with 245 local non-profit organizations and contributed $6.5m in cash and in-kind contributions to the community. Seventy-two percent of their cash contributions went to organizations led by people of color. One partnership example is the YWCA of Madison, which is widely recognized as a community leader for its work to eliminate racism and empower women. The organization takes a holistic approach to helping people by addressing the root causes of poverty such as homelessness, unemployment/underemployment and racism. CEO Vanessa McDowell said of UW Health’s annual contribution, “I can’t tell you how much it meant to my staff and me that UW Health heard our challenges and trusted us to have the best solutions to combat these challenges.”
By supporting organizations led by people of color, UW Health is living its mission to dismantle racism and is effectively addressing health equity in its community.
Ensuring Equitable Financial Assistance
UW Health offers a generous financial assistance program to patients who are unable to pay for the care provided at UW Health. Patients work with dedicated staff members to apply for financial assistance to cover all or a portion of their bill. In FY22, UW Hospital and Clinics’ financial assistance program provided $20.4 million of charity care at cost.
To improve our financial assistance program, finance department leaders conducted a health equity lens review of the financial assistance policy and financial counseling practices at UW Health. While the policy itself didn’t change, a few of the practices around it did, removing unintentional barriers for patients and improving the objectivity of the approval process. The review process revealed that the complexity of the application process posed challenges for patients who did not have access to technology or the needed documentation, and who may be uncomfortable sharing highly sensitive information with strangers. Some patients with overwhelming medical bills did not meet the income requirement for financial assistance, while some UW Health care team members didn’t know help is available as they lacked awareness about the financial assistance policy.
With this new awareness in mind, the finance department made the following critical changes:
To improve our financial assistance program, finance department leaders conducted a health equity lens review of the financial assistance policy and financial counseling practices at UW Health. While the policy itself didn’t change, a few of the practices around it did, removing unintentional barriers for patients and improving the objectivity of the approval process. The review process revealed that the complexity of the application process posed challenges for patients who did not have access to technology or the needed documentation, and who may be uncomfortable sharing highly sensitive information with strangers. Some patients with overwhelming medical bills did not meet the income requirement for financial assistance, while some UW Health care team members didn’t know help is available as they lacked awareness about the financial assistance policy.
With this new awareness in mind, the finance department made the following critical changes:
- Began using credit bureau, demographic and behavioral data from a vendor to relieve the burden on patients to provide financial documentation. The vendor provides information that is used to determine which patients are most likely to qualify for 100% financial assistance;
- Implemented an ongoing education program for clinical care teams about the financial assistance policy; and,
- Established a routine review of financial assistance education provided during employee onboarding to ensure it is up to date.
Growing the Nursing Workforce at UW Health
UW Health continues to be challenged by a nationwide nursing shortage. Taking a proactive stance, UW Health has created a new RN Apprenticeship Program, designed to grow and diversify the nursing workforce at UW Health while creating new pathways for career advancement and professional growth.
This innovative program creates pathways to employment, training and advancement to join the nursing profession. Local community partnerships, educational support and a focus on diversity are all part of this effort to grow our nursing workforce.
“This Nurse Apprenticeship Program offers a comprehensive growth pathway like nothing we have ever seen before,” said Anne Mork, MS, MHCDS, RN, chief nursing officer, ambulatory and nursing support services. “We are excited to open the doors to employees who have wanted to pursue a career in nursing but could not afford it or take the necessary time away from work for their schooling. This Nurse Apprenticeship Program lets them work while they learn, covering all education expenses. It helps foster a culture of learning, support and professional growth by offering wrap-around support as necessary.”
The RN Apprenticeship Program offers formal classroom learning at Madison College and laboratory skills and on the job training at UW Health. In addition, apprentices have access to:
This innovative program creates pathways to employment, training and advancement to join the nursing profession. Local community partnerships, educational support and a focus on diversity are all part of this effort to grow our nursing workforce.
“This Nurse Apprenticeship Program offers a comprehensive growth pathway like nothing we have ever seen before,” said Anne Mork, MS, MHCDS, RN, chief nursing officer, ambulatory and nursing support services. “We are excited to open the doors to employees who have wanted to pursue a career in nursing but could not afford it or take the necessary time away from work for their schooling. This Nurse Apprenticeship Program lets them work while they learn, covering all education expenses. It helps foster a culture of learning, support and professional growth by offering wrap-around support as necessary.”
The RN Apprenticeship Program offers formal classroom learning at Madison College and laboratory skills and on the job training at UW Health. In addition, apprentices have access to:
- Academic support services at UW Health and Madison College
- Comprehensive education and career pathway support from Madison College
- A range of other wrap around support services through the UW Health Allied Health Education and Career Pathways, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs
- Additional funding support for wrap around support services through the Department of Workforce Development of South-Central Wisconsin
Supporting Black Mothers and Babies Through ConnectRx Wisconsin
ConnectRx is a communitywide care coordination approach launched in 2022 that connects Black pregnant patients to community resources during pregnancy and for up to a year after birth, with an ultimate goal to improve birth outcomes.
The UW Health Population Health Department implemented ConnectRx Wisconsin in partnership with the Dane County Health Council and the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance. ConnectRx works to reduce disparities in birthweight and infant mortality and support reproductive justice—one of four health priorities based on the most recent Dane County CHNA.
In the program’s first year, UW Health hired seven community health workers (CHWs) who support eligible pregnant patients to provide culturally responsive care and assist with navigating community resources. CHWs advocate for patients with landlords, community-based organizations and medical providers. They procure and deliver food, diapers and other essential items to patients. The team also writes letters of support and refers patients to additional resources as needed.
Key accomplishments in the first year include:
The UW Health Population Health Department implemented ConnectRx Wisconsin in partnership with the Dane County Health Council and the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance. ConnectRx works to reduce disparities in birthweight and infant mortality and support reproductive justice—one of four health priorities based on the most recent Dane County CHNA.
In the program’s first year, UW Health hired seven community health workers (CHWs) who support eligible pregnant patients to provide culturally responsive care and assist with navigating community resources. CHWs advocate for patients with landlords, community-based organizations and medical providers. They procure and deliver food, diapers and other essential items to patients. The team also writes letters of support and refers patients to additional resources as needed.
Key accomplishments in the first year include:
- 313 Black pregnant patients screened
- 194 patients enrolled
- 75 healthy babies born to enrolled patients
