Quality Advisor

Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 8-14

Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is an annual recognition event in March sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to make the practices and initiatives that advance safety and engage patients, consumers and communities in the coproduction of safe care more visible.

IHI is offering two free webinars March 9 and March 12 along with other resources.

You can also find resources and the PSAW toolkit at the Center for Patient Safety to celebrate achievements and recognize ways your organization supports patient safety.

WHA's 2026 Health Care Quality Showcase in the Capitol Rotunda

The fourth annual Health Care Quality Showcase was held on February 25 at the Capitol Rotunda in conjunction with WHA’s Advocacy Day, bringing together hospital quality leaders from Wisconsin hospitals and health systems to share innovative quality improvement projects through poster presentations. Twenty-eight posters were showcased, representing the quality improvement and patient safety work and collaborative initiatives of 83 Wisconsin hospitals. This event provided an invaluable platform for hospital staff to highlight their efforts in improving patient care and safety, while also engaging directly with legislators, fellow hospital leaders and Advocacy Day attendees from across the state. It served as a powerful way to inform the public and policymakers about the impactful work being done to advance quality and patient safety in Wisconsin’s hospitals.

“Each poster in this year’s showcase represents just a small window into the incredible work our hospitals do every day to improve patient outcomes. I’m deeply proud of the teams behind these projects; their dedication, creativity and unwavering commitment to patient care drive meaningful change across Wisconsin. Seeing their efforts highlighted here at the Capitol underscores the impact they make not only within their own organizations, but across our entire health care system,” said Nadine Allen, WHA Chief Quality Officer.

See the Health Care Quality Showcase participants who featured a poster of their improvement projects by topic.

2026 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report Released

WHA released the 2026 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report last week, highlighting the progress Wisconsin hospitals have made, as well as challenges they face.

A few key findings and WHA's workforce advocacy:

• Hospital employment has grown significantly over the past decade, but demand for care continues to outpace workforce gains.
• Demographic pressures — particularly the growth of Wisconsin’s 65+ population — will drive unavoidable increases in health care utilization.
• Payer and government red tape, outdated state laws and post-acute care bottlenecks are correctable pressures that are straining an already tight workforce.
• Continued investment in accessible training pathways and “Grow Our Own” initiatives remains essential.

WHA will host a workforce webinar series, with the first webinar on March 31. See the Educational Events & Resources section below for more information.

CMS Releases Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating Hospital-Specific Reports (HSRs)

This is a notification that your hospital’s April 2026 Overall Star Rating Hospital-Specific Report (HSR) is available in the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) system. The April 2026 preview period occurs from February 19, through March 20. The preview period is not a Review and Corrections period, during which hospitals can resubmit corrected data. The April 2026 Overall Star Ratings were calculated using the measure data from October 2025 refresh.

To seek assistance for interpreting your HSR, please contact Nadine Allen.

Expert to Expert eCQM Annual Update Webinars

Register now to attend the following Expert to Expert webinars offered in collaboration by Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and eCQM stewards. These free, publicly available webinars offer CE credit for the live broadcasts. The eCQM annual update webinars provide an overview of the featured eCQM(s) and highlight changes for 2026 implementation. The new measure review webinars address new eCQMs for 2026 implementation and provide a review of measure intent and specifications, including the initial patient population, denominator, exclusions, numerator, data elements and logic. During each webinar, frequently asked questions will be addressed, and the audience can submit questions for response during a Q&A segment.

Slides, recordings and transcripts will be available here following each webinar - scroll down and use the checkbox to sort for Expert to Expert webinars to register.

Hospital and Health System Teams Invited to Join Safer Births Collaborative Facilitated by American Hospital Association (AHA) in Collaboration with Epic

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a common and serious childbirth complication marked by rapid blood loss that can cause organ failure or death. It occurs in 3%–5% of deliveries, accounts for 11.2% of maternal deaths in the US and remains the leading cause of severe maternal morbidity. Notably, 40% of cases occur in patients with no identified risk factors. Early detection and prompt treatment are critical. Integrating evidence-based tools into electronic health records (EHRs) and labor workflows can help providers respond more effectively.

AHA and Epic continue to work together to raise awareness of EHR tools that support PPH management across platforms. The Safer Births PPH Collaborative will support hospitals and health systems in implementing the strategies outlined in the AHA/Epic PPH Toolkit, offering standardized guidance for early recognition, rapid response and treatment. These tools are designed to help save the lives of new mothers and strengthen maternal care delivery.

Why Participate?

• Improve Maternal Outcomes – Reduce the incidence and severity of postpartum hemorrhage through evidence-based tools and standardized clinical workflows.
• Leverage EHR for Early Detection – Optimize EHR tools, including QBL calculators, automated alerts and risk-based protocols, to support timely, life-saving interventions.
• Connect, Learn and Lead – Engage with experts and peers nationwide to share and adopt successful strategies for reducing PPH, enhancing care processes and driving continuous quality improvement through monthly events, office hours and forums, while positioning your hospital as a leader in maternal safety and quality.

What to Expect

The Safer Births PPH Collaborative is a seven-month initiative designed to support hospitals in reducing PPH through a combination of structured learning and peer engagement. Participants will benefit from monthly expert-led sessions covering strategies, tools and best practices, along with dedicated office hours with AHA and Epic teams for personalized guidance, troubleshooting and performance improvement support. Between sessions, participants can connect with peers nationwide through interactive forums to share experiences, lessons learned and practical solutions, fostering collaboration to enhance maternal safety and quality improvement.

Reserve Your Spot

Please complete the registration form to indicate your interest in participating in the 2026 collaborative. With the kickoff scheduled for March 12, registered participants will receive follow-up communications with final scheduling details and preparation materials.

If you have questions, please reach out to Kavita Bhat.

Help Shape a New Emergency Department Peer Support Toolkit – 2-Minute Survey

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) is assisting in the development of a practical toolkit to support Emergency Departments (EDs) in understanding and implementing peer support services. Linked below is a brief survey (it takes approximately 2 minutes to complete) seeking input from Emergency Department teams to better understand knowledge gaps, needs and implementation considerations. The survey was developed as part of the Wisconsin Rural Health and Substance Use Clinical Support Program (RHeSUS) and is supported through funding from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Wisconsin Partnership Program.

Please complete the survey as soon as you are able to and forward it to every ED you currently serve so we can learn as much as we can before we start development.

Your feedback will directly inform the toolkit’s content and ensure it reflects what hospitals need for smooth, effective implementation.

Thank you in advance for your collaboration and commitment to improving care for individuals affected by substance use.

Reach out to Stacy Kopp if you have any questions.

Caring for Wisconsin Caregivers    

March 18 is Health Workforce Well-Being Day!

March 18 is a designated day to recognize the outstanding work happening across Wisconsin to support the well-being of our health care workforce. Hospitals and health systems continue to demonstrate leadership, innovation and commitment to creating environments where every member of the care team feels supported and able to thrive.

This day also marks the anniversary of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, now reauthorized, which continues to drive national efforts to strengthen workforce well-being.

Celebrating Wisconsin’s Progress

Congratulations to the Wisconsin hospitals and health systems recognized as Well‑Being First Champions by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. This recognition reflects their strong commitment to supporting caregivers by ensuring credentialing applications are free from overly broad or unnecessary mental health questions.

We also want to recognize the many Wisconsin hospitals and health systems that are currently in the process of making these important updates. Your ongoing efforts demonstrate meaningful progress and a shared dedication to creating safer, more supportive environments for the health care workforce. Your work is moving our state forward, and we celebrate your commitment.

Efforts like these strengthen a statewide culture of respect, compassion and support for everyone who cares for our communities.

Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers

Visit the Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers webpage to explore upcoming events, past webinars and a wide range of resources, including guidance on reducing barriers to care-seeking and steps toward becoming a Well-Being First Champion. You can also take advantage of upcoming office hours with Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, who will be available to offer direct guidance on the credentialing challenge and other workforce well being strategies.

Join the Celebration

Is your organization celebrating Health Workforce Well-Being Day? If you’re hosting gatherings or appreciation activities, we’d love to see them!

Please share your photos with Nadine Allen. We’ll be creating a gallery to celebrate teams across the state.

Thank you for all you continue to do to support and uplift Wisconsin’s health care workforce. Your commitment is truly making a difference.

2026 Healthcare Leadership Collaborative in Washington, DC

Join the 3rd annual Healthcare Leadership Collaborative event March 24 in Washington, DC in recognition of Health Workforce Well-Being Day and engage in interprofessional, cross-sector collaboration to develop, share and commit to action-oriented, systems-change solutions for our health workers’ mental health and wellbeing.

Find more information, including registration, click here.

Superior Health Quality Alliance    

Join WHA & Superior Health in Advancing the CMS 13 SOW Initiative

In case you missed the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) and Superior Health Quality Alliance (Superior Health) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 13th Scope of Work (13SOW) initiative webinar on February 12, you can review the webinar recording and webinar slides for more information. The webinar on the CMS 13SOW, highlighted the quality improvement technical assistance available to Wisconsin hospitals. More than 40 Wisconsin hospitals have already enrolled with Superior Health for 13SOW.

WHA is proud to be a member of Superior Health, an organization dedicated to advancing health care quality and safety across our region. Superior Health serves as a vital link between the goals of CMS and the unique needs of local communities. As the CMS Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN QIO) for the Great Lakes Region, Superior Health offers no-cost technical assistance to providers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Areas of support include chronic disease management, behavioral health integration, patient safety, care coordination and overall health care quality—fully aligned with CMS national priorities.

For questions, please contact info@superiorhealthqa.org or complete the enrollment form to begin the process.

Watch this video highlighting Superior Health Quality Alliance.

Please contact Jenny Pritchett with any questions.