Quality Advisor

Celebrating Our Commitment to Patients

We are proud to share that Wisconsin hospitals continue to lead the nation in patient experience, tying Texas for the highest number of five-star hospitals in the country. These ratings are based on feedback directly from patients and their families about the care they received during their hospital stay.

This achievement reflects something you see every day across your organizations: team members who listen, communicate, show compassion and put patients at the center of every interaction. Patient experience is about more than satisfaction. It is about making patients feel heard, respected, supported and confident in their care.

Thank you to all hospital teams for the dedication, professionalism and kindness you bring to patients and families every day. This recognition is a testament to your unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care and creating a positive experience for everyone we serve. Watch for press release tomorrow.

Congratulations and thank you for making a difference.

Wisconsin Ranked First in Nation of States with Cleanest Hospitals

Becker's Hospital Review compiled a list of U.S. hospitals with a CMS 5-star rating for cleanliness and August survey data shows Wisconsin had the most hospitals recognized for cleanliness. See the full story and hospital listings here.

Recognizing Key Health Priorities this September

Governor Evers Proclaims September as Sepsis Awareness Month

Governor Tony Evers has officially proclaimed September 2026 as Sepsis Awareness Month in Wisconsin, recognizing the importance of early identification and rapid treatment of sepsis to improve outcomes and save lives. The proclamation highlights sepsis as a leading cause of hospitalization and death and calls attention to the need for increased awareness among health care professionals, patients, families and communities.

Wisconsin hospitals continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to sepsis care. According to WHA CheckPoint, Wisconsin's performance on the CMS SEP-1 Sepsis Bundle measure exceeds the national average, reflecting the ongoing efforts of hospital teams to improve early recognition, timely treatment and patient outcomes.

Statewide and hospital-specific SEP-1 performance data can be reviewed through the WHA CheckPoint Hospital Performance Dashboard. Use Sepsis Awareness Month as an opportunity to review your organization's SEP-1 performance, share improvement successes with frontline teams and reinforce evidence-based practices that help save lives.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, we are highlighting Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation's ALL IN for Mental Health initiative, which promotes access to mental health care and supports the well-being of health care workers. Caring for those who care for others is essential to building a strong, resilient health care workforce. We encourage you join us for WHA's inaugural Caring for Wisconsin's Caregivers: Workforce Well-being Summit on September 9. Find more information in the Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers section below.

Caring for Wisconsin's Caregivers    

Registration Closes September 3 at Noon!

Register Now for WHA’s Inaugural Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers Workforce Well-Being Summit

Join leaders from across the state on September 10, 2026, in Sun Prairie for WHA's inaugural Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers: Workforce Well-being Summit, a day focused on practical strategies to improve caregiver well-being, workforce retention, organizational culture and patient care outcomes.

Organizations across Wisconsin are facing increasing demands, and retaining talented employees has become a strategic priority. This summit will focus on practical, evidence-based strategies to help organizations strengthen cultures of belonging where people want to stay, grow and thrive.

The summit will feature nationally recognized workforce well-being experts, including Gaurava Agarwal, MD, Vice President and Chief Wellness Executive at Northwestern Medicine, and Stef Simmons, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. Drawing on real-world experience and national best practices, these speakers will explore how organizations can move beyond individual resilience programs and build systems that support caregivers at every level of the organization.

Participants will hear practical strategies for:

• Advancing workforce well-being through leadership and culture
• Reducing burnout and improving retention
• Leveraging data to drive meaningful change
• Strengthening workplace systems that support caregivers and improve outcomes

Attendees will also receive an introduction to The Breen Scale™, an evidence-informed organizational assessment developed by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. Wisconsin organizations participating in Phase 2 will gain early access to this tool before its national release. The assessment provides customized insights and actionable recommendations to help organizations strengthen the systems and culture that support caregiver well-being.

Organizations are encouraged to attend as a multidisciplinary team. Whether you represent executive leadership, quality and safety, human resources, nursing, operations, informatics or frontline care teams, this summit will provide practical tools and a shared framework for advancing workforce well-being across your organization.

This summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from national leaders, connect with peers and help shape the future of caregiver well-being in Wisconsin.

Summit Details

Date: September 10, 2026

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Hilton Garden Inn Madison–Sun Prairie

Register here.

Contact WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen with questions.

Superior Health Quality Alliance    

Enrollment for CMS 13th Scope of Work Initiative Now Closed

The Wisconsin Hospital Association and Superior Health Quality Alliance (Superior Health) are pleased to announce that enrollment for participation in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) 13th Scope of Work (SOW) has officially closed.

We are proud to share that 105 Wisconsin hospitals have enrolled to partner with Superior Health in this important initiative. This strong level of participation demonstrates Wisconsin health care organizations' commitment to advancing quality improvement, patient safety, care coordination and health outcomes across the state.

In addition to hospital participation, nursing homes, clinics and other health care partners are actively engaging in improvement activities through the 13th SOW. Together, these organizations are collaborating with Superior Health to implement evidence-based practices, share successful strategies and drive meaningful improvements in care for the communities they serve.

We are grateful to all of our health care partners for their commitment to quality and look forward to supporting their improvement journeys throughout the 13th SOW.

Visit Superior Health Quality Alliance website for information on resources and tools. Please use our Support Request Form to contact Superior Health and/or sign up to receive our newsletter.

This initiative is aligned with CMS Overall Hospital Star Ratings and Value-Based Purchasing programs, supporting hospitals in improving quality, safety and performance outcomes.

WHA is a member of the Superior Health Quality Alliance (Superior Health), a seven-partner organization focused on improving care for Medicare beneficiaries. They collaborate with patients, clinicians, healthcare organizations and communities across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) quality improvement objectives.