Wisconsin hospitals’ health care quality tops the national average and has the fourth-most five-star rated hospitals in the country, according to the recently released
Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The ratings reflect 46 measures across five categories of quality: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care.
“Wisconsin is fortunate to have some of the best hospitals in the nation, delivering high-quality health care to patients and their families every day,” said WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding. “Our hospitals continuously work to improve the quality of care they deliver—constantly adapting and improving outcomes along the way—which is clearly demonstrated by CMS’ latest quality ratings.”
According to CMS, 38% of Wisconsin hospitals received the highest-possible rating of five stars, more than twice the national average of 16%. This is the fourth-highest percentage of five-star rated hospitals in any state, behind Utah (56%), South Dakota (46%) and Montana (44%). Of the top-four states, Wisconsin has the largest number of five-star-rated hospitals—29—compared to 14 in Utah, seven in South Dakota and eight in Montana. In addition, 39% of Wisconsin hospitals received four-star ratings, compared to only 26% of hospitals nationally. Combined, 77% of Wisconsin hospitals received either four- or five-star ratings, a 15% increase from 2022.
Directly leading to this 15% increase, WHA, along with Wisconsin hospitals and health systems, implemented robust quality improvement and patient safety efforts over the last year. These numerous initiatives and outcomes are highlighted in WHA’s
2023 Wisconsin Health Care Quality Report that was released August 16. In addition to providing snapshots of many key health care quality metrics, this year’s report also features stories of innovation by numerous hospitals and health systems who have taken steps to improve patient outcomes in the last year.
“I’m immensely proud of the work not only WHA, but all of Wisconsin’s hospitals and health systems are doing to keep pushing to deliver the highest possible quality care,” said Borgerding. “The work we do isn’t for the recognition—it’s for the patients—but these CMS Star Ratings confirm that we’re on the right track.”
WHA has also proudly offered public access to its
CheckPoint tool—one of the nation’s leading statewide, voluntary hospital quality reporting initiatives—for nearly two decades. The tool allows patients, providers, and others to review nearly 50 quality metrics of individual Wisconsin hospitals, as part of WHA’s commitment to transparent reporting and encouragement of commitment to ensure high-quality care for patients and communities across Wisconsin.