WCHQ Recognizes WHA and Wisconsin Dept. of Health for Data, Analytics Efforts During the Pandemic

Madison, WI (June 29, 2021) —- The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) recognized two statewide organizations, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), for collecting and publicly sharing data that is essential in the fight against COVID-19. The presentation to DHS was made by Governor Tony Evers and WCHQ Board Chair Kori Krueger, MD, Marshfield Clinic Health System, presented the award to WHA. The award ceremony took place at the WCHQ Improvement Event June 29 at Monona Terrace. Gov. Evers also spoke at the event.

“DHS and WHA were exemplary in their quick responses in the early stages of the pandemic to deliver data in a way that provided health systems and policymakers with the information they needed to prepare for and respond to the pandemic,” according to Dr. Rude. “Both organizations made enhancements to their dashboards throughout the pandemic that ranged from showing case activity to ICU bed availability. Their ongoing commitment to transparency has helped our state respond and will enable us to recover sooner.”

WHA developed a dashboard that serves as a daily and reliable source of information for policymakers, the media and the public. With over one million views, the dashboard has kept key stakeholders and the public informed on the current state of testing, hospitalizations, mortality and hospital capacity.

DHS has provided information throughout the pandemic that tracks the spread of COVID-19 at the county level. DHS also collects and shares data related to the allocation and administration of the vaccine. In April, DHS released a new COVID-19 data table that is tracking the variants.

WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding and DHS Deputy Director Julie Willems Van Dijk accepted on behalf of their respective organizations.

“Wisconsin is fortunate to have data assets at multiple levels that can be deployed quickly to help navigate public health emergencies,” according to Rude. “WCHQ’s members, comprised of health systems and medical clinics, know that having the right data at the time that it is needed most can be the difference between life and death. That has never been truer now as we continue to battle the pandemic.”

For nearly two decades, WCHQ has focused on using data and scientific evidence to help its member health systems and medical clinics improve health care quality. Learn more at www.wchq.org.