RECENT ARTICLES 

Posted:3/28/2020
Source:Unspecified

At its annual meeting today, the Business Group on Health Care (BGHC) released its Physician Value Study which was designed to identify the best (high quality/low utilization) primary care providers (family medicine, internal medicine and pediatricians) in the state, determine whether there was a correlation between utilization and quality, and calculate how much health care purchasers could save if care was moved to the top tier providers (high quality, low utilization) BGHC commissioned GNS, a Boston-based analytics company, to review commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid claims data collected by the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO). GNS analyzed 666,636 episodes for 26 conditions/Base ETGs from one calendar year of data (Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017). The ETGs included: hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia (other), asthma and obesity. The study identified 141 PCPs statewide – 4% of all PCPs analyzed – that had both above-average quality and above-average efficiency. Similarly, the study found only one cardiologist statewide who had above-average quality and above-average efficiency for PTCA. The study also found there was no correlation between a provider’s quality and utilization.

Posted:3/28/2020
Source:Unspecified

Divine Savior Healthcare is now part of the Aspirus health system. Founded in 1917 by the Sisters of the Divine Savior, the Portage-based healthcare system has 945 employees. Wausau-based Aspirus has 8,400 employees throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Its network includes four hospitals in Michigan and five hospitals in Wisconsin, 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and air-medical transport, medical goods, nursing homes and a broad network of physicians. A separate board of directors will oversee the hospital.

Posted:3/28/2020
Source:Unspecified

The Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh has opened a new inpatient unit, which is part of the state’s investment in mental health facilities. The unit will provide short-term intensive treatment to those in crisis and is designed for patients who are admitted because they were found to be dangerous to themselves or others. The inpatients would be moved to another facility or discharged once they had stabilized.

Posted:3/28/2020
Source:Unspecified

Ascension St. Clare's Hospital in Weston will become part of Marshfield Clinic Health System after the two health systems reached a definitive agreement. Marshfield will also acquire Ascension Wisconsin's 50 percent interest in the Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Weston and Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls. The deal is expected to close this spring. Marshfield previously acquired Ascension’s St. Joseph Hospital in Marshfield.

Posted:3/28/2020
Source:Unspecified

In a move to address the shortage of mental health care providers in the United States, the MSOE School of Nursing has partnered with Rogers Behavioral Health to launch a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP). The university is also adding a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing and a Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate. Classes will begin in Fall 2020 for these programs, while a new Gerontology Certificate launches this spring. Students enrolled in the PMHNP program are expected to complete 57 credits and 600 practicum hours. Students can complete MSOE’s program in just two years, if enrolled full-time. As with its other programs, MSOE guarantees clinical placement and works with a number of health care organizations to place students. The partnership between Rogers Behavioral Health and MSOE gives students the opportunity to receive some of their required practicum hours at Rogers’ locations. Several faculty members will hold joint positions with MSOE and Rogers Behavioral Health to coordinate the students’ practicum experiences and teach specialized content in the program.