Aspirus receives top award for quality, leadership

For the Metro Wire

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) presented Aspirus with its first award for excellence in quality improvement and leadership.

Aspirus representatives accepted the award at WCHQ’s annual Statewide Quality Improvement Event June 19 in Madison.

Aspirus was recognized as a “high performer” across many of the quality measures WCHQ scores, according to WCHQ President/CEO Chris Queram

“But their willingness to share what they know with other organizations and help them improve the quality of their patient care demonstrates their commitment to ensure all Wisconsin’s citizens have access to high-quality care, no matter where they live,” he added.

One of the considerations WCHQ’s Quality Planning Committee took into consideration in their criteria for this award was Aspirus’ exceptional improvement across many of the WCHQ measures and their participation on WCHQ Steering Teams.

“This recognition demonstrates that Aspirus continues to find more ways to provide the highest quality care for our patients,” said Aspirus President and CEO Matt Heywood. “We are honored to receive the WCHQ Top Quality Award.”

WCHQ annually honors a select number of member organizations for superior clinical performance and patient outcomes. This was the first year that WCHQ recognized one organization for exceptional quality improvement, active engagement with WCHQ’s work and mentorship of other organizations.

Aspirus is a non-profit, community-directed health system based in Wausau. With more than 7,600 employees, Aspirus serves communities throughout northern and central Wisconsin, as well as the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated system includes four hospitals in Michigan and four hospitals in Wisconsin, 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and helicopter transport, medical goods, nursing homes and high-quality affiliated physicians. For more information, visit aspirus.org.