Quality & Safety
Gundersen Health System is taking a proactive, vigorous approach to quality improvement, making it one of our key priorities. And the bar is high. We strive for no preventable deaths, infections, pain, suffering, waiting or waste at Gundersen.
By measuring outcomes data and creating an environment in which quality improvement is part of the healthcare team’s every day work, Gundersen ensures patients receive the level of care they deserve.
You want the best, and we go the extra mile to ensure to put quality and safety first. Gundersen has continually ranked near the top in the country in high quality care to patients. Though we get awards for our work, it is patient safety and satisfaction that is the most rewarding to us.
So, what is healthcare quality?
Quality healthcare means doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, for the right person - and having the best possible results. Providing quality healthcare also means striking the right balance of services by:
- Avoiding underuse (for example, not screening a person for high blood pressure)
- Avoiding overuse (for example, performing tests that a patient doesn’t need)
- Eliminating misuse (for example, providing medications that may have dangerous interactions
We all aim to give high-quality care, but the fact is healthcare quality varies across the country. There are many reasons for this because quality depends on many things including where you live, who you are and how much is known about treating your condition.
How do you assess healthcare quality?
One way to assess and track quality of care is by using measures that are based on the latest scientific evidence. A healthcare measure clearly defines which healthcare services should be provided to patients who have or are at risk for certain conditions. Measures also set standards for screening, immunizations and other preventive care.
Quality reporting
Gundersen is a founding member of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ). WCHQ is a voluntary consortium of organizations who work together to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare.
Gundersen uses WCHQ as a tool to direct quality improvements both internally and externally. The health system voluntarily provides quality data for the WCHQ.
Quality data is also available at other public reporting sites. We encourage you to visit these sites to learn more: