University Of Wisconsin Hospital And Clinics - Uw Hospital

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (UW Hospital and Clinics or UWHC) is a 592-bed academic medical center with 85 outpatient clinics in Madison, Wisconsin. It is an American College of Surgeons designated Level I adult and pediatric trauma center, one of two Level I trauma centers in Wisconsinâ€"the other in Milwaukee. UW Hospital and Clinics has six intensive care units (trauma and life support, pediatric, cardiac, cardiothoracic, burn, neurosurgery). UW Health also has an affiliated insurance company, Unity Health Insurance.

History

UW Hospital and Clinics was established by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1924. It was originally named Wisconsin General Hospital and located at 1300 University Avenue. They were formerly part of the UW System, but since 1995 are under the control of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority (UWHCA), created under former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson. In 1979, it moved to a new facility at 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, as the original building was converted for use by the University as classrooms. UW Hospital and Clinics was reorganized as public authority on June 29, 1996.

The hospital and clinics are directed by statute to: "maintain, control and supervise the use of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, for the purposes of:

• 1. Delivering comprehensive, highâˆ'quality health care to patients using the hospitals and to those seeking care from its programs, including a commitment to provide such care for the medically indigent.
• 2. Providing an environment suitable for instructing medical and other health professions students, physicians, nurses and members of other healthâˆ'related disciplines.
• 3. Sponsoring and supporting research in the delivery of health care to further the welfare of the patients treated and applying the advances in health knowledge to alleviate human suffering, promote health and prevent disease.
• 4. Assisting health programs and personnel throughout the state and region in the delivery of health care."[1]

American Family Children's Hospital

The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics opened the American Family Children's Hospital on August 29, 2007. The $78 million facility was funded by $41 million in private donations, which included $10 million contributed by American Family Insurance, and $37 million in bonds.

Employee relations

Employees of the UWHC negotiate their contracts on a separate schedule from employees of the UW System. This right was removed when the passage of a bill to limit collective bargaining rights was passed.

Recognition

• In 2012, UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) was named the top hospital in Wisconsin by U.S. News & World Report magazineâ€"and among the nation's top 50 hospitals in seven medical specialties. Additionally, UWHC was named a high-performing hospital (among the top 25% of hospitals) in five additional specialties.
• UW Hospital and Clinics received "magnet hospital" designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2009.
• UW Hospital and Clinics was named the #1 academic medical center nationwide for outstanding nursing quality in 2009 by American Nurses Association, based on performance on the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI).
• UW Hospital and Clinics ranked among the top five academic health centers nationwide in a University HealthSystem Consortium benchmarking study of safety, mortality, clinical effectiveness and equity in delivering care, 2008.
• UW Hospital and Clinics ranked among the top 50 in the nation in seven medical specialties in the most recent (2011â€"2012) U.S. News & World Report hospital ranking. Additionally, the American Family Children's Hospital was ranked among the top 50 in the nation in five medical specialties in the same report.”
• UW Hospital and Clinics named among "100 Best Companies" in the nation by Working Mother magazine in 2007 and 2008.
• The Hospital and Clinics' Heart and Vascular Care program listed among top 100 hospital programs in the Thomson Reuters Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success, 2004-2008.