In 14 communities throughout the country, Aligning Forces for Quality seeks to lift the quality of health and health care by teaming up with those who get care, give care and pay for care. Explore what our communities are doing to improve health care quality.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin loves ... football, cheese and feeling good!
Leadership Team: Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality
Web site: www.wchq.org
Phone: (608) 250-1223
Fax: (608) 294-3903
Program contact: Cindy Schlough
Phone: (608) 250-1598
E-mail: cschlough@wchq.org
The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) leads the state's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) initiative. Established in 2002, WCHQ is a voluntary consortium of organizations learning and working together to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for the people of Wisconsin. The mission of WCHQ is to develop and publicly report measures of health care performance, design and promote quality improvement initiatives and advocate for enlightened policies that support WCHQ's work. A 19-member board of directors—including private-sector purchasers, physician groups and hospitals—governs WCHQ.
WCHQ released its first public report of evidence-based measures for inpatient and outpatient care in 2003. Today, its Performance and Progress Report is published online at www.wchq.org and is a rich source of information that is regularly updated with new measures and performance results. The consortium is committed to identifying and sharing best practices to improve the performance of all members. Its initial consumer engagement efforts are focused on addressing the issue of low health literacy and its adverse impact on health outcomes. Many Wisconsin organizations are working together to implement the Ask Me 3 program, which is designed to apply practical solutions—like asking essential questions of your provider—to promote effective patient-provider communication.
Aligning Forces for Quality communities
Our areas of focus
Aligning Forces for Quality applies a wealth of resources, expertise and training to effect real results in health care quality. Take a closer look at the focuses of our work:
Hear what colleagues and health care experts around the country, including Craig Brammer, Diane Giese and Marshall Chin, have learned about improving health care quality and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in care.