WI hospitals cut costs by $45.6M, trade group says

More than 100 Wisconsin hospitals have slashed health care costs by $45.6 million by reducing readmissions and controlling surgery-related infections in a special project, according the Wisconsin Hospital Association. The WHA's new report, released today, includes a shout-out to Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua. The critical-access hospital, "which has over 500 hip and knee surgeries per year, has not had an infection since November 2012," the report notes. "They achieved this impressive result through rigorous attention to use of best practice preventive measures, including a comprehensive hand hygiene campaign."