Partner Organizations

SCW is a novel alliance between the Wisconsin Surgical Society (WSS), Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), Department of Health Services (DHS), Wisconsin’s major academic institutions, and surgeons and hospitals across the state. UW-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Surgery serves as the coordinating center.

Wisconsin Surgical Society

The Wisconsin Surgical Society (WSS) serves as the state chapter of the American College of Surgeons and as an organization aims “to effectively network surgeons for the dissemination and exchange of information with the purpose of advancing patient care.” The WSS formed the Quality and Research Committee with the intended goal of improving the quality and safety of surgical care around the state through collaborative learning and quality improvement, and SCW is a major initiative of this committee.

Department of Health Services

The mission of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) is to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin. While promoting collaboration in pursuit of innovation, increased value and improved outcomes for the benefit of Wisconsin’s citizens, DHS aims to promote quality health care delivery, protect the interests of citizens receiving services, and develop policies to reflect evidence-based standards of practice and promote optimal health.

Wisconsin Hospital Association

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) services approximately 130 member hospitals and clinics, advocating for their ability to “lead in the provision of high quality, affordable, and accessible health care services, resulting in healthier Wisconsin communities.” The WHA aims to foster a collaborative environment and provides education and training on issues including regulatory compliance and clinical improvement. Their WHA Information Center collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on charges, utilization, quality and efficiency provided by Wisconsin hospitals and other healthcare providers.

Wisconsin Health Information Organization

The Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality, affordability, safety and efficiency of health care in Wisconsin. Its all-payer claims database makes high-quality, reliable, integrated data available to all stakeholders seeking to transform healthcare. WHIO’s goals are to aggregate health care data to create a comprehensive, reliable data source to be used by multiple stakeholders to decrease unwarranted variations in efficiency, quality, safety and cost in Wisconsin.

UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin provides comprehensive educational experiences, groundbreaking research and superb patient care. The Department provides support, resources and a collaborative environment to facilitate surgical health services research at the University of Wisconsin. The SCW Coordinating Center is housed within this department.

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is one of SCW’s founding hospitals. They are a private medical school and graduate school based out of Milwaukee, WI. MCW is Wisconsin’s largest private research institution and employs more Wisconsin physicians than any other group in the state with more than 2.8 million patient visits annually.

Gundersen Health System

Gundersen Health is one of SCW’s founding hospitals. They are a physician-led, non-profit healthcare system serving counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Gundersen is a teaching hospital with 325 beds and a Level II Trauma and Emergency Center.