SCWIHERC is currently soliciting bids for the following:
None at this time, check back for updates!
Category: Announcements
SCWIHERC is recruiting a Sustainability Coordinator
Please see the request for application for more details and how to apply. Applications will be accepted until January 4.
Sustainability Coordinator RFA Dec 2022
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SCWIHERC Network Recovery Exercise April 12
Our Network Recovery Exercise took place on April 12, thank you for your participation. The After Action Report and Improvement Plan will be shared when it is available.
SCWIHERC Hospitals See High Patient Volumes, Limited Resources – News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2021
Hospitals in South Central Wisconsin see high patient volumes, limited resources
Hospitals seek community help to prevent COVID-19 cases putting critical strain on regional healthcare systems
Hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout southcentral Wisconsin are experiencing a high volume of inpatients, limiting hospital beds and putting a strain on resources.
This serious situation is occurring across the 14 counties of the South Central Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition, (SCWIHERC). Its member hospitals are asking for our communities’ help.
To better control the situation, the hospitals are urging everyone to continue being vigilant with COVID-19 safety measures, such as receiving any COVID-19 vaccine, masking, and physically distancing where appropriate.
This present high volume of patients spans across critical care areas of the hospitals, like intensive care units (ICU), general medical floors, and emergency departments. With resources stretched, it is becoming more difficult to receive care close to home if you may need it for COVID and non-COVID-related illnesses.
From July 28 to Sept. 1, the total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased four-fold in the South Central region. In that same timeframe, there were 5.5 times the number COVID-19 ICU hospitalizations. Many rural hospitals have no or limited ICU capability and are all reliant on the same limited ICU beds in larger cities, including Madison.
While the current high volume in healthcare facilities in the region is a mixture of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, a rise in preventable COVID-19 admissions is a driving factor. Preventing a further rise in COVID-19 admissions is our focus in this critical time.
In fact, COVID-19 infections requiring hospitalization are increasing at a similar rate to last winter’s surge. With students from pre-K through college returning to classrooms, the Labor Day holiday, and colder weather soon driving people indoors, additional increases are expected which could stretch resources to critical levels.
To receive a COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your local healthcare providers, or visit the state Department of Health Services vaccine webpage.
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The South Central Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition (SCWIHERC) is a coalition that collaborates with 29 area hospitals and numerous other healthcare providers over 14 counties to prepare for and respond to emergencies in South Central Wisconsin.
SCWIHERC Members signing this message:
| Organization | Media Contact Name and Email (if provided) |
| South Central Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition | Jennifer Behnke (jennifer.behnke@scwiherc.org) |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital and Clinics | Haley Gilman (haley.gilman@aspirus.org) |
| Beloit Health System | Megan Goggin (mgoggin@beloithealthsystem.org) |
| Edgerton Hospital and Health Services | |
| Grant Regional Health Center | |
| Gundersen Health System | Chris Stauffer (cjstauff@gundersenhealth.org) |
| Marshfield Medical Center – Beaver Dam | Dan Baulch (baulch.dan@marshfieldclinic.org) |
| Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and Primary Care Clinics | |
| Mercyhealth | Rebecca Rose (rrose@mhemail.org) |
| Mile Bluff Medical Center, Mauston | |
| Prairie Ridge Health | |
| Reedsburg Area Medical Center | Robert Van Meeteren (rvanmeeteren@ramchealth.org) |
| The Richland Hospital | Lyle Kratochwill (lyle.kratochwill@richlandhospital.com) |
| Sauk Prairie Healthcare | Amy Ryan (amy.ryan@saukprairiehealthcare.org) |
| SSM Health | Lisa Adams (Lisa.Adams@ssmhealth.com) |
| Southwest Health | Jaime Collins (collinsj@southwesthealth.org) |
| Stoughton Health | Laura Mays (lmays@stoughtonhealth.com) |
| UnityPoint Health – Meriter | Nicole Aimone (Nicole.Aimone@unitypoint.org) |
| UW Health | Andrew Hellpap (AHellpap@uwhealth.org) |
| Watertown Regional Medical Center | Steve Hunt (Steven.Hunt@watertownregional.com) |
| William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital | Paul Rickert (paul.rickert@va.gov) |
SCWIHERC COVID-19 AAR Meeting
SCWIHERC will be hosted a COVID-19 After Action Review on September 22. The After Action Report and Improvement Plan will be available soon.
SCWIHERC COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Exercise
SCWIHERC hosted a COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Exercise on December 9. The After Action Report and Improvement Plan is available here:
SCWIHERC Mass Vax POD AAR IP
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Infection Control Blog
This page is a pilot project of SCWIHERC and will be used to list all infection control/outbreak notices that SCWIHERC receives, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All notices will be removed after 90 days unless SCWIHERC receives notice that the notice is ongoing.
Please send any feedback or questions to Jennifer Behnke
Ongoing- COVID-19 CDC and WI DHS pages
To receive SCWIHERC updates related to COVID-19, subscribe to our mailing list.
SCWIHERC Closed POD Workshop
Our Closed POD Workshop took place on September 26, thank you for making it a successful event! The after action report can be found here:
SCWIHERC Closed POD TTX AAR
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If you are looking for any of the resources presented at the workshop, or would like to begin planning our organization’s closed POD, please reach out to your local health department:
Adams County 608-339-4505
Columbia County 608-742-9227
Dodge County 920-386-3670
Grant County 608-723-6416
Green County 608-328-9390
Iowa County 608-930-9870
Jefferson County 920-674-7275
Juneau County 608-847-9373
Lafayette County 608-776-4895
Madison/Dane County 608-266-4821
Marquette County 608-297-3135
Richland County 608-647-8821
Rock County 608-757-5440
Sauk County 608-355-3290
Watertown (City) 920-262-8090
A Point of Dispensing (POD) is a site for mass medication distribution in the event of a public health emergency (such as an infectious disease outbreak, natural disaster, or act of terrorism). A closed POD is closed to the public and is sponsored by an agency to distribute medication to its employees and their families, and potentially the patients they serve.
Safer Prescribing of Opioids after Trauma and Surgery
SCWIHERC, SCRTAC, and many health departments throughout the state were recently awarded funds from the Public Health Crisis Response Grant from CDC to combat the opioid epidemic. SCWIHERC and SCRTAC pooled our funds to support the development of an opioid prescribing continuing education series called SPOTS, Safer Prescribing of Opioids after Trauma and Surgery. This series of seven collaborative learning sessions covers various topics on opioid prescribing.
Participants will receive free Opioid CME credit, and may either attend live or view recorded sessions online. Note that if you prescribe controlled substances, Wisconsin’s Medical Examining Board requires that you earn two CME credits on responsible opioid prescribing between 1/1/2018-1/1/2020.
More information and registration: https://www.scwisconsin.org/?page_id=1931
SPOTS flyer
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SCWIHERC Family Assistance Center Workshop
The SCWIHERC Family Assistance Center Workshop took place on April 4. Thank you for attending!
The After Action Report and Improvement Plan is available here:
FAC Workshop AARIP
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Resources mentioned at the workshop:
Reunification:
- The “I Love U guys” Foundation https://iloveuguys.org/index.html#home
- Massachusetts Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council
http://wrhsac.org/projects-and-initiatives/family-reunification-plan-template/ - SafePlans
https://safeplans.com/family-reunification-resources/ - Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools https://rems.ed.gov/docs/FamilyReunificationSample.pdf
- Post Disaster Reunification of Children – A Nationwide Approach
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85559 - American Academy of Pediatrics
https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/AAP-Reunification-Toolkit.pdf
SCWIHERC Cybersecurity TTX
SCWIHERC’s Cybersecurity for the Healthcare System Tabletop Exercise was held on September 27, 2018 in Madison. The after action report and improvement plan is located here:
SCWIHERC Cybersecurity TTX After Action Report
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Resources mentioned at the exercise:
Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center
National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center
SCWIHERC Regional Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise
Our regional pandemic influenza tabletop exercise took place on April 5 and was a great success!
The after action report is available here
SCWIHERC Pan Flu TTX After Action Report and Improvement Plan
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Several resources mentioned during the exercise can be found on our links page.
The FEMA PrepTalk referenced during the exercise can be found here.
Join the coalition’s email distribution list here.
CMS Final Rule for Emergency Preparedness
CMS Final Rule for Emergency Preparedness was implemented November 16, 2016 and will be enforced starting November 16, 2017. The Final Rule applies to 17 provider types that receive funding from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Helpful information is available from the ASPR Tracie Website, including this helpful summary of what is required of these 17 provider types. On June 2, 2017, CMS released interpretive guidelines for the Final Rule, including their definition of a full scale exercise on page 59.
Emergency Preparedness Final Rule toolkits, resources, and templates
CMS Final Rule for Long-Term Care Powerpoint
WHEPP has put together some resources on emergency preparedness for long-term care facilities.
View the materials used to train CMS emergency preparedness surveyors
Regional Healthcare Emergency Evacuation Tabletop Exercise
Our regional exercise took place on Thursday, April 6. Our focus was an emergency evacuation of a single facility (Tier 1) that escalated into an emergency evacuation of multiple facilities (Tier 2). Attendees were be briefed on disaster tiers and the 2015 Wisconsin Hospital Surge Guidelines. Attendees will receive a generic evacuation template that may be tailored to meet the needs of their organization. Participants who wish to conduct their own in-house functional or full-scale exercise may do so at their convenience. We ask that lessons learned for in-house exercises be submitted to our exercise facilitator by Friday, June 2 to be integrated into our regional after action report and improvement plan.
Contact Jennifer Behnke with any questions