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Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals

Hospitals provide 24-hour medical care for short-term illnesses and injuries.

Critical access hospitals provide care to people living in rural areas. This includes:

  • Emergency care.
  • Care for short-term illnesses.
  • Help for people who need resources for rehabilitation or other care services after hospitalization.

Finding and choosing a hospital

Critical access hospital resources

Contact us

For questions about hospitals or critical access hospitals, contact the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA):

Additional contacts

Compliance history

Nurse consultant, Wisconsin hospital rules and regulations

Denise Balboa, denise.balboa@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 920-979-6437

Pharmacy consultant

Douglas Englebert, douglas.englebert@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 608-266-5388

Life safety code (consultant)

David Soens, david.soens@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 608-220-0521

State licensure and Medicaid/Medicare certification

Thomas Rylander, thomas.rylander@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 608-266-7297

Swing bed (minimum data set or patient-driven payment model)

Heather Newton, dhsdqamdsoasis@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Survey inspection process

Denise Balboa, denise.balboa@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 920-979-6437

Sara Schmidt, sarajane.schmidt@dhs.wisconsin.gov, 608-261-6752

Transplant Programs

A surgery room.

Transplant programs at hospitals provide people with organ transplants. Transplant programs are allowed only at hospitals with a Medicare provider agreement.

Learn about transplant program requirements
 

Fire reporting

All fires in a licensed facility in Wisconsin must be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) within 72 hours. To report a fire, complete and submit the Health Care Facility Fire Report, F-62500.

For questions regarding fire reporting, contact DQA Fire Authority:

Additional information is provided in DQA numbered memo 23-002 (PDF).

Related topics

Glossary

 
Last revised May 7, 2025