The Milwaukee Post

Report: State hospitals cared for more than 53,000 patients daily in 2012 Nearly 53,000 people were cared for in a Wisconsin hospital every day in 2012, according to data collected by the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center and published in the Guide to Wisconsin Hospitals. The WHAIC is responsible for col- lecting and disseminating Wisconsin hospi- tal and freestanding ambulatory surgery center data. The WHAIC reported that in 2012, 148 Wisconsin hospitals provided uncompensat- ed health care services on more than 1.2 mil- lion hospital visits by patients who were uninsured, underinsured and low-income. Hospitals continue to report an uptick in the number of patients they see on an outpa- tient basis. In 2012, there were more than 16.3 million outpatient visits, or about 44,685 patients per day, which is up 3 percent over 2011. More than 70 percent – or 539,740 – of the surgeries and procedures performed in hospitals were delivered in the outpatient department. The WHAIC said 64,255 babies were born in Wisconsin hospitals in 2012. Meanwhile, Wisconsin emergency rooms received more than 1.65 million visits in 2012, which is the most recent year that data is available. There were 150 hospitals that submitted data to the WHAIC in 2012. AT&T donates $30K to MPS at-risk program AT&T donated $30,000 for the Jobs for America's Graduates program, which will aid in an alternative education component and reach at-risk high school students in Milwaukee Public Schools. Administered by the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, Milwaukee's JAG program is a long-standing, successful model for helping young people stay in school through graduation, pursue postsecondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities. The $30,000 in funding is part of a $1 million national contribution from AT&T, to allow the nonprofit to expand JAG's high school graduation program within MPS. JAG reaches a wide range of young people. AT&T's contribution has expanded the program to reach 25 students who dropped out and want to return to school to obtain their GED, HSED or high school diploma. This is the first time JAG-Milwaukee has served this pop- ulation. The 25 students participating in the alternative education component attend North Division High School, and of the 25, 64 percent who were previously at risk to not receive a high school diploma or equivalent will graduate this year. 4 • Milwaukee County Post • May 16, 2014 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Northwestern Mutual donates $750,000 Northwestern Mutual continued its commitment to helping the Milwaukee-area com- munity by donating $750,000 to 10 area attractions. The Betty Brinn Children's Museum will receive $150,000 from Northwestern Mutual. The Milwaukee museum is dedicated to providing interactive exhibits and resources that promote the healthy development of children from birth through age 10. The grant will be administered during a two-year period to sponsor a new 1,500-square-foot educa- tional experience that will present early literacy as the foundation for a child's academ- ic and lifelong success, according to the announcement. Other organizations that received money from Northwestern Mutual Foundation were: Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum, Zoological Society of Milwaukee County for an outdoor gorilla exhibit transformation, Friends of Schlitz Audubon Center Inc., the Brewers Community Foundation, Milwaukee World Festival Inc. for Summerfest: Make a Child Smile Day & Children's Playzone sponsorship, Milwaukee Public Library Foundation for Read to Achieve: Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge, and Milwaukee Public Museum for Body Worlds. United Wisconsin applauds County Board's vote United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck applauded the Milwaukee County Board's 14-4 vote to override County Executive Chris Abele's veto of a resolution plac- ing a countywide advisory referendum on the November election ballot calling for the reversal of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, which granted cor- porate entities the power to spend unlimited sums of money to influence elections. Abele vetoed the resolution on May 2, after a 13-5 vote by County Board supervisors passed the resolution April 24. "Milwaukee County voters have the right to make their voices heard, and with today's vote, they can now vote in November to join the 41 Wisconsin cities and over 500 nationwide who have passed resolutions demanding big money out of politics and an end to our democracy being sold to the highest bidder," Subeck said in a statement. Capitol Police investigating Hulsey death threat Capitol Police confirmed last week that it is investigating a death threat made against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brett Hulsey. Communications Director Stephanie Marquis said that the Madison-based police unit was referred to the threat, which was allegedly left for Hulsey on May 6. Hulsey told The Freeman, a sister publication of the Post, that he began receiving threats a week earli- er after announcing his plan to distribute Ku Klux Klan hoods at the Wisconsin Republican Convention in Milwaukee. He did not go through with the stunt. Marquis said she could not comment any fur- ther on an open investigation. Sensenbrenner's NSA bill clears committee A bill aimed at reforming the National Security Agency's collection of cellphone data introduced by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on May 7. The bill attempts to end the bulk collection of cellphone data while also reforming the secretive federal courts granting authority for collections. In a statement, Sensenbrenner thanked the committee members for coming together "to address one of the most pressing issues facing our nation." Foundation announces challenge grant for Rep The Quadracci family's Windhover Foundation announced a $500,000 challenge grant to help the Milwaukee Repertory Theater repair its sinking building. The theater announced in February that its building at 108 E. Wells St. had experi- enced significant settling and required approximately $1.75 million in repairs. The Windhover Foundation grant will match each dollar raised for repairing the building, up to $500,000. If successful, the $1 million raised through the grant plus pre- viously announced contributions from the Herzfeld Foundation and United Performing Arts Fund would cover the entire cost of the project. "My mother always said Milwaukee was America's best-kept secret because of all the wonderful things the city has to offer," said Elizabeth Quadracci-Harned, the Quadraccis' daughter and a member of The Rep's Board of Trustees. "My parents had a strong commitment to Milwaukee and my siblings and I intend to build upon that commitment. The Windhover Foundation is thrilled to be able to propose this chal- lenge grant as a catalyst for preserving and enhancing The Rep, which is a critically important downtown Milwaukee center for cultural excellence, performance and learn- ing." Elderly man dies on plane at Mitchell Airport The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office reported the death of a 92-year-old man at Gen. Mitchell International Airport on Tuesday. According to a news release, deputies responded to a call at the airport at 2:30 p.m. for a person having trouble breathing while on a Southwest Airlines plane at the gate. Airport fire rescue personnel were on scene and administered CPR to the man. Their attempts were unsuccessful, and the man was pronounced dead. The man had been traveling with family on the Southwest flight from Tampa, Fla., which was diverted from landing at Chicago's Midway Airport to Mitchell Airport. Hulsey

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