Latest news with #AuroraHealthCare
Business Journals
29-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Aurora provides first aid on golf's biggest stage at Erin Hills
expand As major championship golf returns to Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care is stepping up to the tee box to care for athletes and fans from around the world. Aurora Health Care is providing comprehensive first aid and medical support at Erin Hills Golf Course during the 2025 U.S. Women's Open, presented by Ally, from May 24 through June 1. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 attendees will converge on the town of Erin, about 45 minutes northwest of Milwaukee. The U.S. Women's Open is the crown jewel of women's golf and the second of five major championships during the season. With the game's greats vying for major glory, Aurora's team of medical professionals is prepared to meet the challenge. Aurora is fully staffing two first aid tents with additional roaming medical teams patrolling the course to provide immediate assistance wherever needed. Day or night, physicians and multiple athletic trainers, registered nurses and physical therapists are ready at a moment's notice to offer care to players, caddies, coaches, volunteers, vendors and fans. 'We're proud to support the U.S. Women's Open and provide high-quality care to everyone on-site,' said Craig Jankuski, vice president of rehabilitation services for Aurora Health Care. 'Our team includes emergency medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists and emergency RNs. Whether it's a minor injury or a more serious medical concern, we're ready to respond quickly and effectively.' Aurora's size and expertise makes it a trusted health care provider to many large spectator events including Summerfest and the USA Triathlon National Championships. In total, Aurora is dedicating more than 720 hours of medical coverage to the U.S. Women's Open, ensuring that athletes and spectators receive prompt high-quality care. 'We're incredibly grateful to Aurora Health Care for their commitment to excellence and their unwavering support of this event,' said USGA Championship Director Bryan Megee. 'Their experienced and talented team gives us peace of mind, knowing that everyone — from the athletes to the fans — is in expert hands during the championship.' Aurora's role at the U.S. Women's Open reflects its broader commitment to supporting health and wellness and redefining care in the communities it serves. Through its support on golf's biggest stage, Aurora Health Care is reinforcing its position as a trusted leader in sports health and emergency care. 'Our presence at the U.S. Women's Open reflects our commitment to excellence in sports health and community care,' said Jankuski. 'We're here to ensure that everyone — from elite golfers to enthusiastic fans — has access to the highest standard of medical support. We're honored to be part of it and proud to support every swing, every step and every spectator.'
Business Journals
21-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Monitoring the mind: How tech can prevent seizures
A seizure can strike at a moment's notice and can cause scary symptoms and potentially long-lasting brain damage. Now, leading-edge software and one of the nation's largest neurological monitoring teams at Aurora Health Care can intervene at a moment's notice to prevent prolonged seizures and the health issues that accompany them. Located at Aurora's Heil Center, adjacent to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, banks of monitors and telemetry allow technologists to simultaneously observe 64 patients undergoing continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) testing across hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois. Aurora Health Care is part of Advocate Health, the nation's third-largest nonprofit health care system. expand A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings and levels of consciousness. There are many types of seizures with a range of symptoms and vary in how much they affect daily life. Seizure types also vary by where they begin in the brain and how far they spread. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Nearly 4 million American adults and children live with active epilepsy, which is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures. But epilepsy doesn't cause all seizures. Seizures can result from a stroke, head trauma, tumor, or a family history of the condition. 'A seizure can occur as a symptom of a health condition, such as a metabolic problem like low magnesium or a side effect of a medication,' says Dr. Ikram Khan, a neurologist at Aurora Health Care. 'Unlike epilepsy, treating the health condition causing the seizures will cause the seizures to subside.' EEG tests are used to detect the electrical activity and any abnormalities in brain waves and help diagnose epilepsy and the potential causes of seizures. Electrodes placed on a patient's head can detect tiny electrical discharges that result from the activity of your brain cells and shows how well different areas of the brain are working. Aurora Health Care's continuous EEG monitoring allows patient brain activity to be monitored for longer durations than the standard EEG. The room is staffed 24/7 by neurodiagnostic monitoring teammates with oversight from lead neurodiagnostic technicians who identify epileptic activity and transmit information directly to the patient's care team. expand This system also utilizes intercom, enabling technicians in the monitoring room to speak directly with providers and seizure patients at each of Advocate Health's 28 hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois. This key feature provides crucial data to patient care teams and enables real-time analysis. Through this advanced software, Aurora's neurodiagnostic teams are able to offer the community faster, life-saving epilepsy treatment, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return home and a healthy way of life. 'Aurora's epilepsy monitoring technology expansion unites each of its neurodiagnostic departments with electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring services, seamlessly coordinating care, improving patient outcomes and enabling faster pharmacological intervention when needed,' said Steven Winkelmeyer, director of neurodiagnostic services.
Business Journals
12-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Virtual health: How, when and where patients need care
Aurora Health Care is committed to meeting Wisconsin patients where, when and how they need health care through its expanded virtual health and virtual primary care programs. In early 2025, Aurora launched its Virtual Primary Care program, enabling patients to connect via video calls with a physician who will be there throughout their continuum of care. Enhanced capabilities allow for sick care, common health concerns, chronic conditions, medication management and more to be conducted virtually. When a virtual visit shows that in-person care is needed for lab work, physicals and screenings, Aurora's virtual primary care team coordinates follow-up care at a convenient nearby location. Aurora offers convenient same-day primary care appointments and e-visits for adults and children seven days a week. Many clinicians are leaning into virtual care, recognizing its potential to improve patient outcomes and increase efficiency. More than 8,400 clinicians across Advocate Health provide virtual care across 40 unique specialties. Aurora Health Care is part of Advocate Health, the nation's third-largest nonprofit health care system. 'What makes Aurora Health Care's virtual health capabilities stand out is not only do we offer the benefits of virtual care, but when in-person care is necessary, we have the brick-and-mortar hospitals and clinics and can seamlessly welcome patients into locations nearest to them for the care the care they need,' said Dr. Matthew C. Anderson, medical director of virtual health for Advocate Health. expand Another important feature of Aurora's virtual health services is that it delivers the same level and often an enhanced quality of care. For instance, managing chronic conditions like diabetes becomes more efficient with regular virtual check-ins. Instead of multiple in-person visits each year, patients can now do most follow-ups online and come into the clinic only when absolutely necessary. Behavioral health also sees profound benefits. Patients can attend therapy sessions from the privacy of their homes and receive medication adjustments without the need for an office visit. Rural health care has seen a major boost from virtual care. In areas outside of Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay, patients often face long drives to access care. Virtual health bridges this gap. In 2024 alone, Aurora Health Care completed over 16,000 virtual visits in Wisconsin. Across the broader Advocate Health network, more than 2 million virtual visits were conducted, with 100,000 serving rural patients. This highlights how virtual care isn't just a convenience, but serves as a lifeline for communities with limited access to health care facilities. The shift toward telehealth has been driven by the evolving needs of patients and Advocate Health's strategic organizational vision to make health care more accessible, personalized, and flexible. Aurora Health Care was an early adopter of the power of virtual care. Since 2018, Aurora's Quick Care program has provided virtual on-demand care to patients from a dedicated care team available 24/7 for common, non-urgent symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic also served as a catalyst for the rapid adoption of virtual health. While the trend was already on the rise, the urgency of the pandemic pushed clinicians, health systems, and patients to embrace virtual visits out of necessity. What started as a solution for a crisis has evolved into a permanent feature of the health care landscape with significant benefits for both patients and clinicians. Aurora is continuing its work to expand virtual care by developing the necessary infrastructure to support telehealth, but also through additional programs and services, including pediatrics and weight loss management. 'Ultimately, virtual health isn't about replacing in-person care, it's about expanding options. We want to ensure that whether a patient connects virtually or visits in person, they receive the same high standard of care. Our comprehensive approach is patient-focused, flexible, and allows us to provide quality care to patients everywhere,' said Anderson. To find your doctor, schedule a virtual appointment, and learn more about Aurora's virtual health offerings, go to
Business Journals
07-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Aurora hospitals among the best in the U.S. for patient safety
Nine Aurora Health Care hospitals have received an 'A' rating from The Leapfrog Group for excellence in patient safety, once again giving Aurora Health Care the most A's for any health system in Wisconsin. Leapfrog analysts use publicly available data to look at 22 different safety measures and assign grades based on how well hospitals are doing to protect patients from harm. Measurements include the hospital's ability to prevent errors, accidents, injuries and infections. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are assigned to nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals across the nation twice a year. Aurora Health Care hospitals that received 'A' ratings include: Aurora BayCare Medical Center Aurora Medical Center — Burlington Aurora Medical Center — Grafton Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc County Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County Aurora Medical Center — Summit Aurora Medical Center Washington County Aurora West Allis Medical Center 'We are truly honored to receive more 'A' ratings from The Leapfrog Group than any other health system in Wisconsin, as this recognition reflects our team's dedication to serving our community with compassionate, innovative and high-quality clinical care,' said Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, president, Aurora Health Care. 'Our dedicated teammates across the state work hard to provide the best care for our patients every day, and this achievement demonstrates our commitment to delivering safe, effective care and enhancing patient outcomes for everyone in the communities we have the privilege to serve.' Aurora's commitment to patient safety Aurora Health Care takes a multidisciplinary approach to standardizing care and the key quality reporting metrics that drive patient safety and better patient outcomes. Quality reporting metrics are standardized measures that track various aspects of patient care, such as treatment outcomes, infection rates and patient satisfaction. These are among the 22 safety measures graded by Leapfrog, along with hand hygiene, nurse and doctor communications and hospital-acquired conditions. As a health system, Aurora sets top priorities on patient experience, infection prevention and patient safety indicators like bed sores, fall prevention and complications from surgery. By aligning and gathering data along these key indicators, Aurora is able to get real-time performance feedback and respond quickly to address potential risks and areas of improvement. This process also helps foster a culture of continuous improvement. By regularly monitoring performance, Aurora is able to set statewide benchmarks and goals, identify and share best practices across its sites in Wisconsin, and drive improvements in patient safety. 'We recognize that patients have many choices on where to receive care, and they rely on awards, recognitions and public data to make these important decisions,' said Melissa Spiering, vice president of quality and regulatory for Aurora Health Care. 'These designations from Leapfrog further uphold our longstanding commitment to quality and safety and help ensure our communities know we are focused on improving patient outcomes and achieving clinical preeminence.'
Business Journals
01-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
St. Patrick's Day stroke survivor grateful to be alive
For the Transon family, St. Patrick's Day – and the parade through the streets of downtown Milwaukee – is an annual tradition. Bob Transon, 76 from Delafield, was on hand for the festivities on March 9, 2024. He had a special reason to be there. His daughter, Elyse, was marching in the parade, leading her very own Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio through a traditional St. Patrick's Day performance. After the parade, Bob and Elyse met up. As they finished their conversation, Elyse went on her way. Immediately after, Bob slumped over in his seat and was beginning to slur his speech. Elyse raced back to her dad, and he was unresponsive. 'I grabbed his hand and said, what's going on, it's me, dad, grab my hand. And…nothing,' said Elyse. They called 911 and an ambulance rushed Bob and Elyse to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee. There, Aurora St. Luke's 24/7 on-call stroke team did a scan that showed Transon had just suffered a stroke. A stroke occurs when there is sudden bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, or when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This is known as an ischemic stroke, and this is what struck Bob. Without a steady supply of blood, brain cells begin to die, potentially leading to permanent neurological damage. expand With Transon 's life in the balance, Aurora's stroke team acted quickly. After the initial scan and just 20 minutes after arrival, clot-busting meds were administered, and he was taken into surgery. Within 80 minutes, a thrombectomy was performed to reopen the blocked blood vessel in his brain and Transon's condition was stabilized. 'The whole reason that these procedures are successful is because of efficient communication from the second the patient arrives to the hospital, getting things ready and prepped. It's a strong team working together very efficiently,' said Dr. Amanda Willcox, neurologist at Aurora Health Care who performed Transon's thrombectomy. Thanks to response times faster than industry benchmarks, Transon went home two days later and made a full recovery. 'I can't praise the people that helped me out at Aurora St. Luke's enough. If it wasn't for their quickness, there would be more residual issues,' said Transon. 'The hospital staff was tremendous. They said to me 'you're like a walking miracle,' and I attribute that to the speed, the surgeon and the nurses that took care of me.' expand When it comes to stroke care, time is brain. Every second counts. During May and American Stroke Month, it's important to know and recognize the BEFAST warning signs: Thanks to knowing these warning signs and the quick response of the team at Aurora St. Luke's, Bob and Elyse are able to celebrate more special St. Patrick's Days in the future. 'It's humbling,' said Willcox. 'The whole reason we utilize these technologies is for outcomes like this.'
