UW Health University Hospital (UW Health, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics or UWHC) is a 614-bed academic regional referral center with 127 outpatient clinics, located on the western edge of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's campus in Madison, Wisconsin. It is an American College of Surgeons designated Level I adult and pediatric trauma center, one of only two in Wisconsin.
UW Health describes itself as "the integrated health system of the University of Wisconsin–Madison." It is the primary teaching affiliate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (whose main building, the Health Sciences Learning Center, is connected to UW Health University Hospital). It is also the primary teaching affiliate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy, and is a teaching affiliate of Edgewood College's Henry Predolin School of Nursing.
UW Health University Hospital is home to the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. UW Health also operates the American Family Children's Hospital, a 110-bed pediatric hospital located adjacent to University Hospital, as well as UW Health East Madison Hospital, a 83-bed hospital and emergency room located on the Northeast Side of Madison. Additionally, UW Health operates a network of outpatient clinics at over 80 sites throughout southern and central Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and has partnerships with UnityPoint Meriter Hospital in Madison, Beloit Hospital in Beloit, Wisconsin, and Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, Illinois. UW Health also has an affiliated insurance company, Quartz Health Solutions, Inc., operated in partnership with UnityPoint Health and Gundersen Health System.
UW Health serves over 950,000 patients per year, and employs over 24,000 employees across seven hospitals, 4 medical centers, 90+ clinics/specialty clinics, 3 urgent cares, 4 behavioral health centers and 1 community service center., making it the second-largest employer in Madison (after UW–Madison) and in Wisconsin.
UW Health University Hospital is home to a helipad that serves UW Med Flight, the hospital's air ambulance and ground ambulance service. UW hosts 11 Helicopters for Air Medflight and is partnered with MidWest Motion for Ground Ambulance Services with 17 ambulances.
History
UW Hospital and Clinics was established by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1924. Originally named Wisconsin General Hospital, the facility's first location was at 1300 University Avenue. In 1979, it moved to a new facility at 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, and the original building was converted for use by the university as classrooms. Formerly part of the University of Wisconsin System, UW Hospital and Clinics was reorganized as a public authority, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority (UWHCA), on June 29, 1996. Since May 2016, UWHC's current CEO has been Alan Kaplan, MD.
The hospital and clinics are directed by statute to: "maintain, control and supervise the use of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, for the purposes of: Delivering comprehensive, high−quality health care to patients using the hospitals and to those seeking care from its programs, including a commitment to provide such care for the medically indigent. Providing an environment suitable for instructing medical and other health professions students, physicians, nurses and members of other health−related disciplines. Sponsoring and supporting research in the delivery of health care to further the welfare of the patients treated and applying the advances in health knowledge to alleviate human suffering, promote health and prevent disease. Assisting health programs and personnel throughout the state and region in the delivery of health care."
Hospitals & Clinics
University Hospital
UW Health's flagship Trauma Center, University Hospital, is located in downtown Madison and is a teaching hospital with 611 and a Level I Trauma and Emergency Center. University Hospital was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 16th best hospital in the United States and the #1 hospital in Wisconsin in the publication's 2021-2022 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, earning national rankings in 10 adult and 6 pediatric specialties. Additionally, UW Health University Hospital was ranked as the 22nd best hospital in the United States and #84th Best Hospitals in the world by Newsweek in 2022.