The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), is responsible for assuring the safety, welfare and health of persons using health and community care provider services in Wisconsin.
DQA - Working to Protect - Promote - Provide Quality in Wisconsin's Health Care Facilities
Division of Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 2969
Madison, WI 53701-2969
Phone: 608-266-8481
Fax: 608-267-0352
List of provider types regulated by DQA and links to regulatory information.
Online Post Survey Questionnaire for health care providers to complete.
Consumer Guide to Finding and Choosing Health and Residential Care Providers – The Consumer Guide includes directories of providers.
File a Complaint – Any person (resident, employee, ombudsman, relative, friend, other) may file a complaint regarding a facility staff person, a regulated health care facility, a clinical lab or other DQA related issue.
DQA contains the following bureaus and offices:
Administrator's Office
The Administrator's Office is responsible for the Division's mission, organizational goals, strategic planning, overall policy direction, and provision of leadership and vision to DQA programs.
It also handles the Division's personnel, fiscal, quality assurance, reengineering and budget functions.
Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care
The Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care (BNHRC) is responsible for conducting unannounced health care surveys of nursing homes and facilities serving persons with developmental disabilities (FDDs - also known as Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, ICF/IID).
In addition, BNHRC conducts complaint investigations, and makes care level determinations for persons receiving medical assistance in the community or in nursing homes and FDDs.
Bureau of Assisted Living
The Bureau of Assisted Living (BAL) is responsible for licensing and surveying the following provider types:
Bureau of Health Services
The Bureau of Health Services (BHS) consists of three sections:
- The Acute Care Compliance Section (ACCS) conducts announced and unannounced health care surveys of:
- hospitals
- home health agencies
- hospices
- ambulatory surgical centers
- end stage renal dialysis centers
- outpatient rehabilitation facilities (includes comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, CORFs)
- personal care agencies
- portable X-ray
- rural health clinics
- The Behavioral Health Certification Section (BHCS) certifies alcohol and other drug abuse and mental health treatment programs.
- The Licensing, Certification and CLIA Section (LCCS) in BHS is responsible for State licensing and federal certification activities of home health, hospice, hospitals, renal dialysis units, outpatient therapy, rural health clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, personal care agencies, portable X-Rays, comprehensive outpatient rehab and Wisconsin clinical laboratories testing human specimens for health assessment purposes, as well as those performing alcohol testing.
Office of Caregiver Quality
The Office of Caregiver Quality (OCQ) has primary responsibility for:
- Administration of the Caregiver Program that requires background checks of caregivers, facility owners, board members and nonclient residents in Department-regulated facilities.
- Receiving, screening and investigating allegations of caregiver misconduct and maintaining the Wisconsin Caregiver Misconduct Registry.
- Administration of the federal and state requirements for nurse aide training, the competency evaluation program and the federal nurse aide registry.
Office of Plan Review and Inspections
The Office of Plan Review and Inspections (OPRI) determine if health care providers regulated by DQA meet the physical environment standards of the State Building Code, State Licensure Code and Federal Life Safety Code requirements. Evaluation is accomplished through plan review, construction inspection, or survey related activities. The providers commonly involved in this evaluation are:
Bureau of Education Services & Technology
The Bureau of Education Services & Technology (BEST):
- Provides technical assistance to providers regarding current standards of practice and the survey process.
- Serves as the main state liaison to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for federal survey and training activities.
- Interprets codes and policies.
- Conducts training for industry and DQA employees; collaborates with industry professionals to coordinate and offer conferences to relay current standards of practice.
- Provides specialized consultation (conducted by registered nurses, pharmacist, engineer, dietician and quality assurance program specialist).
- Develops and carries out quality improvement and assurance efforts.
- Manages DQA central files and responds to open records requests.
- Maintains DQA websites and online information/publications.
- Manages DQA provider, survey/enforcement, and complaint databases and responds to requests for related statistical information.
- Supports the OASIS and MDS data systems and assists providers in using these systems.
