The state of Wisconsin advocates coordination in health care and patient management of care.  Wisconsin allows physicians to enter into agreements for the sharing, allocation, and referral of patients, personnel and medical facilities.[1]  The law also encourages advanced practice nurses to coordinate patient care by authorizing the sharing of patient medical records with other health care providers.[2]

        The law encourages patients to participate in their own care and treatment.[3]  The state requires patients to give informed consent to medications, treatment, and research, and gives patients the right to refuse any medications or treatments.[4] The parents, guardian, or representative of a patient may give informed consent on their behalf if the patient is a minor or incapacitated.[5]

        Furthermore, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is authorized to develop a consumer guide to enable health care consumers to choose a provider and health plan, educate consumers on getting health insurance, and direct consumers to sources of disease specific information.[6]  The consumer guide must be widely publicized and disseminated to health care consumers throughout the state.[7]  In addition, the law authorizes the collection and reporting of quality assurance and provider information to be put in a central repository.[8]