Clinical Governance

Question 1

What are the 7 Pillars of Clinical Governance?

Answer 1

Clinical Effectiveness and Research.
Audit.
Risk Management.
Training and Education
Information and IT.
Patient and Public Involvement.
Staff Management.
(EAR TIPS)

Question 2

What is Clinical Effectiveness and Research?

Answer 2

This is ensuring that we use the best available evidence and research to provide the best possible outcomes for patients. We should always work in the best interests of the patient and this aspect ensures we provide the best care. Examples of this include:

Carrying out evidence-based practice when deciding treatments and decision-making
Using standards and guidelines to help inform care e.g. FGDP radiograph guidelines, NICE guidelines on wisdom tooth extraction. These are all backed by evidence.
Conducting new research to inform new guidelines, papers and standards to continually improve care
Implementation of new standards and guidelines as they are developed (this also links into clinicians requirements to carry out Continuing Professional Development (CPD))

Question 3

What is Clinical Governance?

Answer 3

it is a quality assurance process to maintain and improve standards of care for patients. A large focus of clinical governance is that we are all accountable for providing high standards of clinical care.
7 pillars

Question 4

What is an Audit?

Answer 4

Auditing evaluates existing practice against the gold standard of practice. Through this, we try to identify any shortcomings and develop methods to improve our outcomes. Ultimately, this aims to improve the quality of care we provide. An example of this would be auditing radiographs using the FGDP standards of Grade A or N

Question 5

How is an audit carried out?

Answer 5

Carrying out an audit involves identifying a particular area of interest/concern; researching a standard to compare it to; collecting the data to compare; analysing the data and identifying shortcomings; implementing methods of change and, finally, re-auditing after a time period to close the loop and assess improvements.

Question 6

What is Risk Management?

Answer 6

It is about anticipating potential avoidable risks to patients and putting in place measures to reduce the chance of these risks causing actual harm to patients. It also focusses on how to learn from the avoidable risks that have lead to near misses or actual patient harm and preventing these from happening again
SEA significant event analysis
Examples of this include:
1) Reporting of incidents/near-misses (e.g. critical incident form) and learning from them. Often these involve implementing change or methods of limitation
2)Following protocols e.g. hand washing, IRMER and IRR legislation
3)Conducting risk assessments to identify and mitigate risks where possible

Question 7

What is a SEA?

Answer 7

Significant Event Analysis - part of Risk Management. What happened, Why it happened, Potential Impact, Reflection and Learning, Future Changes.

Question 8

What is Training and Education?

Answer 8

It is about maintaining and developing relevant knowledge and skills throughout your dental career. This is officially achieved through CPD which is a GDC requirement. 4 areas of development when thinking about CPD: Knowledge and clinical skills; Professionalism; Effective Communication; Leadership and Teamwork

Question 9

What is Information and Technology?

Answer 9

This is about how we store and manage patient information as well as how we ensure data protection and confidentiality for patients. The importance of this is underpinned by GDC Principle 4 which is maintaining and protecting patient information.

Question 10

What is Patient and Public involvement?

Answer 10

This about listening to the views of patients and the public to ensure improvements are made from their perspective. Examples of patient feedback include patient feedback questionnaires, patient participation group meetings and other patient forums

Question 11

What is Staff Management

Answer 11

• This relates to need for appropriate recruitment and management of staff, ensuring
that underperformance is identified and addressed.
• Encouraging staff retention by motivating and developing staff
• Providing good working conditions

Question 12

What is GDC Principle 1

Answer 12

Putting Patients’ interests first - looking after patients and their safety.

Question 13

GDC Principle 2?

Answer 13

Communicate effectively with patients - To receive full, clear and accurate information that they can understand, before, during and after treatment, so that they can make informed decisions

Question 14

GDC Principle 3?

Answer 14

Obtain Valid Consent

Question 15

GDC Principle 4?

Answer 15

Maintain and protect patients’ information
Patients expect:
Their records to be up to date, complete, clear, accurate and legible
Their personal details to be kept confidential
To be able to access their dental records
Their records to be stored securely

Question 16

GDC Principle 5?

Answer 16

Have a clear and effective complaints procedure.
Patients expect:
Their concerns or complaints to be acknowledged, listened to and dealt with promptly

Question 17

GDC Principle 6?

Answer 17

Work with colleagues in a way that serves the interests of patients.
Patients expect:
To be fully informed of the different roles of the dental professionals involved in their care
That members of the dental team will work effectively together

Question 18

GDC Principle 7?

Answer 18

Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills.
Cpd 4 Domains
Patients expect:
To receive good quality care
That all members of the dental team:
are appropriately trained and qualified;
keep their skills up to date;
know their limits and refer patients as appropriate; and
work within current laws and regulations

Question 19

GDC Principle 8?

Answer 19

Raise concerns if patients are at risk

Question 20

GDC Principle 9?

Answer 20

Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession