Clinical Governance

Question 1

What is clinical governance?

Answer 1

the system through which NHS organisations are
- accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services
- safeguarding high standards of care
= by creating an environment in which clinical excellence will flourish

Question 2

Why is clinical governance necessary?

Answer 2

lapses in healthcare
- prevents poor quality of different sections of healthcare

improve quality of care delivered to patients by the NHS

open culture
- learn from failures

Question 3

What are the components of clinical governance?

Answer 3

• responsibility and accountability for the overall quality of care
• quality improvement activities
• risk management
• identify and remedy poor performance.

Question 4

What can be done to improve quality of care?

Answer 4

audit programmes
- reviews what has been done and looks at what can be done to improve it

ensuring evidence based practice
- providing care based on scientific research

implementation of clinical standards

CPD
- continuous professional development

monitoring of clinical care and high quality record keeping

research and development

Question 5

What are the different types of audit? What is being measured in an audit?

Answer 5

self audit, peer/group audit and external audit

measures:

• structures or resources involved
• processes used
• the outcomes of the activity

Question 6

What are the stages in the audit cycle?

Answer 6

set standards

measure current practice

• structures or resources involved
• processes used
• the outcomes of the activity

compare results vs standards

reflect, plan and change

re-audit

Question 7

What is evidence based practice? What are the stages in evidence based practice?

Answer 7

a means of closing the gap between research and everyday practice and ensuring that clinical decisions are based upon the best available scientific evidence

1 - identify the question
2 - searching the literature
3 - critical appraisal of the studies
4 - apply the evidence

Question 8

What is continuous professional development (CPD)? What are the stages of the CPD cycle?

Answer 8

is the means by which members of professional associations maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives

reflection
planning
action
evaluation

Question 9

What is risk management? What is the risk management process?

Answer 9

risk management
- the probability that an adverse event will occur

1 - establish the context
2 - identify the risk
3 - analyse the risk
4 - manage the risk
= control, accept or avoid the risk
5 - audit and review performance