The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare recently released its new National Model for Clinical Governance and accompanying Practical Guide to Implementation.
Russell Kennedy Consultant, Michael Gorton AM, chaired the Commission’s Clinical Governance Advisory Committee, which oversaw development of the new National Model.
The new National Model represents a departure from previous frameworks developed by the Commission, and is an accessible, clear and hopefully effective document to drive quality healthcare and inform staff and patients of our expectations on quality and safety in our health services.
The new National Model has also been considered by Australian Health Ministers, who have endorsed the Model, and encouraged public and private hospitals to implement it to strengthen quality and safety in their services.
The introduction in the new National Model is also timely, given current public debate of several instances of potential breaches or failure to ensure quality and safety for patients in their hospitals.
All public and private hospitals are obliged to maintain appropriate systems and processes and monitor performance for quality and safety. But they are complex organisations, and maintaining standards of care is a constant obligation. It is important that all professionals in our health services understand and commit to these standards.
The new National model is based on six Foundations of clinical governance:
- Leading systems and organisational culture
- Partnering with patients, carers and consumers
- Building a healthy workforce culture
- Enabling high-quality and integrated clinical practice
- Managing and reducing risk
- Using data for better care
This approach by the Commission is welcome, to ensure accessible ideas and suggestions for health service Boards and Executive teams, as well as clinicians and others working in our health services, striving to ensure quality care.
It is also welcome that the new National model aligns with those already established in some States and Territories, particularly Safer Care Victoria’s Clinical Governance Framework, which has been in place now for a few years.
On the release of the new model, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Chief Executive Officer, Professor Anne Duggan, stated:
“Effective implementation of the National Model will strengthen health services clinical governance arrangements and position them to better address their requirements of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
The new model emphasises the crucial role of Boards and Executives in establishing the right culture, systems and structures to support the workforce to deliver the best care possible”.
The new National model should be considered by all Board members and Executives of health services, but also for those involved in aged care and other non-hospital health services and care settings, to guide their thinking, develop their policies and consider safety and quality in their services.
Click here to access a copy of the National Model for Clinical Governance – The foundations of high-quality care, click here.
To access a copy of the National Model for Clinical Governance – From principles to practice: A practical guide to implementation, click here.
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