Strengthening clinical governance in community health

Abstract

This paper outlines the work of the Clinical Governance in Community Health Project that aims to strengthen clinical governance systems in the Victorian community health sector. While clinical governance in community health is not new, the work of the project has aimed to develop a more consistent approach to safety and quality. This represents a strategic response to policy imperatives at a state and national level, which has resulted in a transition to a client population that has greater acuity and complexity in their health and social needs. The project has focused on the areas of clinical risk management, credentialling, defining scope of practice, clinical indicators and board reporting. The project has been evaluated through an annual sector survey which has demonstrated that the majority of respondents have used resources created by the project. Ninety-four per cent of respondents indicated that they had reviewed their clinical governance reporting processes in the previous 12 months. The project has strong governance from a steering group comprised of stakeholders from the community health sector, the acute sector, state government, accreditation agencies and insurance authorities, with the project work being completed by working groups consisting of community health chief executive officers, managers and clinicians. This has resulted in high levels of engagement and ownership by the sector.