Clinical governance

Abstract

Clinical governance is the totality of structures and processes that are in place to ensure that, as far as practicable, the right person receives the right treatment, in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, with the right outcome. This goal does not happen by chance; it has to be secured by conscious effort, and that effort—creating and sustaining the required structures and processes—has to be actively and efficiently managed. This chapter describes the basic principles of clinical governance and provides a framework—the RADICAL framework—for delivering and monitoring clinical governance. The framework comprises the following domains: Raise awareness, Apply quality improvement methodology, Design for quality (including safety), Involve service users, Collect and Analyse data, and Learn from experience. The lofty aims of achieving optimal clinical outcomes and the best possible patient experience are best achieved when clinical practice addresses these integrated domains.