Applying 7 Principles of clinical governance to enhance epidemic preparedness

Clinical governance is “A system through which organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.” -

Scally and Donaldson

The various hospital committees aim at improving clinical #governance with the definitive goal of creating enabling environment in the hospital for improving the quality of the clinical services being provided to the patient. A well-prepared and equipped hospital can aid in strengthening the response during emergencies and #pandemics.

The critical care committee or #CrticalCare Working group plays vital role in strengthening hospital preparedness and smoothly managing the hospital affairs during emergencies and pandemics. The committee aims at monitoring the critical care services being delivered at the emergency department and ICU. It makes recommendations to the hospital board on issues related to patient management and referral. The committee develops the action plan for achieving the desired results. The committee should include but not be limited to the medical and nursing superintendent, critical care specialist, anaesthetist, surgeon, physician, orthopaedician, public health expert, emergency, ICU and OT in charge

The pillars of clinical governance are applied to the Critical Care Working Group (CCWG) as well. The 7 pillars of clinical governance are:

7

Expected outcomes of the effective Critical Care Working Group (CCWG)

- Effective triage

- Efficient referral

- Enhanced patient safety and satisfaction

- Improved accountability through audits

- Optimum utilization of hospital resources

- Improved interdepartmental coordination

- Availability of SOPs for the procedures e g for admission, discharge, referral etc

- Reduction in hospital-acquired infections, mortality, morbidity and the average length of stay

- Implanting evidence-based interventions

Written by, Dr Saurabh Parmar

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