What is Clinical Governance?
Clinical governance is a systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care within a healthcare system. In the context of dental practices, including Dental Groups and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), it encompasses a range of activities.
These activities include:
Quality Assurance: Implementing standards, guidelines, and continuous quality improvement processes to ensure that dental care is provided according to established best practices.
Risk Management: Identifying, analyzing, and managing risks to patients and staff, which might include infection control procedures, equipment maintenance, and patient safety protocols.
Patient Involvement: Actively involving patients in decisions about their care, obtaining feedback, and ensuring their rights and preferences are respected.
Staff Development and Education: Providing ongoing training and professional development for dental staff, thereby fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly reviewing and evaluating the performance of dental services, including patient outcomes, staff performance, and compliance with regulations and standards.
Information Management: Ensuring that accurate and timely information is available to support patient care, decision-making, and accountability.
Leadership and Culture: Creating a culture that supports openness, learning, and a commitment to quality, guided by strong leadership within the dental organization.
By focusing on these areas, clinical governance in dental practices aims to ensure that patients receive safe, effective, and high-quality dental care, and that dental organizations operate efficiently and responsibly.