Clinical Audit and Effectiveness
In order for any clinical audit and effectiveness policy to be successful, all parties must be clear on the definition of Clinical Audit and Effectiveness.
Clinical Audit
The definition that is endorsed by NICE for Clinical Audit is as follows:
Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through a systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of change. Aspects of the structure, processes and outcomes of care are selected and systematically evaluated against explicit criteria. Where indicated, changes are implemented at an individual, team, or service level and further monitoring is used to confirm improvements in healthcare delivery. Clinical audit is an effective tool for reflecting on and improving care and is at the heart of clinical governance.
Clinical Effectiveness
Clinical Effectiveness is one of the elements of Clinical Governance and is about doing the right thing in the right way to achieve the right goals. Clinical effectiveness can be used as a collective term to describe a number of methodologies involved with the achievement of quality of care. These include audit, research and development, education and training, continuous quality improvement, integrated care pathways and clinical guidelines which have as their focus the measuring, monitoring and improving of health care.
Clinical Governance
A framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continually improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.
Information Governance
Information Governance is the way the NHS handles information about patients/clients & employees, in particular personal & sensitive information. It allows organisations & individuals to ensure that personal information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently & effectively, in order to deliver the best possible care. The purpose of the site is to provide you with information and support, assist you with training and generally raise awareness of all the differing aspects of Information Governance and its relationship with the other governance areas within the Trust.
Our main areas of responsibility include:
Freedom of Information
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Publication scheme.
- Requests for information.
- Exemptions.
- Complaints.
- Record management.
- Training and awareness.
Data Protection
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Trust database records.
- Subject access requests.
- Training and awareness.
Patient Confidentiality and Caldicott
- DOH code of confidentiality.
- Caldicott principles.
- Training and awareness.
Information Security (BS7799):
- Business continuity planning.
- Threat, impact and risk analysis.
- Control systems and system audits.
- Information security management .
- Information security audits.
Policies, Procedures and Standards
- Development of Trust wide security policies: such as email, internet use.
- Procedures and codes of practice to support the policies.
- Using BS7799 controls as a basis for developing the policies and procedures.
Information Governance Toolkit
- Determining evidence for attainment levels.
- Checking control levels.
- Submitting returns.
Data Quality and IQAP
- Working with the Information Department on Quality Standards.
