Clinical Governance & Risk Management - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Clinical Governance and Risk Management notes.

Clinical governance

A framework to improve quality and safeguard care standards through coordinated systems and environments that support excellence in clinical practice.

Umbrella term

A broad label indicating that clinical governance covers all activities aimed at maintaining and improving care quality.

Clinical performance

The observable actions and outcomes of clinicians that reflect the quality of care provided.

Accountability

Responsibility of individuals and teams to meet standards and justify decisions.

Continuous improvement

Ongoing system-wide efforts to enhance processes and outcomes using evidence and feedback.

Patient safety

Efforts to prevent harm to patients from care processes and system failures.

Learning from experience

Using both errors and successful practices to inform future improvements.

Patient experience

The care experience and perception of patients, emphasizing involvement and comfort.

Partnership

Collaboration among managers, clinicians, and patients in governance and care.

Culture of continuous improvement

An organizational attitude that prioritizes ongoing quality enhancement.

Feedback

Input from staff, patients, and processes used to drive improvement.

Clear goals

Well-defined quality and safety targets that guide actions.

Training

Ongoing education to maintain and update clinical competencies.

Recognition

Acknowledging and rewarding contributions to improvement efforts.

Open to change

Willingness to adjust processes in light of new information and feedback.

Bristol Heart Scandal

1980s–1990s cardiac surgery failures in the UK prompting governance reforms.

A First Class Service: Quality in the New NHS

1998 NHS white paper calling for embedded quality and governance in practice.

Pillars of clinical governance

Core components such as clinical effectiveness, risk management, and leadership.

Multidisciplinary team-based governance

Governance built through collaboration across professions and teams.

Digital health

Use of digital tools and real-time data to guide governance and care.

Just culture

A no-blame system focusing on learning and fixing systemic issues after errors.

World Health Organization (WHO)

UN agency leading global health improvements and patient safety initiatives.

Joint Commission International (JCI)

International accreditation body setting global patient safety and quality standards.

Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance (AICG)

Not-for-profit organization providing governance education and training.

MHMS Fiji

Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Fiji.

Accountability and Oversight

Structures ensuring responsibility for care quality and safety.

Patient Safety (Fiji framework)

Efforts to create safe environments and minimize harm within Fiji’s health system.

Quality Improvement

Systematic efforts to enhance care quality using data and best practices.

Risk Management

Processes to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to patients and staff.

Information Management

Effective use and protection of data to monitor performance and guide decisions.

Staff Focus

Ensuring staff are competent, supported, and continually developed.

Patient Involvement

Engaging patients in decisions about their care and in governance.

Clinical Audits

Regular review of clinical practice against standards to identify improvements.

National Standards and Regulations

National benchmarks and rules aligning practice with best practice.

National Clinical Governance Committee

Fiji’s body overseeing the implementation of the governance framework.

Clinical Effectiveness

Activities to improve care quality via evidence, guidelines, and research.

Staffing & Staffing Management

Recruitment, performance management, retention, and working conditions.

Risk Identification

Systematic detection of potential clinical or operational risks.

Risk Assessment

Evaluating the likelihood and impact of identified risks.

Risk Mitigation

Actions to reduce or eliminate identified risks.

Incident Reporting

Mechanism to report adverse events or near misses for learning.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Method to identify fundamental causes of errors and prevent recurrence.

No-blame culture

Culture that avoids blaming individuals and focuses on system fixes.

Hand Hygiene

Washing or sanitizing hands before and after patient contact to prevent infection.

Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs)

Infections acquired during a hospital stay due to hygiene lapses.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

Ongoing learning and skill development for professionals.

Appraisals

Performance reviews to identify development needs and opportunities.

Co-design

Patients collaborating with providers to redesign services.

Pressure Ulcers (HAPU) prevention

Measures to prevent hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

Braden Scale

Assessment tool to determine risk of pressure injuries.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Rational antibiotic use to reduce resistance and improve outcomes.

ISBAR

Structured handover framework: Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

Clinical Pathways

Standardized care plans for specific conditions across disciplines.

Stroke care pathway

A coordinated, multidisciplinary plan for stroke management.

NICE guidelines

Evidence-based recommendations for health and social care in the UK.

Re-audit

Follow-up audit to assess whether improvements were achieved.

Discharge planning

Process to determine when a patient can safely leave and continue care.

Discharge consequences

Potential risks of premature discharge, including readmission and worsened outcomes.

Blame culture consequences

Increased errors, reduced safety, burnout, and eroded trust.

Second victims

Staff who are involved in errors and need support and resources.

Clinical Governance Framework

Overall system of structures, processes, and governance to improve care quality.

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

Quantitative metrics used to measure performance and outcomes.

Benchmarking

Comparing performance against best practices to drive improvement.

Quality Boards

Governance bodies that oversee quality and safety initiatives.

CPD portfolio

Personal record of learning and development activities for ongoing competence.

Medication Safety Audit

Audit process to identify and reduce medication errors and ensure safe practices.