Why strong clinical governance is essential for successful digital health transformation

This article was originally published on Becker's Healthcare.

As the healthcare industry faces financial pressures, changing regulations, and rising patient expectations, many leaders are turning to technology and data to improve care. To realize the full potential of digital tools, organizations must have a comprehensive, agile, and enterprise-wide plan that prioritizes clinical governance during the strategy, implementation, and post-implementation phases. This approach ensures physicians, nurses, and other care providers play a key role in decision-making, helping hospitals and health systems be more effective in enhancing care quality, streamlining operations, and creating financial stability.

What is clinical governance?

Clinical governance is a framework that ensures organizations provide the highest quality of care. Integrating clinical governance into digital transformation builds collaboration where clinical and non-clinical leaders work together to define and implement continuous improvement strategies. This encompasses:

• Establishing clear clinical guidelines and protocols to enhance standardization
• Monitoring and evaluating clinical performance
• Promoting patient safety through clinical risk management practices

Additionally, clinical governance supports optimized resource allocation and utilization, encourages innovation and applying evidence-based techniques, upholds ethical conduct, and elevates patient and clinician satisfaction – all essential ingredients for a thriving healthcare system.

Why is clinical governance a vital part of digital health strategy and implementation?

When robust clinical governance is integrated with business governance throughout each phase of a health IT project, hospitals and health systems can experience meaningful benefits that strengthen the entire organization, including:

• Enhanced patient care: Focusing on clinical excellence can improve patient safety. Clinical governance promotes standardized protocols, risk reduction initiatives, and quality improvement, leading to better patient experiences and health outcomes.
• Improved financial performance: Efficient resource allocation driven by data-informed insights can optimize costs while ensuring high-quality care. Reduced readmissions and improved clinical outcomes translate to lower healthcare expenditures.
• Increased operational efficiency: Clear communication, well-defined processes, and standardized practices promote streamlined workflows, which improve staff efficiency and resource utilization.
• Higher staff engagement: Involving all stakeholders in digital transformation fosters collaboration and a sense of ownership, improving morale and increasing employee retention.
• Reduced legal risk: Well-defined clinical governance demonstrates a commitment to quality and patient safety. This approach mitigates potential legal risks associated with patient care deficiencies.

How does clinical governance advance digital health transformation?

Current healthcare trends and challenges highlight the need to integrate clinical governance into health IT efforts. Variations in care quality call for a strong focus on quality improvement and cost control—areas where clinical governance excels. Additionally, today’s empowered patients expect transparency in care. That expectation can be supported by clinical governance within the health system. As technology rapidly evolves, it offers new opportunities and potential risks. Clinical governance plays a crucial role in safely and effectively integrating these innovations. Furthermore, with growing cybersecurity threats, a well-structured clinical governance framework provides the foundation for robust data protection strategies.

How can organizations develop effective clinical governance for sustainable digital transformation?

Building a high-performing clinical governance structure requires a strategic, synergetic, and collaborative approach that allows all care team members to have ownership in health IT strategy, implementation, and change management. Here are critical success factors healthcare leaders can follow:

• Establish governance committees: Form multiple steering and working committees with representation from clinical and non-clinical leadership to guide clinical governance initiatives.
• Streamline decision-making: Employ a decision matrix based on best practices to evaluate options, democratize processes, and advance data-driven insights.
• Define clear policies and procedures: Develop and implement clear and approved policies and procedures that integrate clinical practice standards, clinical risk management, and quality improvement processes.
• Create a culture of quality: Empower staff to report concerns/issues, engage and participate in quality improvement initiatives, and champion patient safety to nurture a culture of quality and continuous improvement.
• Promote transparency and communication: Ensure clear and transparent communication between leadership, clinicians, and staff on clinical governance efforts and performance metrics.
• Embrace continuous learning: Provide ongoing education and training for clinicians and staff to stay current with best practices and evolving technologies.
• Partner with experts: Consider how the right strategic partner can bring a holistic understanding of healthcare and lessons learned to your organization to bolster clinical governance programs at any stage of the journey.

Strong clinical governance is essential for successful digital transformation. Leaders who implement a framework focused on care quality and enterprise-wide collaboration can better position their organizations to navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry and deliver exceptional care for the individuals and communities they serve. By integrating clinical governance into every phase of a technology project, healthcare leaders can address the challenges of today and steer the course toward a brighter, healthier future.

Interested in advancing clinical governance in your digital health initiatives? Schedule time with a Healthtech team member.