The world is experiencing a lot of evolution in the medical field, calling for healthcare practitioners to stay updated on the latest advancements and new treatment methods emerging every day. The pandemic forced the healthcare industry into overdrive, pushing it to its limits. It elevated the importance of providing effective and safe clinical services to the masses, encouraging healthcare practitioners to be consistent and diligent while also focusing on improving their skills.
For safe and quality healthcare, leaders at every level of the organisation must take necessary steps to ensure government-ordained protocols and systems are followed. This will help ensure seamless care in all aspects and make it easier for people to access high-quality healthcare.
Individuals in positions of authority are encouraged to take clinical governance courses to help them test their skills, learn newer and more effective methods of leading a healthcare organisation and implement these learnings in their organisations. These training courses are designed to refine understanding and promote opportunities for growth and evolvement. Courses such as these can also contribute towards fulfilling their yearly CPD requirements. This healthcare education can be offered virtually or face-to-face.
Why do healthcare practitioners need CPD?
Spending time on CPD can feel cumbersome to many. However, these courses have some key outcomes that can be vital for quality and safety in healthcare. These are mentioned below:
– Comply With the NSQHS Standards
The NSQHS are government-ordained standards that improve the quality of care offered to patients in Australia. These standards help establish consistent safety and quality standards that apply to healthcare organisations and facilities, patients, healthcare workers, and consumers nationwide.
A healthcare organisation should be able to apply the National Model Clinical Governance Framework to all decisions pertaining to the quality of care provided at their organisation. Clinical Governance training will enable healthcare practitioners to apply the framework to the functions of all levels of leadership in the hospital or clinic, including the board.
Moreover, healthcare guidelines and regulations may change with time. Completing their annual CPD hours allows practitioners to ensure they are complying with current standards and best practices.
- Keeping Up With Advancements
Every year, new technology, treatment methods and medications emerge as a result of research and successful experimentation. CPD helps practitioners stay updated on the latest advancements in their field, allowing them to provide the best care to their patients.
It can also help them assess their competency and increase awareness of differences in international standards, peer performance, and national and state statistics. This helps them remain relevant in their area of expertise, ensuring high-quality care.
- Meeting Professional Requirements
Many professional healthcare organisations and regulatory bodies require practitioners to complete a certain number of CPD hours or activities to maintain their licences. For example, registered nurses and midwives are required to complete at least 20 hours of CPD for nurses in Australia to keep their licences.
Engaging in CPD activities can not only help you connect with peers, experts and researchers in your field but can also contribute to personal and professional growth, job satisfaction and career advancements.
- Promoting Innovation
Department heads or board members undertaking CPD courses and activities, especially clinical governance courses, may be able to bring more innovative ideas and approaches to patient care, research and management to the table. This can help improve healthcare practices and services across the board.
CPD also often involves problem-solving and critical thinking exercises, which can sharpen a practitioner’s ability to analyse complex situations and make well-informed decisions.
Who Should Participate in Clinical Governance Courses?
Clinical governance courses are highly recommended for board chairs, members, and executives of teams within healthcare organisations. This includes hospitals, private and public clinics and other care organisations, primary or secondary.
A clinical governance course may also benefit departmental leaders, frontline healthcare workers and experts looking to improve their managerial skills.
Quality Improvement and Clinical Governance
Quality improvement and clinical governance often go hand in hand. Improving the skills and knowledge of the leadership team has a trickle-down effect and improves the quality of care provided by every department in the organisation. By implementing the right processes and protocols, HCOs can effectively meet the NSQHS Standards, resulting in greater patient satisfaction and confidence.
The NSQHS Standards, set by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, include a clinical governance framework organisations are mandated to follow, so patients and consumers don’t have to compromise on safe and quality healthcare. It acts as a safety net that helps organisations deliver safe healthcare.
Final Thoughts
Training programs and courses for healthcare practitioners have been tailored to cater to those who wish to elevate their careers in healthcare. Their main goal is to empower and define a culture of improvement while reducing risk, errors and harm that occur to patients during provision of healthcare. CPD in Australia plays a vital role in maintaining and improving the quality of healthcare services provided to patients. It ensures that healthcare practitioners are well-informed, skilled and adaptable to changes in the dynamic healthcare landscape.
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