Clinical Governance within Care @ Home
As models of care continue to evolve, the demand for safe, high-quality services delivered in the home is growing rapidly. But how do organisations maintain robust clinical governance when care extends beyond the walls of the hospital?
In this collaborative webinar hosted by the Australian Institute of Clinical Governance (AICG), representatives from the Health Roundtable, Hospital in the Home Society of Australasia (HITH Society), and Queensland Health’s Healthcare Improvement Unit came together to explore the real-world challenges and opportunities of clinical governance within care at home.
THE SHIFT BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR
Rebecca Clarke, Interim General Manager of Health Roundtable, highlighted how the boundaries of hospital care have shifted — and how governance must evolve to meet that reality.
She explained that collaboration and data transparency are essential as care delivery models diversify.
Clarke also outlined how benchmarking and analytics can strengthen governance practices across the sector:
DEFINING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
Dr James Pollard, President of the Hospital in the Home Society Australasia, reflected on the complexity of governing care delivered outside traditional settings.
“It’s not simply about transferring hospital processes to the home environment — it’s about redesigning governance so that safety, accountability and communication are preserved no matter where the patient is.”
Pollard noted that Hospital in the Home has matured into a core clinical service across Australia, with shared responsibility between providers, clinicians and patients:
“We’ve moved beyond the pilot phase — this is mainstream healthcare now. And that means governance frameworks must be fit for purpose, scalable and responsive.”
collaboration and culture as foundations of safety
Anne-Marie Crozier, representing the HITH Society, spoke about the cultural dimension of governance and the need for shared values across multidisciplinary teams:
The panellists agreed that clinical governance is as much about relationships and culture as it is about systems and data.
data, kpi's and continuous improvement
From the perspective of Queensland Health, Lorene Hines emphasised how measurement and monitoring enable continuous improvement in complex care environments.
The discussion returned repeatedly to the role of learning systems in governance — frameworks that not only manage risk, but also actively promote improvement through shared data, reflective practice and transparent reporting.
looking ahead: governance for the future of care
In closing, the panel agreed that clinical governance in care-at-home models must remain adaptable as technology, workforce models and patient expectations continue to evolve.
The conversation underscored the need for collaboration across organisations, consistent quality frameworks, and data-driven improvement to ensure patients receive safe, person-centred care wherever they are.
The full webinar recording is available exclusively to AICG members. Become a member today to access the video and explore more resources on advancing clinical governance in diverse care settings.
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