Clinical Governance and Transfusion

Abstract

Governance is the exercise of power consequent on the assumptions of responsibility. Clinical Governance is the process and framework through which Health Services achieve accountability for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguard high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care can flourish in a patient centred environment. In terms of clinical governance as it pertains to safe and appropriate use of blood and blood products it is being rolled out in Victoria at two levels. At a hospital level, as part of clinical governance there is a requirement for organisations to have an active transfusion committee to provide oversight on the usage, appropriateness and adverse events related to blood and blood products. This committee should report through to the hospitals clinical risk/quality committee. Transfusion nurses have been funded to amongst other things resource this committee. At a state level Victoria has established a Better Safer Transfusion (BeST) practice program supported by a BeST advisory committee. The work will support hospital transfusion committees and advise on future work in the area.