Identifying leadership for clinical governance in rural and remote primary health care services.

Abstract

Clinical governance is a system for improving the quality and safety of health care.1 The importance of clinical governance in primary care and the contribution of leadership to implementation of clinical governance have been established, with an expanding evidence base.2 Whilst definitions of leadership vary, the role of leaders in implementation is multifaceted and continues to evolve and expand.3, 4 However, leaders face multiple challenges in effectively engaging clinicians with understanding, conceptualising, improving perceptions and implementing clinical governance.5 Practising leadership with intent to strengthen clinical governance requires those perceived as leaders to be identified and appropriate interventions applied to strengthen and support recognised leaders. This paper aims to identify recognised leaders for clinical governance in rural and remote primary health care, as perceived by clinical service providers, and views related to leadership in this context.