The aim of the Clinical standards department is to increase awareness around clinical effectiveness as well as more generic issues including consultant appraisal and revalidation. Clinical effectiveness can be defined in broad terms as doing the right thing, for the right patient, at the right time and getting it right first time. The Clinical standards department contributes to clinical effectiveness and improved patient care in the following ways:
- Guidelines - the production of guidelines, based on evidence, which sets the clinical standards by which care should be provided.
- Audit - the development of tools, which assess if the care provided meets the clinical standards through audit.
- Implementation and dissemination - sharing of results from assessments with clinicians, managers and with patient organisations to allow all to work together to improve clinical care.
- Revalidation and appraisal - providing guidance for doctors about the standards of practice expected and the types of evidence required for consultant appraisal and revalidation.
- Partnership - working with specialties and others key stakeholders to share knowledge and techniques to facilitate them playing a role in the improvement of clinical care
Our core strategic objectives apply to the professional activities of physicians - as individuals; as a member of a team; and as a member of a larger organisation.
- To identify and define standards relevant to clinical work of physicians to ensure a foundation for good patient care
- To measure and evaluate the implementation of standards and the impact on patient care
- To encourage and engage physicians in the use of tools and information to implement these standardseffectively to improve patient care
- To collaborate with the specialist societies associated with the Royal College to develop clinical effectiveness
- To work with the other departments of the Royal College of Physicians and stakeholders in the delivery of this strategy
- To communicate the activities of the Clinical Standards department and its constituent units to members, fellows and stakeholders
Further information about the department available: