title: Engaging medical staff in clinical governance: introducing new technologies and clinical practice into public hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To enhance patient care, medical staff at major tertiary teaching hospitals are encouraged to innovate through introducing new technologies and clinical practices. However, such introduction must be safe, efficient, effective and appropriate for patients and the organisation, and actively lead by engage medical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study outlines the development, implementation and evaluation of a framework for introducing new technologies and clinical practice to a major tertiary health service. Evaluation includes survey of medical Heads of Units (HOUs) for framework's effectiveness, and comparison of level of medical staff engagement against a best-practice model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 2-year period: 19 applications, 7 approved. Successful external funding of $1.993 million achieved. Survey of HOUs in June 2009: response rate 59% (25 of 42 HOUs), with 11 of 25 respondents utilised the committee. Of those 14 of 25 who had not utilised the committee, low awareness of the committee's existence (2 respondents). Most elements of the best-practice model for engaging medical staff were achieved. Recommendations include improvements to committee process and raising profile with medical staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an effective and successful clinical governance process for introducing new technologies and clinical practice into a major tertiary teaching hospital, supported by moderate levels of medical staff engagement.
authors.affiliation: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Australia. alsion.dwyer@austin.org.au
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology; D054976:Clinical Governance; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D024382:Professional Role; D014739:Victoria