A robust governance framework and implementation directly impacts an organization's success from a corporate standpoint and is imperative for ensuring safe, high-quality patient care. By definition, governance is the overall framework through which organizations are accountable for continually improving their clinical, corporate, staff, and financial performance. A strong governance framework lays the foundation for making decisions, resource allocation, and prioritization.
When looking at building a governance framework, it is vital first to understand that it will not happen on its own. It needs to be a well thought out, structured process that you build alongside the correct stakeholders and team members. It is also important to associate the priority you're driving your governance teams forward on with your strategic organizational principles. During the process of establishing and implementing this framework, you also need to promote progressive forward movement through cycles of surveying, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This continuous evaluation will help tell you how you are doing and encourage continuous improvement.
So how do you get this process of creating a successful governance framework started? We have compiled four principles that any organization should review when building a new or optimizing a current governance framework.
Principle 1: Engage the right stakeholders
Principle 2: Establish a shared understanding of objectives
Principle 3: Align incentives and rules of engagement
Principle 4: Disciplined Prioritization