Action 1.05

Include safety and quality goals, objectives and strategies prominently in business and strategic plans. This will ensure that all strategic and decision-making processes consider the safety and quality of all services being provided.

If a proposal for service development or a change in scope of clinical practice explicitly identifies implications for patient safety and quality of health care, adopt policies, procedures or protocols to explain how clinical risks will be managed.

Train the workforce to consider safety and quality issues when developing business cases or influencing business decisions.

Other strategies may include ensuring that:

• The terms of reference for committees (for example, finance and audit committees, strategic planning committees) consider safety and quality implications when making business decisions
• Decisions about the procurement of building, plant, consumables and equipment are informed, and that products and services are fit for purpose, comply with relevant standards, and take into consideration safety and quality issues such as multiple chemical sensitivity.

Include safety and quality goals, objectives and strategies prominently in business and strategic plans. This will ensure that all strategic and decision-making processes consider the safety and quality of all services being provided.

If a proposal for service development or a change in scope of clinical practice explicitly identifies implications for patient safety and quality of health care, adopt policies, procedures or protocols to explain how clinical risks will be managed.

Other strategies may include ensuring that:

• The terms of reference for committees (for example, finance and audit committees, strategic planning committees) consider safety and quality implications when making business decisions
• Decisions about the procurement of building, plant, consumables and equipment are informed, and that products and services are fit for purpose, comply with relevant standards, and take into consideration safety and quality issues such as multiple chemical sensitivity.

Examples of evidence

Select only examples currently in use:

• Committee and meeting records, such as for finance and audit committees, and strategic planning committees, that show that safety and quality of health care are considered in business decision-making
• Strategic plans, operational plans or business plans that outline the potential impact of decisions on patient safety and quality of care
• Business proposal templates that include consideration of safety and quality risks
• Register of safety and quality risks that includes actions to manage the identified risks.

For MPSs or small hospitals that are part of a local health network or private hospital group, business decisions may be the responsibility of the Local Hospital Network or state or territory health department.

For small hospitals that are not part of a local health network:

• Include safety and quality goals, objectives and strategies prominently in business and strategic planning; this will ensure that all strategic and decision-making processes consider the safety and quality of all services being provided
• Consider the safety and quality implications when making business decisions in the terms of reference for committees (for example, finance and audit committees, strategic planning committees)
• Ensure that decisions about the procurement of building, plant, consumables and equipment are informed, and that products and services are fit for purpose, comply with relevant standards, and take into consideration safety and quality issues
• Review templates for submitting business proposals to the governing body and management, and ensure that they take account of effects on safety and quality.