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Clinical governance

Clinical governance and legislation, regulation, and certification against standards

Having a clinical governance framework in place will assist physiotherapists and health care organisations to adhere to the regulated requirements that apply in Aotearoa New Zealand, including:

  • the Physiotherapy practice thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (2015),15 the Physiotherapy Standards,13 the Aotearoa New Zealand Physiotherapy Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct,16 as outlined in the Physiotherapy Standards framework 2018,14
  • the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights,18
  • the Health Information Privacy Code 1994,19 and
  • the Health (Retention of Health Information) Regulations 1996.17

Having such a framework in place will also help to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, including:

  • the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003,20
  • the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015,22
  • the Privacy Act 1993,23
  • the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990,24
  • the Children’s Act 2014,25
  • the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994,29
  • the Employment Relations Act 2000,26 and
  • the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.37

Implementing a clinical governance framework well can help your organisation to meet its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi.31

“The obligations under the Treaty of partnership, protection and participation are embedded in clinical governance when it’s done well. Partnership is that everyone is equal and in partnership. Health professionals and consumers are in partnership. Protection is clinical governance: quality improvement and patient safety, aiming for equity, minimum standards of care, the opportunity to practice in [at the top of your ] scope, to provide the best care. Participation, with person and whānau engagement and participation is embedded in clinical governance. You can meet the three principles of the Treaty of Waitangi by doing clinical governance well.” (PNZ member, Jane Hamer)

Implementing a clinical governance framework in your practice will complement and augment adherence to or certification against relevant standards, including:

  • the ACC requirements for Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy Services,9
  • the Allied Health Services Sector Standard NZS 8171,38 and
  • the Ministry of Education Specialist Service Standards.39

Note: superscript numerals in the above text denote references cited.