Diverse Diagnostics

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Purpose of Policy
3. Policy Statement
4. Scope
5. Definitions
6. Procedure
7. Responsibilities
8. Enforcement / Compliance
9. Related information
10. Appendix A

1. Introduction

Clinical governance is the process by which accountability for the quality of health and safeguarding high standards of care is monitored and assured. This helps create an environment where it is understood that delivering the highest quality of care is the responsibility of everyone working in the organisation. Effective clinical governance will ensure patients that:

• Diverse Diagnostics focuses on the high quality of care, and an adequate service provision
• Any unacceptable clinical practice will be detected and respectively addressed
• Diverse Diagnostics has an ethic of continuous improvement

The clinical governance framework needs to be addressed according to the type of organisation; therefore, this policy sets out the Diverse Diagnostics approach.

The key principles of clinical governance will be explained as part of the procedure (Section 6).

2. Purpose of Policy

This policy aims to provide a framework to demonstrate how health care quality is monitored and assured. This will allow Diverse Diagnostics to provide patients with the highest quality of care and continuously improve where needed.

3. Policy Statement

Clinical governance is intended to provide, at all times, the highest quality service and continuously improve where/when needed. The planning and delivery of the service take complete account of the perspective of patients/relatives/carers. One of the key purposes of this policy is to support future staff in continuously improving the quality and safety of care. Initially, Practice Manager will be leading the governance agenda and ensure that clinical practice is monitored. Any decision taken will ensure continuous quality improvement and will be informed and transparently delivered.

4. Scope

This policy applies to all Diverse Diagnostics staff, irrespective of job role within the Independent Clinic.

5. Definitions

6. Procedure

This section will explain the key elements to clinical governance and the mechanisms in use in Diverse Diagnostics to comply. Dr. Jagdish Basra/ Medical Director will the providing input into clinical governance.

1. Education, training and continuing professional development
   All clinical staff is committed to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Therefore, regular professional training will be given regarding safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and information management, basic life support (BLS). Furthermore, journal reviews will be organised every month to keep up to date on neurodiverse conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other mental health disorders, such as Depression, Anxiety, Tics, OCD and Sleep Disorders.

   Diverse Diagnostics supports the ongoing development of all clinical staff. This yearly training will also be part of the induction training (once more staff is required), where a detailed explanation/evidence about services given to patients will be provided. This training will be offered internally and also with external agencies when needed.

2. Clinical audit
   Clinical audit is a key feature of clinical governance, and it involves reviewing the clinical performance and its outcomes. In Diverse Diagnostics, clinical audits will be performed once a year, which will include:
   • Complaints received along the year, the time it took to process and reply. Outcomes will also be audited, including patient satisfaction after the reply and how Diverse Diagnostics solved the issue.
   • Consents documented, which includes any withdrawal or rejected consent. Discussions between Dr Jagdish Basra and patient/relative/carer will also be audited to ensure all information needed was provided before consent.
   • How effective is Diverse Diagnostics delivering information to the general physicians (GPs)Looking at education and training, if courses to up to date are being completed
   • Safeguarding, for example, how much time is Diverse Diagnostics taking to contact appropriate agencies

   These meetings will provide valuable information about different service characteristics, negative and positive feedbacks, which will allow Diverse Diagnostics to improve clinical practice. Dr Jagdish Basra, Medical Director, will address any case that is causing particular concern. At the same time, Diverse Diagnostics will be discussing every month any changes done registered in our Service Development History document.

3. Clinical effectiveness
   For Diverse Diagnostics, it is essential to provide an evidence-based service, making decisions based on available clinical resources. Our consultants will complete the assessments with different tools, also applied in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the NHS; for instance, the “Conners Scale for ADHD Assessment”, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), among others. These are valuable tools, which are one part of the entire assessment process to diagnose ADHD, ASD, and other mental health disorders, which are in alignment with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Any updates on ADHD, ASD, Depression, Anxiety, Tics, OCD and Sleep Disorders assessment will be regularly addressed.

   *Part of the ASD assessment will be completed face to face in our clinic located in Bearsden, Glasgow, by a Specialist ASD/ADHD Therapist. Moreover, patients will be able to opt to have the first appointment face-to-face for children's ADHD assessment, ASD assessment, and other mental health disorders assessment, which will also be provided in our clinic by a Consultant psychiatrist from Diverse Diagnostics.

   ** Diverse Diagnostics has two separate clinics for face-to-face appointments, located in Belfast and London, both of which follow the same clinical governance process and policy.

4. Openness
   Whilst patient’s and our consultant’s confidentiality are respected, different processes will be open to public scrutiny. This will provide quality assurance and open the possibility to any other interested parties, besides patients/relatives/carers, to identify needs and make improvements.
   To achieve this openness, the website will have information about the staff, the complaints given by patients, as well as any feedback provided.
5. Clinical risk management
   Policies involving patients security and engaged in minimising any risk are:
   • Safeguarding and protecting people from abuse policy
   • Privacy, dignity and respect policy
   • Consent policy
   • Chaperone policy

   Other aspects from the clinical governance framework are also part of the clinical risk management, such as “Education, training and continuing professional development”, “Clinical audit”, and “Clinical Effectiveness”.

6. Information management
   Any information given will be registered in the patient’s medical record in a detailed and understandable manner. Medical records will always include personal data (from the patient), detailed assessment process, including diagnosis and therapeutic/medical plan, and if any issues arise a discussion between the consultant and the patient/relative/carer will occur.
   More details about data protection and confidentiality are explained in “Information management policy”. Medical records will be shared with internal audits, as mentioned above.
7. Human Resources
   Diverse Diagnostics is committed to delivering medical care through fullyqualified staff. Our consultants have years of experience assessing young people and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. Part of the ASD assessment will always be completed face to face, and patients can opt to have the first appointment for children’s ADHD, ASD assessment, and other mental health disorders face-to-face in our clinic by a staff member from Diverse Diagnostics.

   Diverse Diagnostics will always prioritise protocols and policies to be followed, aiming that every member of the organisation works with the best interests of the patients in mind in an evidence-based manner.

8. Meetings
   Clinical governance meeting takes place every day. All staff are required to attend. If a staff member is unable to attend, it is the responsibility of the Practice Manager to inform staff member of any information that was missed.

7. Responsibilities

Medical Director is responsible for following this policy and the procedures are in place to provide the best practice and reassure the patients that quality of care is given the highest priority at Diverse Diagnostics.

8. Enforcement / Compliance

Diverse Diagnostics is committed to following the procedures described above and reviewing our policy and good practice once a year.

9. Related information

This policy was written according to the Clinical and Care Governance Framework, Guidance, published by the Scottish Government in October, 2015.

10. Appendix A

The Clinical and Care Governance Framework: Guidance, published by the Scottish Government, 2015

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2015/12/clinical-care-governance-framework/documents/clinical-care-governance-framework/clinical-care-governance-framework/govscot%3Adocument/00491266.pdf