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Is clinical governance lagging behind corporate  governance, despite years of focus? This article argues that healthcare governance and management are still skewed towards corporate and administrative functions. 

Describing the evolution of healthcare management, the article notes the rise of a general management industry for administrating healthcare that has focused on establishing  governance frameworks for corporate management, resulting in sidelining of clinical governance. 

This lack of focus can result in:

• Insufficient Resources and Structures: Despite recognition of its importance, clinical governance is not been adequately resourced, leading to weak frameworks that fail to support consistent care and improvement. 
• Limited Clinician Involvement: Clinicians, who are central to the delivery of quality care, often have minimal influence in governance systems, with their roles limited to providing input rather than direct accountability.
• Accountability Gaps: Clinical governance lacks clear structures for accountability. This lack of clarity results in fragmented efforts to address quality and safety issues. 

The author suggests that clinicians, with their firsthand experience and expertise, are best positioned to identify and address issues related to clinical care delivery, quality and patient safety. When clinicians are actively involved in decision-making processes, policies and practices are more likely to be grounded in practical, real-world experience.

The importance of creating a culture of collaboration and mutual respect between clinicians and administrative staff is also highlighted. This can be achieved by establishing clear corporate and clinical management responsibilities for care quality and demonstrating how they complement each other, as each plays a role.  Providing opportunities for clinicians to participate in corporate, as well as clinical, governance committees and supporting them to lead care-related policy decisions, also supports clinical perspectives in business decision-making. 

By fostering a more inclusive and participatory approach in governance more broadly, healthcare organisations can achieve better alignment between clinical and administrative goals, leading to improved patient care and safety.