Safe, Quality Assured Neurophysiological Science Services

Details

Title

Safe, Quality Assured Neurophysiological Science Services

Type

Stage One

Module code

HPS222

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to demonstrate their active contribution to work-based quality management activities that underpin safe, quality assured services in Neurophysiological Science. They will apply their expert knowledge with respect to health and safety legislation and guidance, both locally and nationally, in order to practise safely and advise on safe practice. Clinical Scientists in HSST will also be expected to lead, implement, monitor and improve quality assurance processes, perform risk assessments and develop, refine and evaluate health and safety precautions relating to patient testing and management.

Prioritising patient safety and listening and responding to patient feedback, including complaints, is an important element of this role. They will also consistently demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for undertaking the role of a Consultant Clinical Scientist.

The knowledge, skills and experience gained by meeting the learning outcomes of this module will underpin practice throughout this HSST programme and in all future work roles promoting patient-centred, high-quality and safe clinical services.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will analyse, synthesise, evaluate and critically apply their expert knowledge of the NHS constitution, quality management systems and health and safety, including:

Quality management:

• the principles and practice of quality control, external quality assessment and quality management as applied to relevant areas of healthcare science;
• opportunities for improving the reliability of care following audit, adverse events, or ‘near misses’;
• root-cause analysis;
• importance of reporting, discussing and learning from all incidents and concerns related to patient safety;
• the audit cycle and how it relates to the improvement of clinical care in clinical science and the wider healthcare environment;
• features of an effective audit that leads to real and sustained changes in practice;
• the Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation programme, including the:
  • background
  • four domains (patient experience; facilities, resources and workforce; safety; and clinical)
  • standards
  • process
• the role of audit and the audit cycle and its use as a tool to facilitate continuous quality improvement.

Health and safety:

• health and safety legislation and guidance for the workplace, current regulations include:
  • Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002)
  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)
  • Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance
  • Medical Devices Regulations (2002)
  • Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections NICE guideline (2011)
  • The Human Medicines Regulations (2012)
  • Safe disposal of clinical waste (1999) guidance
• the range of resources generated by patient feedback to ensure the needs of patients drive innovation, quality improvement and change.

Footnote: Clinical Scientists in HSST will need to keep up to date with new or revised legislation that is introduced following the publication of this curriculum.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will demonstrate a critical understanding of current best practice and legislation and their application to the provision of Clinical Neurophysiology. They will perform risk assessments using a range of risk assessment tools, including risk matrices when required, for all investigations and procedures relating to both diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients and will:

Quality management:

• initiate and lead a system of quality assurance and service improvement in a clinical scientific setting;
• design, implement and evaluate a quality improvement project and disseminate the findings, instigating changes in practice as necessary;
• critically reflect on the challenges of implementing, maintaining and improving services, building on a critique of available evidence base;
• evaluate and use information and communication technology to improve service quality and delivery.

Health and safety:

• be a role model for the promotion of health and safety standards in the workplace;
• identify and justify actions that will improve health and safety, including ensuring regular electrical safety testing is performed on equipment used within the department;
• evaluate current guidance of appropriate cleaning methods of equipment to ensure good infection control while protecting delicate transducers, etc.

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to perform a range of skills contributing to quality management processes and promoting a safe working environment, and will:

Quality management:

• set, apply and maintain quality standards and related quality control, assessment and management techniques to assure the validity of scientific and technical investigations;
• run investigation of incidents, root cause analysis, etc.
• implement and monitor systems to ensure the privacy, dignity, comfort and security of patients are respected;
• assess and manage the risks associated with the clinical service;
• educate staff and students with respect to the value of feedback, including patient feedback, in driving up standards and quality.

Health and safety:

• actively contribute to services to ensure they are safe, effective and accessible;
• implement and monitor systems to identify and manage the risks associated with hazardous materials;
• ensure cleaning protocols are understood by other members of the team and are adhered to;
• listen, influence and lead continuous quality improvement in scientific services;
• influence, lead and support staff in the department/organisation to create a culture that recognises the importance of quality and quality improvement in the delivery of neurophysiological scientific services;
• create a culture of health and safety awareness, identification and resolution of issues, and modification of systems to enhance health and safety;
• review and report on health and safety issues, sharing good practice with individuals, the team and wider organisation;
• evaluate personal learning with respect to quality and safety improvement and the role of audit as part of personal professional development;
• lead discussions on improving technical clinical practice in a multiprofessional setting, defending and justifying proposals;
• identify opportunities for improving the reliability of the clinical service as an outcome of audit, adverse events, critical incidents, or ‘near misses’, and critically evaluate the impact of each improvement;
• actively participate and/or lead trust or directorate audit/clinical governance processes and meetings;lead discussions on improving technical clinical practice in a multiprofessional setting, defending and justifying proposals;identify opportunities for improving the reliability of the clinical service as an outcome of audit, adverse events, critical incidents, or ‘near misses’, and critically evaluate the impact of each improvement;
• evaluate the recommendations of an audit or health improvement project related to patient safety issue, disseminate findings and introduce improvements into service.