Working with Information
Governance
Outline
 What
is Information Governance?
 Why?
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Benefits
Do nothing option
How?
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Principles & approach
6 aspects to the development of an IG framework
Information Governance

Information component of clinical
governance.
“Framework for handling personal
information in a confidential and secure
manner to appropriate ethical and
quality standards in a modern health
service”
Information Governance

Integration/Way of thinking/Way of
Working
– interrelationship between initiatives
– unites law/ethics/policy

A framework to provide “a positive &
enabling tension” between
– IT
– Cultural issues
– Modernisation programme
Information Governance in the NHS
Service
Health Service Functions
Quality
Research
Management
Caldicott Report
The Law: DPA 1998
Data Accreditation Process
Human Rights Act 1998
Data quality audit
Freedom of Information Act 2000
HSC 1999/053 Security & confidentiality audit
Common Law
Records Management
EPR
ISO17799
/Common Clinical Systems NHS Numbers project
Quality
NSTS/Exeter
Risk Management
Professional regulations
Controls Assurance
Ethics, Ethnicity& Beliefs
Local Traditions & Practices
Choice
Technological & Sociological Change
Seamless Services
Protection
Privacy
Information Governance Why?

Information & Communications Technological
developments
– portability, duplication, access, sharing, manipulation,
integration of patient records and information contained
within them

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Societal changes – Human Rights, Ethics,
Choice, Privacy
Service expectations – seamless privacy,
demonstrable quality,
confidential teamworking
Electronic clinical information systems
The do nothing option?

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Confusion, fragmentation & frustration
Lack of progress
Excess work for staff
Litigation and expense
Inability to set up robust flows between
multiple systems
Difficulties integrating systems into a
seamless whole
inability to produce reliable performance
indicators
Information Governance How?
 Principles
& Approach
 Six aspects to consider when
developing and Information
Governance Framework
Principles & Approach

Work with and understand system, process
and people
– confidential communities working in confidential
environments
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Focus on organisational structure
Focus on the user
Work on specifics, develop solutions, consider
generic implications
Policy from specifics (bottom up)
Basic principles - healthcare & privacy
Six Aspects of an IG Framework
1. Teambuilding
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Organisational structures
Service and work planning
Policy, procedure and guidance
Education, training and awareness
Standards
1. The Team
 Clarify
the approach
– Always user focused
– Advice
– Guidance

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
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service
new developments
new systems
Helpdesk
– Hands on practical support (we do it)
1. The Team
 Clarify
aims
– Team may be working across multiple
organisations
– Consistency, consensus & cohesion
– Secure, confidential & quality assured
systems & process
– The cycle of monitor, review, audit and
informed, appropriate actions for change
that respect the position of all stakeholders
2. Organisation

Ensuring organisational and managerial
commitment
– Information Governance Steering Group
– engage at an appropriate level
– work with authority
– Terms of reference
– Policy
–
–
–
–
principles
organisational responsibilities
confirms standards
sets out structure
2. Organisation

IG Steering Group - membership
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Caldicott Guardian
Director of Finance and Information
Head of IT
Head of Medical Records
Assistant Chief Executive
HR
3. Planning
 One
plan
– IGT to baseline the organisation
– Plan maps back to requirements, provides
the foundation to apply and implement
standards, evaluate progress
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System
Process
People
4. Policy, procedure, guidance
Agreed policy
 Related and documented procedure and
guidance
 Policy reflects reality
 Policy, procedure, guidance inform
training.
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5. Education, Training,
Awareness
Education and communication at the
heart of the process
 Develop good quality, professional multi
media training materials
 Design and deliver user focused training
and awareness sessions
 Ideally integrating with an ETD strategy
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6. Standards
Standards currently being drawn
together from the core IG initiative
 Modelled around
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H eld securely and confidentially
O btained fairly and efficiently
R ecorded accurately and reliably
U sed effectively and ethically
S hared appropriately and lawfully
Conclusion
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Connects Clinical & Corporate Governance
Provides a flexible framework capable of
responding to change.
Effective use of limited resources
Increases the ability to secure information
flows.
Increases the ability to respond to patient
choice and preferences
Creates a safer working environment for staff