The Inter-Professional Shared Governance Structure (IPSG) is the process in which professional, clinical and support staff have a voice in decisions that may impact their work, practice and environment. The structure supports decentralized decision-making and increased ownership, accountability and empowerment. It allows key stakeholders involved in daily workflow processes to have their thoughts and recommendations voiced—ensuring that decision-making involving change is aligned and supported between leadership and employees.
Additionally, the IPSG is key to supporting the Mission and Vision of Driscoll Children’s Hospital: “Until all children are well.”
Our patients and their families are the reason we do what we do each day, so it's no surprise they are at the center of the IPSG model. Patient Relations works closely with our healthcare team and departments to proactively provide services to meet the needs of our patients and families.
Each clinical/ancillary area should have a UBPC. The UBPCs identify opportunities for improvement in practice in their respective units/departments that enhance excellence in patient care. The UBPC structure is the essential process for staff decision-making in operational and professional practice issues at the unit level.
Clinical Forums provide coordinated system-level decision-making and guidance when there are stakeholders from more than one clinical site. The UBPC Chairs make up the Clinical Forums. Active participation in a UBPC is required to serve on a Clinical Forum.
The Forums:
There are 12 Clinical Forums:
Safety and Quality encompasses disaster emergency preparedness, Regulations and Policies and Procedures. These committees provide guidance, oversee regulatory compliance and address patient safety issues.
There are five Specialty Councils that are composed of IPSG members who have interest, knowledge and passion related to a specialized area of the shared governance mode.
The Five Councils are:
Consists of representation from all IPSG committees, forums and councils. The Coordinating Council provides a forum for sharing policy changes, updates to clinical practice, current trends in regulatory standards and best practices among all IPSG councils.
Communicates information and coordinates activities among the nursing units and IPSG councils. Develops, disseminates and implements nursing strategic plan in conjunction with the Driscoll Health System strategic plan.
Consists of director and manager representatives from each area of the hospital who work together to monitor patient care and outcomes—and to foster a shared decision-making process within the organization.
