Terms of reference for the National Information Clinical Leadership Group
1. Accountability
The National Information Clinical Leadership Group is accountable to the National Health IT Board. The National Health IT Board is accountable and reports to the National Health Board. Please note that in June 2010 the Clinical Leadership Group changed its name to the National Information Clinical Leadership Group.
2. Purpose
- lead, support, identify, and endorse quality clinical processes and content standards for information systems at a national level.
- provide clinical advice and champion the development and implementation of the National Health IT Plan.
- ensure strong linkages to clinical processes and models of care to support the development of information solutions.
- identify clinical, behavioural and organisational impediments to the implementation of clinical solutions.
- agree the measures for success for each programme of work.
- share knowledge and insights with other members of the group to ensure that the clinical standards proposed reflect current good practice.
- where known, represent the views of their profession, colleagues, service and region.
- influence and communicate with other health professionals and stakeholders to help secure broad clinical ownership and support.
- to influence health professionals and other stakeholders in providing and securing clinical ownership for the clinical process and information standards across the health sector.
3. General principles
Membership will comprise both nominated members and appointed members to ensure that professional disciplines, geographical coverage and the continuum of representatives are included.
The clinical process and information standards are intended for the whole health sector.
4. Key tasks
- to identify/endorse standards to improve the quality of clinical processes that are to be supported by IT solutions.
- monitor and evaluate the piloting of clinical standards and evidence base changes required.
- to provide expert clinical advice in the development of the patient centred electronic health record.
- ensure linkages to other clinical activities within the National Health Board's committees.
- to identify high risk clinical processes and raise these with the appropriate National Health Board committee.
- to identify the clinical functionality criteria for requests for proposals and for proposals for software.
5. Composition of the National Information Clinical Leadership Group
There are two types of membership which will be multidisciplinary from across the health sector.
Membership of the work group will be for an initial two years with the option of reappointment for a further period to maintain consistency.
Core membership:
- representative of an established professional body/group
- representative of a clinical area/specialty field as recommended by the wider group (not included in the above)
Additional membership:
- expert co-opted at the recommendation of the wider group
- interested clinician
- invited guest
6. National Information Clinical Leadership Group Chair
- the Chair will be a core member appointed by the Chair of the National Health IT Board.
- the deputy Chair will be appointed by the National Information Clinical Leadership Group Chair after a nomination process by Core members.
7. National Information Clinical Leadership Group Executive
The National Information Clinical Leadership Group Executive will support the National Information Clinical Leadership Group to undertake its key tasks.
- National Health IT Board Chair
- National Information Clinical Leadership Group Chair
- National Information Clinical Leadership Group Deputy Chair
- Facilitator /secretariat
8. Responsibilities of members
- there is an expectation that Core group members will make an effort to attend all relevant meetings and allocate sufficient time to any pre-reading and feeding back process.
- in their absence, Core members may deputise a member from their professional body/group.
- if a Core member is absent from three consecutive meetings a replacement will be sought from the appropriate professional body/group.
- if a non Core member is absent from three consecutive meetings they need to contact the Chair and gain approval before re-engaging in the meetings.
- group members have a duty to declare any conflict of interest that may prevent them from impartially and fairly carrying out their group duties.
9. Meetings
Meetings will be scheduled as required with dates preferable for Core members.
10. Agenda
The agenda, minutes and any reports will be sent electronically to the committee a minimum of 5 working days prior to the meeting. The minutes from the previous meeting will be approved at the beginning of each meeting. Any action points from previous meetings will be reported on by the responsible person(s).
11. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of 50% of the Core membership.
12. Spokesperson
The Chair of the National Information Clinical Leadership Group or their nominated deputy will be the spokesperson.
13. Attendance fees
The District Health Board will fund time for DHB employed members, and the National Health IT Board will fund travel for DHB core members. The National Health IT Board will fund travel and appropriate costs for core members not employed by DHBs.
Travel expenses will be paid for 'experts' for the duration that they are co-opted onto the group.
14. Reporting
The National Health IT Board will require regular quarterly reports from the National Information Clinical Leadership Group Chair.
It is expected that all National Information Clinical Leadership Group members will report back to their various stakeholder groups and organisations on progress.
15. Support
The National Health IT Board will endeavour to support Core members' professional development in topics relevant to National Health IT Plan:
- funding available for four members per annum to undertake postgraduate study.
- support to complete research reports, evaluating the benefits and impacts of change in practice as a result of the Clinical Leadership Group outputs (e.g. standardised discharges).
Applications will be submitted to the National Information Clinical Leadership Group Chair for consideration.
