The goal of our Professional Governance structure and processes at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is to include staff-based clinical decision making and shared leadership to ensure high-quality and safe patient care.

The work of Professional Governance is completed by:

• Councils: formal gathering of selected experts
• Committees: council appointed group to whom an issue is assigned
• Work Groups: sub-division of a committee organized for a specific purpose
• Champions: a team of unit-based individuals working toward a clinical improvement goal

Our Professional Governance Model is depicted by six connected circles displaying councils at both the unit and department level. These councils are: Steering Council, Supporting Practice and Management (SPM) Council, Quality Practice and Patient Safety (QPPS) Council, Advancing Practice and Education (APE) Council, Informatics Council and Ambulatory Council.

Quality and safety, nursing research and evidence-based practice are incorporated in the work of every council. The ICARE are represented in the inner blue ring. Magnet components are displayed on the outer ring. At the department level, these councils are led by chairs, elected to two-year terms by their peers. 

Focus and scope of Professional Governance councils

Steering Committee: Nurse sensitive indicators, SG structure and operations, communication, coordination of council work

Supporting Practice and Management Council: Staffing, retention, recognition, financial stewardship, workflow management, patient and family satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, and philanthropy

Quality Practice and Patient Safety: Presentation and discussion of clinical practice and related information, evidence-based quality improvements and safety initiatives in an effort to strengthen and improve the quality and safety of patient care

Advancing Practice and Education: Competencies, skills, education, CEU‘s, patient-family education, professional development and certification

Informatics Council: Technology implementations, workflow change education, education of standards, policies, procedures and new products, collaboration with Digital & Technology Services (DTS) and leadership

Ambulatory Council: Practice and operational decisions impacting the ambulatory practice environment including policies, procedures, quality and process improvement work, data analysis, education, professional development and compliance with state, federal and regulatory standards

To contact a Professional Governance Department Chair, please email SG_OpenForum@email.chop.edu.