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Table 2 Assessment of success and sustainability

From: Development, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based program for introduction of new health technologies and clinical practices in a local healthcare setting

Success

Met a

 A proposal is more likely to be successful if it meets the following criteria

Based on sound evidence or expert consensus

✓

 ▪ There is no clear evidence or recognised experts in the area of organisational decision-making for introduction of new TCPs

 ▪ However there is general consensus between the guidance documents and the local needs analysis, and no area of disagreement

 

Presented by credible organisation

✓DM, ?App

 ▪ National and state governments and a national professional body are seen as credible in this context by the decision-makers

 

 ▪ It is not known if all applicants will consider them credible as clinicians often see bureaucracy as intrusive and unnecessary

Able to be tested and adapted

✓✓

 ▪ A formal pilot will be implemented and evaluated during the state health department funding round for new TCPs

 ▪ The whole program will be implemented in ‘pilot mode’, ongoing feedback will be sought and encouraged for the first 2 years

 

 ▪ The project team will adapt the systems, processes and resources based on the stakeholder feedback

Relative advantage is evident

✓✓DM, ?App

 ▪ The decision-makers value the benefits in improvements to transparency, accountability and use of evidence

 

 ▪ It is not known if all applicants will consider the changes to be an advantage over the previous system

 

Low complexity

╳

 ▪ The process for introduction of new TCPs is complex and requires time, skills and expertise from the applicants

 ▪ The project team have made the application form as user-friendly as possible but it is still detailed and complicated

Compatible with status quo

✓

 ▪ There are significant changes for both decision-makers and applicants

 ▪ However the changes make the new process very similar to Human Research and Ethics Committee applications

Attractive and accessible format

╳, ✓

 ▪ The application form has been made as user-friendly as possible but is unlikely to be considered attractive

 

 ▪ Accessibility has been improved by creating a website as a single point of access for all information, documents and resources

 

Sustainability

 

 A proposal is more likely to be sustainable if it has appropriate and adequate provision in each category

Structure

✓✓

 ▪ The Technology/Clinical Practice Committee (TCPC) is an appropriate body to manage this process

 ▪ Reporting to the Executive Management Team demonstrates that the process has a high priority within the organisation

 ▪ The roles of Chair, Executive Officer and Administrative Officer address all aspects of managing the process

 ▪ There is appropriate representation on the TCPC

Skills

✓✓

 ▪ Members of the TCPC have skills in clinical practice, management, health service operations and finance, ethical and legal issues and evidence-based decision-making

 ▪ The Executive Officer and Administrative Officer have skills in managing and administering complex processes

 ▪ Staff with skills in finding, appraising and synthesising evidence; coding; analysing health service data; credentialing; business and finance; and infrastructure and equipment needs are available to assist applicants

 

Resources

✓✓

 ▪ Website holds all information centrally

 ▪ Expertise is provided as noted above

 ▪ Online guidance to completing the evidence components of the application is provided

 ▪ Templates are provided to assist applicants and to ensure processes and documents are consistent and of high quality

 ▪ Adequate funding has been provided for the TCPC Secretariat to manage all seven components of the TCP Program

Commitment

✓✓

 ▪ The health service has demonstrated commitment by making this process an organisational priority

 ▪ The Executive Director of Medical Services and Quality and Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery are both on the TCPC

 ▪ All Program/Division Medical Directors, Executive Director of Nursing and General Manager of Allied Health are supportive

Leadership

✓✓

 ▪ Members of the previous committee demonstrated leadership in striving to improve the process

 ▪ The TCPC is seeking to be a leader in introduction of TCPs by establishing a transparent, accountable, evidence-based process

 ▪ The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness is a leader in enabling evidence-based decision-making

  1. DM Decision-makers, App Applicants
  2. a ✓✓ = Criterion met completely, ✓ = Criterion met partially, ╳ = Criterion not met, ? = Not known