Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Governance on Medical Service Quality: A Comparative Study in Egyptian Hospitals

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Governance on Medical Service Quality: A Comparative Study in Egyptian HospitalsBackground: Clinical governance (CG) is a framework through which healthcare organizations ensure continuous quality improvement and maintain high standards of care. In October 2022, the Healthcare Authority in Egypt began implementing CG to enhance medical service quality.Objective: To assess the impact of CG implementation on hospital performance in Port Said Governorate.Methods: A comparative study was conducted across nine hospitals with 31 operating rooms, 267 inpatient beds, and 83 ICU beds. Fifteen key performance indicators (KPIs) were evaluated over two periods: pre-implementation (January–September 2022) and post-implementation (October 2022–June 2023). Data were analyzed using SPSS v20, with t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test applied; significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: Post-CG implementation, significant improvements were noted in laboratory tests performed (p = 0.004), occupancy rate (p = 0.004), and average length of stay (p = 0.008). However, significant increases occurred in hospital-acquired pneumonia (p = 0.050), readmission within 30 days (p = 0.006), and emergency readmission within 72 hours (p = 0.031). No significant differences were found in surgical site infections, surgical procedures, deferred surgeries, patient satisfaction, or healthcare personnel satisfaction.Conclusion: CG implementation improved resource utilization and selected performance measures. However, rises in certain adverse outcomes highlight the need for targeted quality improvement, continuous monitoring, and enhanced staff training to achieve balanced gains in efficiency and patient safety.Keywords: Clinical governance, quality improvement, hospital performance, key performance indicators, Egypt