Evidence-based framework for organisational best practice recommendations in healthcare governance

Clinical governance requires the integration of evidence not only on clinical interventions but also on organisational processes that shape health services delivery and directly influence quality, efficiency, and patient safety. Despite the widespread availability of evidence-based clinical guidelines, healthcare systems often lack standardised methods to translate evidence into effective organisational models. To address this gap, the Italian National Centre for Clinical Governance (CNCG) at the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) developed a structured methodological framework for Organisational Clinical Best Practice Recommendations (O-BPCA), aimed at strengthening evidence-based governance and organisational performance within healthcare services. The O-BPCA framework was developed through a structured, multi-step process encompassing governance principles, methodological standards, and operational phases, culminating in institutional validation through external review, public consultation, and formal approval by the ISS. The methodological manual defines transparent procedures for evidence synthesis, consensus building, and the formulation of measurable organisational recommendations applicable across health service settings. The framework has been operationalised within the CNCG through the identification of two priority macro-areas for organisational innovation, surgical and territorial care, and the establishment of dedicated Thematic Operational Groups (GOTs) responsible for developing and validating O-BPCA recommendations in selected priority domains. Early implementation has highlighted the framework's feasibility, scalability, and potential to support coordinated organisational improvement within the Italian National Health Service. The O-BPCA framework represents an innovative policy and methodological tool for healthcare governance, bridging clinical evidence and organisational implementation within health services. By promoting standardisation, transparency, and accountability in organisational decision-making, the framework supports sustainable improvements in service delivery and performance. Its structured and replicable approach makes it transferable beyond the Italian National Health Service and adaptable to other health systems seeking to strengthen evidence-based organisational governance.