The value of monitoring variation in clinical practice is now reflected in the NSQHS Standards. Action 1.28 (variation in clinical practice) of the Clinical Governance Standard requires health service organisations to have systems that use data to monitor variation in clinical practice and identify potentially unwarranted variation. Clinicians working in health service organisations must also regularly review and, where required, take action to improve the appropriateness of care. The User Guide for the Review of Clinical Variation in Health Care was completed in June 2020 and will be published on the Commission’s website.

The user guide explains how health service organisations can implement Action 1.28 of the Clinical Governance Standard. Practical steps and case studies assist clinicians and managers to select clinical priority areas for analysing data, investigate the causes of any variation and take action to improve appropriateness of care within their organisations.