Research, training and clinical governance: a virtuous circle in the service of patient care

The establishment in 2026 of the Swiss Medical Network’s Medical and Care Steering Committee (CPMS), chaired by Professor Oscar Matzinger, marks an important step in strengthening the Swiss Medical Network’s clinical governance. By bringing together medical, nursing and managerial perspectives, this committee provides a unique forum for identifying needs on the ground, establishing common priorities and promoting greater consistency across the Group’s various clinics.

The CPMS will be able to play a decisive role in research and training. Its direct insight into the practices and challenges faced by teams will enable it to identify relevant research questions that are closely aligned with the needs of patients and healthcare professionals. It will also help to identify the skills that need to be developed, promote multi-centre and interdisciplinary projects, and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and best practice across the network.

Conversely, the inclusion within the CPMS of a department dedicated to Research and Training will enable scientific data, the evaluation of practices and skills development to be incorporated more systematically into the committee’s deliberations. Headed by Dr Jacques Bernier, Chief Science Officer of the Swiss Medical Network and the Genolier Innovation Hub, this department will be able to provide methodological expertise, connect teams with the Group’s academic structures and partners, and transform certain clinical or organisational challenges into structured, assessable and potentially innovative projects.

This interaction is set to create a genuine virtuous circle: the CPMS will bring Research and Training closer to the realities on the ground, whilst Research and Training will help the CPMS to base its strategic direction on the most robust evidence. Together, they will thus be able to support continuous improvement in the quality of care, strengthen interprofessional collaboration and contribute to the development of a shared medical and care culture within the Swiss Medical Network.