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A National Quality Improvement Program on Ultrasound Department in China: A Controlled Cohort Study of 1297 Public Hospitals

Author

Listed:
  • Xixi Tao

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.)

  • Jianchu Li

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.)

  • Yang Gu

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Li Ma

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Wen Xu

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Ruojiao Wang

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Luying Gao

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Rui Zhang

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Hongyan Wang

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

  • Yuxin Jiang

    (Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
    National Ultrasound Quality Control Center, Beijing 100730, China)

Abstract

Providing high-quality medical services is of great importance in the imaging department, as there is a growing focus on personal health, and high-quality services can lead to improved patient outcomes. Many quality improvement (QI) programs with good guidance and fine measurement for improvement have been reported to be effective. In order to improve the quality of ultrasound departments in China, we conducted this study of a national quality improvement program. A total of 1297 public hospitals were included in this QI program on ultrasound departments in China from 2017 to 2019. The effect of this QI program was investigated, and potential factors, including hospital level and local economic development, were considered. The outcome indicators, the positive rate and diagnostic accuracy, were improved significantly between the two phases (positive rate, 2017 vs. 2019: 66.21% vs. 73.91%, p < 0.001; diagnostic accuracy, 2017 vs. 2019: 85.37% vs. 89.74%; p < 0.001). Additionally, they were improved in secondary and tertiary hospitals, with the improvement in secondary hospitals being greater. Notably, the enhancement of diagnostic accuracy in low-GDP provinces was almost 20%, which was more significant than the enhancement in high-GDP provinces. However, the important structural indicator, the doctor-to-patient ratio, decreased from 1.05:10,000 to 0.96:10,000 ( p = 0.026). This study suggests that the national ultrasound QI program improved the outcome indicators, with secondary-level hospitals improving more than tertiary hospitals and low-GDP provinces improving more than high-GDP regions. Additionally, as there is a growing need for ultrasound examinations, more ultrasound doctors are needed in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xixi Tao & Jianchu Li & Yang Gu & Li Ma & Wen Xu & Ruojiao Wang & Luying Gao & Rui Zhang & Hongyan Wang & Yuxin Jiang, 2022. "A National Quality Improvement Program on Ultrasound Department in China: A Controlled Cohort Study of 1297 Public Hospitals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:397-:d:1015960
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liping Fu & Kaibo Xu & Feng Liu & Lu Liang & Zhengmin Wang, 2021. "Regional Disparity and Patients Mobility: Benefits and Spillover Effects of the Spatial Network Structure of the Health Services in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Zhou, Zhongliang & Zhao, Yaxin & Shen, Chi & Lai, Sha & Nawaz, Rashed & Gao, Jianmin, 2021. "Evaluating the effect of hierarchical medical system on health seeking behavior: A difference-in-differences analysis in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
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