To assess the value of PDCA cycle in continuous improvement of ultrasonic critical value management system.

The data of inspection, registration, follow-up, and quality control of ultrasonic critical value before (November 2020 to October 2021) and after (November 2021 to April 2022) the implementation of PDCA cycle were collected from the Department of Ultrasound of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, and the differences in relevant indicators of ultrasonic critical value before and after the implementation of PDCA cycle were compared by the χ² test.

The number of ultrasound emergency cases before the implementation of PDCA cycle was 41, and it was 21 after the implementation of PDCA cycle. Before and after PDCA cycle implementation, the notification rate of ultrasonic critical value was both 100%; the accuracy rate of ultrasonic critical value reports, the timely rate of ultrasonic critical value reports, and the timely follow-up rate of ultrasonic critical value increased from 63.41% (26/41), 30.77% (8/26), and 19.23% (5/26) to 90.48% (19/21), 89.47% (17/19), and 57.89% (11/19) respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (χ²=5.110, 15.322 and 7.162, P=0.024, ＜0.001, =0.007); the qualified rate of ultrasonic critical value reports, diagnostic coincidence rate of ultrasonic critical value, and timely registration rate of paper version of ultrasonic critical value were also improved to varying degrees, but the differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05 for all).

PDCA cycle helps to continuously improve the management system of critical value in ultrasound department as well as the quality and efficiency of critical value report.