To reveal the dynamic changing trends and characteristics of key ultrasound medical quality control indicators in Sichuan Province from 2020 to 2022.

Based on the Sichuan Provincial Medical Quality Control Data Reporting Platform, we collected and analyzed data on ultrasound quality management control indicators in 21 cities or prefectures in Sichuan Province from 2020 to 2022. The basic situation of ultrasonographers in Sichuan Province as well as the structure, process, and outcome quality analysis indicators was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or non-parametric tests.

From 2020 to 2022, the average monthly workload of ultrasound physicians and the accuracy rate of ultrasound diagnosis in tertiary specialized hospitals in all cities and prefectures increased year by year, and the doctor-patient ratio in ultrasound departments decreased year by year, with the differences being statistically significant [1.75±0.93 vs 1.59±0.55 vs 1.49±0.56, F=4.11, P=0.020; 770.42±258.30 vs 965.73±323.52 vs 974.75±335.51, F=3.74, P=0.040; (0.79±0.20)% vs (0.95±0.04)% vs (0.96±0.03)%, F=7.39, P<0.001]; in contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in the above indicators in tertiary general hospitals, secondary general hospitals, and secondary specialized hospitals (P>0.05). The completion rate of ultrasound examinations within 48 hours of admission in tertiary general hospitals of all cities and prefectures increased significantly [1.00(0.98, 1.00)% vs 1.00(0.99, 1.00)% vs 1.00(0.97, 1.00)%, H=6.73, P=0.035], but there was no statistically significant difference in tertiary specialized hospitals, secondary general hospitals, and secondary specialized hospitals (P>0.05). When comparing 13 ultrasound quality control indicators in hospitals from 21 cities and prefectures in Sichuan Province in 2020, there were statistically significant differences in four ultrasound quality control indicators: doctor-patient ratio, average monthly workload of ultrasound physicians, positive rate of outpatient and emergency ultrasound reports, and ultrasound diagnostic coincidence rate (P<0.05 for all). In 2021, there were statistically significant differences in three ultrasound quality control indicators: doctor-patient ratio, positive rate of outpatient and emergency ultrasound reports, and ultrasound diagnostic accuracy (P<0.05 for all). However, in 2022, only one ultrasound quality control indicator, ultrasound diagnostic coincidence rate, had a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).

In recent years, the quality control indicators of ultrasound medicine in different cities and prefectures in Sichuan Province have been converging, and the key indicators have been continuously upgraded and improved.