Sonographer quality management.

Background: The echocardiogram is the second most used diagnostic tool for cardiovascular patient care. Qualified sonographers are needed to consistently produce high-quality echocardiograms to provide high-quality patient care.

Methods: Our department uses the three major management tools to assure sonographers are qualified. (1) ASE guidelines and standards. (2) Sonographer registry system and (3) quality improvement (QI) program with the accreditation of Echo Lab. QI measures are done quarterly assessing the appropriate use criteria for echocardiography, interpreter and sonographer variability, timeliness and completeness and correlations. The variabilities are assessed along ASE guidelines and standards.

Results: QI measures are mainly done by Medical Director and Technical Director. Medical Director and Technical Director discuss with individual interpreter and sonographer after QI measures are done each quarter as the feedback. Through the feedback improving the individual sonographer skills and understanding of Echo result. Our Echo Lab is accredited by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). Accredited Echo Labs have to follow the IAC standards for echocardiography which includes those QI measures. Every sonographer in our lab is registered and complied for CME requirement to update their knowledge and skills. Twice a year QI meeting will be held and discuss about those QI measures and make consensus as Echo Lab.

Conclusions: Registered sonographer with systematic quality checking system of their work will be achieved improving the high-quality echocardiogram and leading to the high-quality patient care.