Earlier this year, we asked Rachel Binder and Sarah Hurst at Warwick Hospital about their QA Programme.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Hospital has been running their QA Programme for 4 years . The staff chatted about ultrasound QA in practise: the integration of QA into workflows, the impact on patient safety, and how it contributes to professional development for sonographers.
Managing QA Within Busy Environments:
We first asked how the department fits in the QA tasks. This is a common question from departments looking to start doing QA.
Both Rachel and Sarah agreed that the integration of QA into the day-to-day operations of ultrasound departments requires planning to avoid disrupting clinical services. But it has been achieved. Multiple staff have been trained in QA and a 15 slot is scheduled per machine per month (usually at the start of the day). By providing short, manageable time slots that are now routine, QA tasks can usually be completed with minimal impact on patient scanning time.
Ultrasound QA in Practise for the sonographer and their role
A more unexpected but positive outcome from implementing a QA programme was the variety it provided to sonographer’s day, helping to prevent burnout. Non-clinical responsibilities, like equipment checks, enhanced their professional development. Sarah emphasised the value of this diversification: “I think giving (staff) extra parts to their roles that aren’t always just the clinical aspect and… scanning, is really useful for building their autonomy and making them a rounded practitioner.” It was agreed that it helps them become more mindful of the equipment they use, making them more responsible practitioners overall.
“You are not just a sonographer…. there’s more to you than just scanning and reporting.”
QA involvement certainly fostered a sense of responsibility, helping sonographers become more aware of their equipment and its impact of patient safety.
Ensuring Patient Safety
QA directly impacts patient safety by ensuring ultrasound equipment is functioning properly, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis. As Rachel stated,
“If your image quality is substandard, then you wouldn’t be able to fulfil your responsibility in delivering the Query if this term is used in the quote.”
This makes QA essential for both clinical accuracy and patient safety.
It was agreed that once staff had been trained and were used to a QA Programme, it was easy to transfer it to other departments. The Multi-Medix process was easy to replicate. As Sarah mentioned, “If you’re moving trust to trust as sonographer, having a standardized QA programme would make your life a lot easier.”
It was hoped that QA trained sonographers will be spread good practice as they move to new roles with the same hospital or other Trusts, helping to further enhance patient safety.
Collaboration with ultrasound departments and Suppliers:
It was also noted that QA enabled more effective communication with suppliers. Sarah explained how QA reports aided communication with suppliers: “When you contact the supplier with an issue… they like to see the QA reports to understand the issue further” QA procedures include a record that supports any potential issues with equipment, making it easier to resolve problems quickly.
Financial Considerations:
It was agreed that QA offers a way to ensure that repairs can be made before costly replacements are necessary, saving money in the long term. “Though it has not happened yet, if we’ve caught something that can be repaired before it needs to be replaced, then that would save us money”.
Overall
There was a consensus that QA should be a standard part of every ultrasound department’s operation, both to improve service quality and meet legal requirements. It has been become routine in South Warwickshire NHS Trust. It has strong benefits for patient safety, sonographer development, and operational efficiency. The adoption of standardized QA processes is encouraged across all trusts, and it is viewed as an essential, legally required aspect of modern ultrasound practice. By expanding their roles to include QA, sonographers gain greater responsibility and become more skilled, making them more valuable to their departments and ensuring better outcomes for patients.
We thank Rachel and Sarah for their time.
If you would like to find out how Multi-Medix can help you set up a QA Programme contact us here or email [email protected]
