The gut reaction for many therapists who read that title is "Of course, I give high-quality care." For some, it may bring about uncomfortable questions or shame. Let me be clear, that is far from the intent of this article.

Physical therapy is a powerful method to help people live healthier and more fulfilled lives, and our profession is filled with people providing excellent care. With that said, I hope to foster frequent critical thinking around the question of knowing when you’re providing high-quality care.

Measuring quality of care can be challenging. Practices and insurance companies have attempted to quantify quality through specific measures including cancellation rates, online reviews, self-discharge rates, referrals, outcome measures, and satisfaction scores.

Unfortunately, these measures bring their share of issues. Some variables are outside of our control.