Competence and Complacency

Abstract

To the Editor: The title of the article by Jensen et al in the January issue, “Expert Practice in Physical Therapy,” immediately attracted my attention. Perhaps somewhat naively, I hoped for ideas or information that might help me improve as a therapist. I was disappointed. However, I was inspired/provoked to write my first Letter to the Editor. With all due respect, it is not especially insightful or practically helpful to conclude that multidimensional knowledge, clinical reasoning ability, focus on movement, and caring and commitment constitute key dimensions of expert practice in physical therapy. I do not disagree with the authors' conclusions, and I commend them for a thorough, methodical, reasonable approach to achieve their stated purpose. I do have 3 comments related to issues brought up in the article and commentaries. First, I consider that peer designation is an incomplete, and possibly misleading, way to identify experts. For clinicians, experts may be individuals who likely have a kind of personal charisma, a reputation, and popular appeal—but no significantly different levels of knowledge, reasoning ability, focus on movement, or caring and commitment from other less popular or less charismatic individuals. …