Are Physical Therapist and Assistants Artists?

This week we had a University friend visit, who commented how the value of art and science is observable and "felt" from her first visit to a PTW clinic.

Walking in to any of our clinics, you see a welcome sign to the customers, celebrating their first visit.

Glance left, you see a copper ship's bell, customers pull to celebrate achievements.

Looking up, you see a painted highway of hundreds of pictures (the PTW Road to Recovery) showing any past customer crazy enough to let us take their picture, celebrating their completion of care.

Around here, we debate if the value we deliver is in the art or the science.

If the value is in the Art, then through definition, the value may not be the road or bell, but rather the emotional happiness felt by our customers.

If the value is demonstrated in the science, then through definition of science success may be in the more measurable things, like the enthusiastic hop in a first step without a cane.

Either way, for a successful PT visit, episode, or outcome, one cannot exists without the other.

Our customers don't care how much we know, but they feel how much we care.


Robert Babb, PT, MBA

An IvyRehab company, PTW is staffed with Physical Therapists who have earned the Direct Access Privileges (no prescription needed).  The Physical Therapy and Wellness Institute has 12 locations open early and staying late;   Lansdale, Quakertown, Montgomeryville, West Norriton, Glenside, Harleysville, Souderton, Hatfield, Horsham, Collegeville, Royersford, Newtown Square, PA.  

Since 2002, PTW has helped over 45,000 people achieve higher levels of function.