National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

For which of the following categories is a utilization and peer review typically used?

1. Performance evaluation

2. Financial audit

3. Policy and procedure

4. Quality improvement

The correct answer is: Quality improvement

Utilization and peer review are essential components of quality improvement processes within healthcare settings. This approach involves assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of care provided, which directly aligns with the objectives of quality improvement. The purpose of quality improvement is to enhance patient outcomes and streamline services, and utilization review helps ensure that resources are being used efficiently and that care meets established standards. In the context of quality improvement, peer review involves healthcare professionals reviewing each other’s work, which fosters accountability and identifies areas for enhancement of practice. By focusing on the quality of care provided, this process enables organizations to implement changes that lead to better health outcomes and more effective treatment protocols. Other categories, such as performance evaluation, financial audit, and policy and procedure development, may involve reviews or assessments, but they do not specifically target patient care quality in the same systematic way that utilization and peer review do in relation to quality improvement efforts.