English
Since the early 2000s, French public institutions have implemented quality assessment instruments in healthcare facilities. This article aims to analyze a discreet quantification project through the sociotechnical deconstruction of “quality indicators.” Assessing the less controversial dimensions of quality, shaped by a plurality of knowledge and ambiguously used, quality indicators are gentle enough not to overwhelm health professionals. They are nevertheless powerful enough to instill discipline and auditability. In the name of quality, this government technology is thus equipped for gently transforming hospitals.