Well, first of all, it is astonishing they have 5 stars and I attribute that to the major possibility people have not experienced how wonderful PT can actually be outside of Coachella Valley. I had a second minimally invasive knee replacement (fantastic surgeon at Cedars Sinai in L.A. who does not remove the knee cap, doesn't cut the bones, etc.) last December. My first physical therapist for my first knee replacement was the Director of a fantastic PT center in Hermosa Beach. Not only are the facilities amazing (and half the size of this place), but state of the art equipment and therapists. So I had no idea how grim a place could be.
We were in the desert temporarily so thought Ian Halderman might be ok at Movement for Life in Indio. The first MAJOR red flag was when my daughter called and the manager told her that he asks to be called DR. HALDERMAN. ARE YOU KIDDING? He went to Saint Augustine's college (ranked #86 in Best Colleges SOUTH) with a whopping 72% of applicants accepted. Student body? About 927. We swallowed hard and made appointment. Upon arriving I was immediately dismayed with the facility. Apparently I was badly spoiled. It is too big, feels dirty, and they don't have any of the great options for post surgery recovery. No beds to lay on for treatment, very cheap basic equipment and none of the other available options like laser. I was shocked. My first appointment with him was uncomfortable at best and he came off as silly arrogant. In my opinion, the last thing a physical therapist should do is attempt to set themself above the patient and require they be called Dr.
My first therapist not only graduated from one of the top therapy universities in the US, but had years of training and on site work at Cedar Sinai Hospital alongisde my amazing, renowned orthopedic surgeon. He is the Director of the PT center, but insists on being called by his first name, is very warm and caring and a brilliant therapist. The second and final appointment with Ian finished us off. He was very aggressive with his treatments and it felt reckless. I am 69. I interjected a couple of times and he breezed on forcing my leg into awkward positions while I held my breath. I hobbled out and told my daughter how badly it had gone. By 6 p.m., my knee was HUGE. He had dislocated the knee cap and everything was terrifying.
By dawn, I was in tremendous pain, the knee was huge and there was a crazy literal ledge that stuck out along the side of the knee area. My surgeon asked that we send photos immediately, cancel all appointments and put it on ice. He did not even want me getting in the car. This was second week of December. I was to spend the next two weeks wrapping the knee (from the left to right to pull things back in line), icing, keep it raised, etc. It ruined Christmas for all of us and had to go back on pain meds. It also pushed off being able to get in the pool of the home we had rented. Others have said how they love the ice and "electrical stimulation." EMS at this location is simply sub par. They also don't have the full leg pneumatic compression devices, laser treatment, etc. I am uncertain if they have the hot water soaking devices so they can put either large warm wraps or ice cold wraps on your limbs as it wasn't offered & didn't see it. Few uncomfortable chairs for EMS.
Here is what everyone should know. FIrst of all, the PT locations that don't offer these wonderful services (proven to help patients) are likely not as they don't get as full an insurance payment as they want. By not investing in the equipment and not offering it, they don't run the risk of not profiting as much as they would like. My surgeon and PT in Hermosa told me to just do the icing, stretching they had taught me, etc. until I was back in town. I can not describe the relief of walking into their center again in January! He immediately got to work on the very unhappy knee with laser, icing, EMS, compression equipment, etc. and got it turned around quickly.
Had I not had that first expeirence with my first knee, I would not have realized how a terrific PT center actually can look and what they can offer the patient when they put aside the focus on profits and size. As well, every single person goes by their first name so the patient feels more relaxed, comfortable and part of almost the family there. It is VERY clean and despite being a small center, there are several nice beds/pillows to recline on for treatments, great state of the art equipment, large foam shapes for resting your knee on, etc. Lesson learned. I hope these places clearly shooting for maximum customers and biggest profits, instead put their focus on the recovery of the patient who is in pain, had surgery or whatever ails them. PLEASE drop the arrogance of being called Dr. You are not a doctor. All kinds of studies result in a doctorate. Most are not actually doctors.
The fact this is written in June is a reflection of the lasting impression Ian gave us. read more