A patient in pain should never be treated the way I was treated at Ocean physical therapy.
Evelyn and the front desk personnel provided clear examples of how NOT to treat patients. EVER.
They don't appear to understand that the physical therapy profession has a fiduciary duty and ethical responsibility towards patients to always put the patient's welfare above theirs.
In looking at other reviews in Yelp, it appears I had the same experience at Ocean as Stella L., another patient.
I was told by Tracy at the front desk to call Evelyn and discuss my situation (a small misunderstanding with the insurance regarding coverage).
To be very clear, I told Tracy at least ten times that if the insurance didn't cover for a specific evaluation I would gladly pay out of pocket, WHICH I DID, however, since the insurance assured me that the service was covered, I called Evelyn to give her the reference number from the insurance, as advised by Tracy.
However although I DID EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TOLD by Tracy at Ocean front desk to do, ie call Evelyn, --- Evelyn started screaming at me when I called her, telling me that she didn't need anything from me (no forms, no reference number, no medical code). She also told me in a raised voice that "Tracy was wrong to tell" me this and that "what Tracy told" me "was incorrect". She basically told me several times in a very disrespectful manner to stop talking because she was "not interested" to hear anything I had to say.
My husband was there with me overhearing the conversation, and he was looking at me in disbelief since he could hear Evelyn scream at me for no reason.
Evelyn not only refused for 5 times in a row to listen to anything I had to say, and to get any information that Tracy told me to give her, but was also disrespectful and curt. Extremely unprofessional.
It is extremely unfair to set a patient up like this, and to get them caught in the middle of a disagreement between two Ocean staff members.
These guys really need to get their act together because this lack of communication between their staff members could be very damaging and upsetting to a patient in pain who goes to their facility hoping to get treatment and compassion, and instead gets unjustified scolding and screaming.
And to add insult to injury, when I tried to share what happened with the business owner, she took me to a dark room in the back where she scolded me for 10 minutes and although she was completely misinformed about my situation, stated that I was the one speaking badly to their administration staff, and when I requested proof, none was offered. When the business owner took me to the room in the back first she scolded me for having called Evelyn, although it was Tracy on her staff who told me to call Evelyn and gave me her phone number (!!!!)
Extremely unfair and unjustified treatment, especially since I was in excruciating pain due to my rotator cuff injury, and I had just completed a visit with my orthopedic surgeon who confirmed I had a tear.
The personnel in PT offices should be people who chose to work in physical therapy for the noble goal to help patients in pain and try to stop pain and suffering, and not just for making a good profit - which seems to be the case here.
Playing these kind of power games on patients in pain is certainly not a display of compassion. I am a medical professional myself and have not seen these behaviors before.
I am so sorry I picked this place, although they have good physical therapists who try to do good work for patients, dealing with the administrative staff and business owner can be extremely challenging, especially for a patient who is crying in pain and gets ZERO compassion when needing it most. Think twice before selecting this place for your physical therapy. read more