I a resident of Houston, Texas. I would like to bring this issue to the attention of the Company…read moremanagement to ensure they are aware of the behavior exhibited by their staff and to highlight the significance of upholding quality standards and proper licensing. This pertains to an unfortunate encounter with a staff member on Thursday, September 20, 2024, specifically with a therapist named "Alek or Alexis." It is important to note that the front desk staff were present during my visit and were aware of the comments made. Upon my return to address the situation, one of the staff members promptly defended him.
The individual receiving treatment is my mother, who was referred for physical therapy by her physician. Initially, we had the pleasure of working with a therapist named "Victoria", who was outstanding--professional, empathetic, and highly skilled. She inspired hope in us, and we eagerly anticipated our sessions. Regrettably, she has since departed.
Subsequently, we began sessions with Alek, who, from the very beginning, made several discouraging comments, including:
1. Questioning our presence in therapy.
2. Indicating that my mother's evaluation suggested she was unlikely to improve, thereby questioning our reasons for attending.
3. Stating that this is not a gym for entertainment, implying that if we wanted that, we could go to a gym, and making remarks about individuals attempting to exploit the system for no valid reason. I was taken aback by his rudeness, as it felt as though he was accusing us of dishonesty and trying to take advantage of the system. I was shocked that he spent the entire hour of our first interaction merely reiterating why we were there. It felt as though he was suggesting we should leave. Engaging with him became increasingly intimidating, as he made me feel like a liar and that we had no right to be there. The reality is that he seemed disinterested in working with my mother, preferring instead to handle only straightforward cases where he could simply direct patients without much effort.
4. He indicated that if we did not attend sessions at least twice a week, we would face removal from the program, a statement the front desk staff later clarified as inaccurate.
5. In the second session, he made an inappropriate remark regarding my mother taking an extended time in the restroom, plus he mentioned that she likes to talk suggesting that she was doing that to avoid exercising. I would like to respond to that by saying that if he truly possessed the experience he claimed, he should know how to gently and respectfully redirect her conversation to encourage her to continue exercising as she is a senior person.
6. He stated that he found it challenging to work with her due to her slower pace compared to other seniors, plus safety issue, suggesting he was overwhelmed with patients and needed to focus on those who could keep up.
It seemed as though we were being encouraged to leave the office because of his reluctance to assist my mother, as he provided various justifications related to our attendance. I shared my work obligations and emphasized that I am her primary caregiver. After discussing with the front desk staff, I discovered that the assertions regarding removal from the program for missed sessions were baseless. We eventually scheduled appointment requesting another therapist who have experience and knowledge, not bothered by patient and select what he/she want. I never see such a thing, I even asked about such behavior, no one agreed. My advice if you want to work in a field in the medical industry you need to be patient and passionate, it is not all about money.
It is important to address the front desk staff regarding the situation with Alex as they seemed to be defending him. It appears that rather than offering assistance, he was more focused on expelling us from the premises. We expect to be treated with respect as clients, especially in a business context. We are not here to deceive or seek entertainment; this experience has been quite disheartening and has left us in disbelief. It is truly unfortunate and disappointing.
