Somewhat OT: Is this professional behavior from a PT?

[bfit]

I've written here several times about the saga of my broken foot. Thanks everyone for your support and kind thoughts. I am seeing a different physical therapist now. I think he knows what he is talking about, but some of the things he does seem unprofessional to me. First, of all he looked my name up on the internet, figured out where I work, learned some things about my job and career, and then brought them up in our sessions. Second, once my husband came to pick me up while I was finishing using an exercise machine, and he and the PT stood a couple of feet away and talked about me like I wasn't even there. My husband later said they were just talking about how I was doing on the machine. Finally, the PT calls me "lady" all the time. He says things like "Good job, lady" or "Hey lady, how are you doing?" It feels disrespectful to me, like he's calling me "girl" except I'm too old for that so he says "lady". What does anyone else think?

[Gams]

The only one that would bother me is him looking you up on the internet. That’s just wrong - and weird.

[Gams]

The only one that would bother me is him looking you up on the internet. That’s just wrong - and weird.

The other two things you can speak up about and get them corrected if they make you uncomfortable.

[prettyinpink]

I agree with you, I wouldn’t be happy about any of those things. Shows a lack of professional boundaries IMO.

[imhere2dance]

He has no right to Google his clients. And it's even worse that he told you about it. Obviously he doesn't think or know his behavior is inappropiate. Maybe you could talk privately with his boss? You have a very valid reason to complain.

[Softshoe]

I've had a lot of physical therapy. I would get a hold of the supervisor and let them know about his interest in your personal life. No way is that okay. In the healthcare field they are interested in finding out about "Bad Apple" as they call it. People in the healthcare field that do inappropriate behaviors do not belong there.

Bfit, let us know how you are doing. Hope you feel better soon.

[moonbeam31]

Weird! If he does says anything that makes you uncomfortable, which he has, get a new PT! You need to be 100% comfortable while you are getting re-hab!

[Erica H.]

That seems really creepy that he did the search on you and didn't even try to hide it! I would be very uncomfortable.

Erica

[DCW]

Yes. It's unprofessional.

Switch to another PT and if you want write your concerns to the company management.

Reason for changing its weird that my PT looked me up on the Internet and told me about it. Is that the policy of this company for all staff to look into the background of it's patients?

[FirmDancer]

I have a slightly different opinion. How old is your PT? I'm a Baby Boomer. I'm thinking if your PT is younger, then maybe he's used to learning about people by searching on them. I think he may have been proactive; doing some "homework" in advance so he can determine the best way to treat you. PT therapy sessions can be so rushed, that there's not enough time to sufficiently discuss lifestyle. I took it as being proactive.

On the other hand, I was def uncomfortable about using "lady". And I don't think discussing your treatment with your husband was appropriate, unless you had signed some sort of HIPAA waiver allowing your PT to discuss your situation with another person.

To me, he sounds a bit rude and needs his supervisor to coach him in business etiquette.

-Anita