Treating Patients the Way You Want Your Parents to Be Treated

Richard Brooks has been a VNSNY physical therapist for six years. Working in VNSNY Home Care’s Manhattan region, he treats mostly patients with orthopedic conditions such as rehabilitating their joints following hip or knee replacement surgery.

When first meeting a patient, Richard says he lets them know right away, “I’m here for you, 100 percent.” He explains the treatment plan to them in simple terms to build confidence, and asks questions that help him understand the patient’s mindset: Are they motivated to improve?  What are their goals?

“Sometimes the limit of the recovery is as much a mental as a physical thing,” Richard notes. “You need to delve into where the resistance is coming from.”

Richard knows that his patients are going through a painful, challenging time in their lives, and he strives to build a good relationship by making their interactions as pleasant as possible so they’ll look forward to their next visit with him, instead of dreading it. “It comes down to treating my patients the way I’d want my parents to be treated—with respect, honesty, clarity, humility and humor. I really do love my job; I look forward to going to work each day. I hope that shines through to my patients, and helps them feel better about the care they’re receiving.”