ATI Physical Therapy

"To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report serious concerns regarding the conduct and professionalism of the Physical Therapy Head Coordinator, Alyssa. Over the past several weeks, during multiple therapy sessions, I have consistently observed behavior that I believe is inappropriate, unprofessional, and potentially unsafe for patients. In addition to witnessing this treatment toward others, I have personally experienced it myself. There have been times when I expressed extreme discomfort and clearly stated that I was physically unable to continue a particular exercise because it was increasing my injury-related pain. Despite this, Alyssa responded by telling me that I needed to continue. I felt pressured to push beyond what I knew was safe for my body. As a patient recovering from injury, it is concerning to feel that my pain and physical limitations are being dismissed rather than assessed appropriately. On numerous occasions, I have also witnessed other clients VERBALLY expressing PAIN and discomfort, yet she continued to pressure them to push further. Patients were visibly in distress, and in some cases, audibly reacting in pain AS SHE CONTINUED TO DO HER STRETCHES AND EXERCISES ON THEM. This approach appears excessive and dismissive of patient safety and comfort. Additionally, her communication style toward both patients and staff is frequently negative, pushy, and disrespectful. She often speaks to employees in a demeaning manner and has publicly compared her credentials, expertise, and pay rate to those of her "aides" in a way that is unprofessional and inappropriate in a clinical setting. All staff members, regardless of position, deserve to be treated with respect regardless. The therapy room typically includes 5-8 clients at a time, and her tone and behavior are noticeable to everyone present. On several occasions, other patients have openly commented on her approach and expressed concern about her attitude. The atmosphere often feels tense and uncomfortable due to her demeanor. As someone who has attended therapy consistently over the past few weeks, I feel it is important to bring this to you attention. A physical therapy environment should feel safe, supportive, and encouraging -- not intimidating or dismissive of patient pain and boundaries. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed and addressed appropriately to ensure patient safety, staff morale, and professional standards are upheld. I would appreciate confirmation that this complaint has been received and information regarding any steps that will be taken to address these concerns. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter."

"The therapists are a good bunch of people. They were very professional and I looked forward to my appts. And I feel much better than when I started. Highy recommend."

"I started my treatment with one therapist that I wasn't confident about. I ve been work with Malcom and I can honestly say I feel like I am in good hands. I had visit 6 today and there has been obvious improvements. I love the atmosphere. The staff is professional, skilled and easy to work with."

"This is one great place to have therapy. The p/t's are really nice. You can feel free to engage in the open conversations about didderent experiences during your work outs and share ideas. If you are looking or need a place, this is it. This is my third stop there. Come and enjoy the pain. Holla"

"First time patient, second in person, third time so far having the pleasure of receiving SUCH great care AND a well deserved workout wonderful therapy team I've had the pleasure of working out with so far....DEFINITELY looking forward to getting back to myself, appreciation for the challenges "

"Really great experience! I have lower back problems and the staff helped me manage my pain 100%. Very fun environment, you meet all types of people and they keep it very clean during covid times."

"I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with my experience at ATI Physical Therapy at Catonsville, MD. I chose this place since I live very close by and I was optimistic at the beginning but after the second session my optimism start fading fastly. I attended therapy there for nearly four weeks, and each session was worse than the last. The lack of individualized attention was appalling. Every time I showed up, I was constantly shuffled between different therapies during the same appointment, and there was no consistency in the treatment I was receiving. After completing one exercise, I often had to wait around for the therapist or another staff member to tell me what to do next, which was a huge waste of my time. To make matters worse, each time I came for my appointments, the therapists were often busy on their laptops and hardly paid any attention to the patients. It felt like they were more focused on paperwork or other tasks than actually helping with our therapy. The therapist who was supposed to be working with me seemed to be spread far too thin, often managing 3-4 patients at the same time. In most cases, she would give me quick, unclear instructions and then move on to help someone else. At times, I was told to have another therapist work with me instead of her, which was incredibly frustrating. I even voiced my concerns, asking for one-on-one treatment, but the situation didn't change. Despite paying $30 per session (which added up to over $240 in copays), I felt like I wasn't receiving proper care or attention. Not only did I not see any improvement, but my condition actually worsened. There was no adequate supervision, no personalized evaluation, and overall, it felt like the therapists were just going through the motions without any real focus on my physical recovery. I would not recommend ATI Physical Therapy to anyone. It feels like a business focused more on maximizing profit than providing quality care. Save your time and money--this place is a rip-off. It's hands down one of the worst therapy experiences I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere."

"2nd week of 8, absolutely pleased with the experience. Everyone is attentive to the needs of getting me back to 100%!"