Patients, students benefit from pro-bono physical therapy clinic at Brenau

Program part of Good News Clinics

Brenau University Physical Therapy student Brad Leary examines the movement of arm joints on patient Edward Poelinitz during an assesment examination at the school's Downtown Center. The school has recently opened a pro-bono physical therapy clinic with students getting practical experience on actual patients.

0805clinic6 — Brenau University Physical Therapy student Brad Leary examines the movement of arm joints on patient Edward Poelinitz during an assesment examination at the school's Downtown Center. The school has recently opened a pro-bono physical therapy clinic with students getting practical experience on actual patients.

Seven months after starting a physical therapy clinic where money doesn’t change hands and no insurance is needed, Brenau University officials say the program has proven beneficial to both students working in the program and their patients. “There’s a mutual benefit that doesn’t happen in any other setting,” said Greg Patterson, a physical therapist and an adjunct instructor at Brenau. “If there’s no money exchanged, if you’re the recipient, you know I’m here because I just want to be here to help you. You really need my help and you have no other motive than ‘I just want to get better.’ There’s no other setting where you get that because money is sadly in the way.”