Twenty years ago, when Dr. Kenneth Redcross started practicing medicine, he was disappointed that he was not able to spend more time with his patients. Being a “people person,” Redcross said that his entire reason for becoming a doctor was to connect with patients on a level that enabled him to build trust.
“When I was practicing traditional internal medicine, the panel was about 3,500 to 4,000 patients for one doctor to take care of,’’ said Redcross. “In some of the corporations, they wanted the doctor to see 20 to 30 people a day, that’s about seven and a half minutes a patient. My goal is to get into the soul of the patient. And how can you do that in seven and a half minutes?”
As the new medical director for the High Point Center for Care, Broadview at Purchase College’s newly opened assisted living center, Redcross hopes to get into the “soul” of each and every patient.
The university retirement community in Purchase, New York, renowned for championing intergenerational and lifelong learning, hopes to offer residents a safe, comfortable environment at High Point that allows them to enjoy social connection and continued personal growth.
“Dr Redcross is the perfect fit for Broadview,’’ said Ashley Wade, executive director at Broadview at Purchase College. “He is a deeply empathetic person who brings a holistic approach to medicine that encompasses the entire person. We are very fortunate to have him.’’
Redcross is a board-certified internal medicine physician. He completed his medical training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and went on to practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. He created a concierge practice in 2007. Among his patients was actress Phylicia Rashad, who wrote the foreword of his book, “The Bond,” which advises physicians on how to cultivate a successful patient/doctor relationship. He said that he became interested in treating older adults after helping care for his in-laws, who were in their 90s, and realized the effect this had on the entire family.
“I started to see the joys and the challenges, and I just couldn’t think about how everyone else did it without someone like me in their house to support them,’’ he said.
So, the focus, he said, was not just on the patient, but on the extended family and on how he as their physician could help the entire family.
Being a believer in “the universe,” Redcross says he thinks it is no coincidence that he ended up at Broadview. He was visiting the campus of SUNY Purchase with his daughter, who is studying film and admired the campus and Broadview. And now, he is the medical director.
On a recent morning, Redcross walked the halls of Broadview, greeting residents and taking time to chat with them about their lives and interests. It’s a slow style that many of them said they greatly appreciated.
Redcross considers himself a throwback. “I joke about my little black bag, but that’s what I do, I make house calls.”
Once a week, Redcross pays a visit to his patients. Working with a nurse on staff, he stops in to check on patients who have asked to see him whether it’s for a skin tear or a rash. He is always on call and can prescribe medication or keep up with patient conditions. He said he hopes to conduct some educational programs for the entire community in the future.
Redcross said one of his favorite questions to patients is to ask what they did before they retired. He said it was important to respect patients’ journeys and understand their backgrounds to provide better care.
“I don’t call them seniors,’’ he said with a chuckle. “I call them seen- years.’’
Set on 40 acres with walking and exercise trails, Broadview at Purchase College offers a full continuum of services, including independent living, assisted living, enhanced assisted living, memory care and a wealth of amenities.
The design for Broadview hinges on lifelong learning and intergenerational collaboration. Residents are able to audit courses and attend performances, lectures, events and more, all on the Purchase College campus. Broadview has 220 living apartments and villas for seniors ages 62 and older. It also offers assisted living apartments and memory care suites on site.
