I went to Dr. Ottenheimer for a routine annual checkup and had no problems whatsoever. Her manner was pleasant, kind, and concerned. At no time did I feel rushed or awkward in any way. I really appreciated how she talked through each step of the exam. I will definitely return for future checkups. P.S. ... editing the review only to add that I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Ottenheimer to anyone looking for a GYN doc. read more

Let me preface this post by saying as soon as I'm done here, I'll be writing to HIPAA. Doctor Ottenheimer has one of the worst bedside manners I have encountered in my life. I had read about her on Yelp and had one encounter about scheduling where I found her rude and dismissive, but being that I only ever dealt with the awesome nurses (especially Jessica) I never felt the need to change doctors. However my last interaction was beyond the pale. Some backstory. After having some intermenstrual bleeding I got a sonogram and was told I had an endometrial polyp. I spoke to Dr. Ottenheimer who told me they could do a polyp removal surgery in her office, but that she did not offer anesthesia and I should take 400mg of Tylenol instead (?!) I had read horror stories about this surgery and women who said doing it without anesthesia experienced the worst pain of their life so opted instead to do the procedure at my fertility clinic. Dr. Ottenheimer seemed frustrated by this but I was appreciative she talked it over with me and called me back (side bar: is this really the world we live in when we applaud a doctor for returning our calls). She also said she'd be curious about the findings but didn't elaborate and said she had a patient and had to go, making me worried I might be looking for something more serious. Cut to a few days later. I have the procedure done with my fertility clinic and after two different attempts to locate the polyp they don't find it. The fertility doc suspects it could be flattened against my cervix and easily missed or perhaps the sono showed a false read. I call to discuss these findings (or lack thereof) with Dr. Ottenheimer and decide my next steps as I'm looking to get pregnant via IVF and can't risk a polyp messing that up (not to mention the risk that something else could be wrong). This is how the conversation goes: Me: Hi Dr. Ottenheimer, got my results back from the procedure and they didn't find a polyp. Her: Oh. That sucks. A long pause. Me: Yeah. So...I'm wondering what you recommend because I'm trying to get pregnant and I'm not sure if I have a polyp or I don't. Her: It's standard for them to take a sample. Did they take a sample? Me: I'm not sure. I can ask. A long silence. Me: So should I come back in or - Her: No. A long silence. Me: So I guess since I have an annual coming up you might be able to get more information then? Her: Yeah. Just come in then. I have to run. Despite this being an incredibly trying and overwhelming process for me, at no point did I feel heard, supported, communicated to or informed. And I'm not the first person to report this. Honestly this woman should have her medical license taken away. She is not fit to be out in society. read more

*** This is a review about a gyno - vaginas and crude talk below - beware*** So ladies, finding a gyno sucks - one that is awesome, professional, reliable and treats you like a person and not just a faceless vagina in the schedule. I had a great experience here. We met first face to face at her desk ( this was a Nurse practicioner who works with Dr. Ottenheimer) - we went through my whole medical history and then we went to the chair. She was awesome - answered my questions - made some great small talk and overall was as enjoyable as this akward and wierd examination can be. The one problem was that the walls are thin so the receptionists definitely know my medical history and I def heard about what they did the night prior. Overall I am psyched I found a gyno that actually seemed to care and listen and made me feel at as much ease as one can with legs open and all. read more

Do not go to this doctor's office. Back in year 2013 or so, they had great reviews on Yelp so although I lived in Midtown Manhattan, I would go all the way down to FiDi for their office. Turns out they had been charging me payments without my knowledge. Then, once I canceled my credit card, they sent the payment to collection and it affected my credit. I had to call the collector and dispute it and get it take care of. Mind you - I did not have health insurance back then (I was fresh out of college) so I was paying everything out of pocket. I would pay the entire bill by cash on the spot. I never had recurring bills set up. Never go here. read more

*This is a review for Molly Brown, the nurse practitioner under Dr.Ottenheimer* I never saw or spoke to Dr. Ottenheimer during my visit. Molly Brown was excellent. Took me into her office and asked a series of questions, which I found very refreshing as the person who is going to exam you is actually taking the time to listen and engage in a conversation about your medical health. Molly was very thorough with the exam, asked several questions and was extremely professional and made the experiences so much more pleasant. Excellent bedside manner! Going to the doctor is never fun and going for a pap smear/breast exam, etc is even less fun, but Molly did a great job and makes the experiences painless. Definitely recommend her! The front desk ladies are not very friendly, but Molly Brown makes up for it. read more

Sad to hear that Dr. Ottenheimer retired and wished there was more communication about her practice changes, etc. I had been a loyal patient of hers for over 12 years. If anyone has any OBGYN recos, plz lmk! read more

The medical staff here is great. Super professional, knowledgeable and helpful. The front desk and scheduling staff on the other hand are ATROCIOUS. They are consistently rude, talk over you and speak too fast to be intelligible over the phone or in voicemail messages. I'm considering changing providers yet again because of the sheer frustration I experience every time I have to interact with their support staff. UPDATE: Please note, this office has a portal system that you are recommended to join (for $69/year) in order to access your test results and records. It used to be opt-in but recently, it was switched to opt-out, which means if you missed the email or ignored it because you had previously chosen not to participate, you were likely charged $69 for the annual fee. I had two $69 charges and had to email and call to see about having the charges reversed (which is still in process). The company that manages the systems automatically charges the card that the doctor's office has on file. Talk about misleading business practices!!! COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS! read more

I've been a patient here for years, but have been consistently disappointed by the way the office communicates information and handles billing issues. I called and asked that pregnancy-related blood work be faxed over to my OB's office and it took Dr. Ottenheimer's office 5 weeks and a reminder to actually send the the lab results. In addition, I received a bill directly for the lab for that blood work, a bill that my insurance company had never seen. When I asked Dr. Ottenheimer's office if they could resend the test information to my insurance company, they refused and told me I had to ask the lab to do so myself, a time-consuming task for a working parent. But more importantly, this is part of the doctor's job -- to work with insurance companies on billing. Lastly, I was prescribed an anti-nausea medication for my first trimester by a nurse practitioner but when I called the office to discuss the side effects I was experiencing, I was told the nurse was out on vacation for a week and that I would just have to wait until she returned to figure out what to do. It took her two weeks to contact me again, by which point I had already reached out to another medical professional. The nurses I've seen at this office have been lovely, but the office itself cannot seem to manage its patients well and for this reason, I won't be going back. read more

While I've had good experiences with Dr Otteheimer's staff (never actually met the doctor herself in the years I have been seeing them), I will be looking for a new ob-gyn. Since moving to the new portal connect online system, the practice has added a $69 annual fee which seems excessive for someone who only visits once per year and does not make use of the added services. Plus, all patients are automatically enrolled in a "30 day trial" when they visit, and it is very difficult to opt out, so even if you avoid the platform and conduct all your business by phone, you're still likely to get charged. This is excessive even by New York standards. If this is how little respect they have for their patients, I would rather just find a new doctor. read more

A friend of mine recommended Dr. Ottenheimer.. I called for an appointment and was informed by a rude receptionist that Dr. Ottenheimer is not accepting any new patients and recommended i see one of her NP's. When i mentioned that a friend of mine is a patient and recommended Dr. Ottenheimer, the receptionist responded " that great for you friend". I would never trust a doctor whose receptionists speak to patients in this manner. Your receptionist is the face for your practice and this was unacceptable. read more

I went last month for routine preventive exam. Molly Brown informed me that my insurance would not cover a 2nd one in a year, so that I should wait a few months. So she asked me some questions and did the blood tests since I was there. I then had to pay a copay since it wasn't the preventive exam that I was hoping to have that day and was charged as a regular Dr's visit. Today, I called my insurance company to find out when I could get another preventive care exam and they said that I actually get 2 per year with 100% coverage, no copay. So I called the office to schedule the exam that I had wanted to get last month and complained about the misinformation that I was given and how I had wasted a trip to their office and a $30 copay. The receptionist said that they tell everyone that they are only allowed one visit per year. I suggested that they shouldn't say that without actually checking. She was very rude and implied that I should've been happy with the explanation that she gave me, finished scheduling my appointment, and hung up without a goodbye. I did have more questions that I wanted to ask, but now did not feel comfortable asking her since she was being so rude and my questions were of a sensitive nature. I guess I'm keeping my appointment and trying this place again, but this is really frustrating. I've worked in customer service for a long time and realize that it's annoying when people complain about things that aren't your fault personally, but I don't understand why professionals in women's health can't just be more friendly, understanding, and make you feel comfortable when you might be feeling anxious about your health. And own your office's mistakes rather than blaming the patient. read more

I see Ashley at this office and I have had a great experience with her. They draw my blood in the office when I come in and it a total non judgment zone. I feel very comfortable coming in and asking any questions I have. The only draw back is I wish I could see test results online and view open appointments if I want to book on my own. read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Ottenheimer for about two years. I think I've seen her for two physicals. She has always been very friendly, and taken the time to answer all my questions. She even inquires about my personal/work life, which I find refreshing. She seems genuinely interested--not only in her patients' health, but in their lives holistically as well. Dr. Ottenheimer was very available and patient with me when I was trying to find a BC pill that worked--I went through like 4 over a 3-month period! She also always gave me coupons and other tips for saving costs on my prescriptions. I've also seen Rebecca Schundler and Molly Brown and both were so kind and very informative. They answered my questions completely. Overall, I'm very happy with this office. The office staff are tough nuts to crack, but once you do, they're very knowledgeable and helpful as well. read more

I have never experienced such unprofessionalism on the part of the doctor and staff. The unorganized receptionists as completely rude. Can you imagine a doctor who would just call in sick on the morning of your appointment? 1. Unprofessional and insensitive doctor. As a patient, I waited more than a week for my appointment. The doctor breaks the appointment two hours before it. 2. The reception was rude the whole time, I can not trust a doctor who would hire a person like that. I spent an hour commuting to the office for my appointment. When I arrived, I said hello and told the African American lady my name. She responded in a haughty arrogant tone: "The doctor is not coming in today. I left you a voice message this morning. It's a BLOCKED NUMBER, but I called though." At that point, while being shocked by her uncaring and indifferent poor excuse for an explanation, the phone rings and she just start talking to another person, leaving me there, still speechless. I don't understand what kind of office would call a patient with a blocked number within two hours of the appointment and in a hectic morning, trying to make that doomed appointment. Although Dr. Ottenheimer is a different case from the doctor that mention here, but it is her business indeed, and she does represent the other doctors there. I was lead to this extremely unhappy experience because of her reputation and I were introuduced to her by yelp commends, I do think it is necessary for me to mention it here. read more

I recently moved to the city and was dreading finding a new gyno. I've had some really bad gynecologists in the past, and was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of options I faced in NYC. After visiting Women's health, I realized that my search was over. This place is FABULOUS! Although I wasn't able to get an appointment with Dr. Ottenheimer, and cant' actually vouch for her specifically, I have to say that Women's Health is by far one of the best women's health clinics I've been to! I met with one of their NPs and found her to be extremely easy to talk to, completely nonjudgemental, and very knowledgeable. She even hooked me up with two months of birth control after I mentioned how expensive my current BC had become under my new insurance provider. Essentially, this is place "gets" women and is driven by a desire to treat the whole woman and not just her lady parts! read more

*this review is for Molly Brown, NP at Dr. Ottenheimer's practice* I found the front desk people to be extremely helpful and respectful. After showing up 20+ minutes late yesterday, they apologized for having to reschedule (totally fine, it was my fault) and got me an appt for the next afternoon when I explained my issue of running out of birth control. The woman even offered me a sample to get me through if I wanted to schedule something for next week instead. All of the paperwork is electronic, and I don't mean that they email you a bunch of forms to fill out, no. This office uses a tablet type of device for you to put in your info, sign consents and even swipe a card to pay! (very very efficient) When I went today, I was seen almost immediately by Molly Brown, NP - she was very kind and welcoming, and she took the time to talk to me and answer ALL my questions (even looked something up to be sure she was giving me the right info) and made sure I was comfortable before getting to the exam. We weighed the benefits and risks of different birth control options, talked about tests and future pregnancy options, all that good stuff, and I never felt rushed. She was very eloquent and not an ounce of judgment when going over my medical history and she asked me several times if I had any additional questions, as well as asked me if I have any anxiety before beginning the exam! Seriously, she's the epitome of what a nurse practitioner should be. Her exam is thorough yet very gentle and her phlebotomy skills are wonderful. Only bummer is that I found out next week is her last week at the practice, but apparently all the other providers are just as good. I'm excited to have found these guys - solid practice all around. read more

Horrible experience! I wasted my money paying out of network to see this doctor for birth control only to be directed to a nurse . The day of the IUD implant the front desk folks tells me oh you have to pay $700 for the implant! I have insurance that covers the implant. Yet these people who were upfront count explain why they didn't submit the claim for it to my insurance! Ridiculous people ! Absolutely ridiculous people! Go see a real doctor and not a nurse ! Absolutely a waste read more

This was the best doctor experience I have had since my pediatrician. Even more praise goes to Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Callahan. She was kind, warm and truly took her time with me. I never felt rushed. She was incredibly knowledgeable and explained everything going on in such detail but in a way that was easy to understand and digest. I am looking forward to my next visit. I didn't know bedside manor like this existed anymore. read more

The doctors and nurses here are great but had to write this review because this company unfortunately chooses to work with a portal "Hello Health" that they do NOT properly disclose. I did not realize that I would be charged $69 a year for something I do not use, for a doctor that is not even my primary care. Please be aware of this (you have to explicitly opt out) and please urge the business to change their model!! read more

Dr. Ottenheimer is great. She is very smart and thoughtful--she gives off a bit of an intellectual vibe but she is nonetheless relatable and considerate of her patients' feelings, never judgmental, and manages to walk the line between utmost professionalism and the ability to relate to her patients. She's just an interesting, good person, and a very, very capable doctor. Never patronizing, we actually had a pretty interesting but random conversation about, like, Third World medicine during my visit. In terms of the medical experience, she fully explained everything to me, answered all questions in an open, non-rushed way, and was all-around supportive. I went in for a small procedure and I have a bunch of friends who've had the same thing done by different gynecologists, and my experience sounds like one of the best. She took my personal history into account when coming up with a plan for me and I really appreciated it. The only annoying aspect of going to this office is that they take your credit card info before you make your appointment so that they can automatically deduct from you if you miss your appointment. I totally understand the need for doctors to reduce the number of no-shows, but the policy seems rather stark to me. As far as Dr. Ottenheimer herself, though, A+. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Ottenheimer for over 12 years now so here goes nothing. First, I must say it is unfair of previous reviewers to rate Dr. Ottenheimer poorly because of her office staff. Office staff come and go. Doctors don't. And last I checked, that's what your $69/year portal is for. If you have an issue, contact the doctor and the WHNPs through the portal. That's what they're there for and trust me, they're extremely responsive and on top of everything. More importantly, if you have had the opportunity to meet Dr. Ottenheimer and see how caring, concerned and compassionate she is, you would agree she deserves nothing short of 5 stars. I've seen many specialists and trust me, I've never met a doctor like Dr. Ottenheimer. She bends over backwards for her patients to make them feel as comfortable as possible. She makes annual exams as painless as possible. And if you have more complex issues, she makes herself available and does whatever research she can to help you manage your condition(s). She even speaks to other specialists. There is NO ego trip here like other doctors have. She will literally pick up the phone and coordinate your care if necessary. And that is beyond rare in the doctor profession. SHE ALWAYS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND and that's the hallmark of a true doctor. In an age where doctors churn patients out on an assembly line every 10 minutes, Dr. Ottenheimer doesn't do that. She spends as much time as she needs with you and she cares about you as a whole person not just as one body part of you like other specialists do. She answers portal messages as soon as she can to make sure you're comfortable. And she works with you electronically and makes suggestions if you're too sick to make it in. I think that deserves $69/year. Other doctors make you come in and then charge $700 for ONE visit. Think about it. And for those who say she isn't worth the trip down to the Financial District, heck, I have trekked in from NJ just to see her. I'm not sure what all the complaints are about. Get to know this doctor and let her get to know you. I promise you that you will not be dissatisfied. read more

I give it a three star rating because it was my first time there and overall my experience was pretty positive. Let's see how the future visits go. I met with Ashley Burton a NP at the office, she was super sweet and gentle. The staff was fine..it wasn't the most inviting or warm impression. But they were professional and just kept things short and to the point. I'm fine with that too. The wait time wasn't too bad, I thought they would have called a little faster but I think waited about 20-25 minutes give or take. My appointment was for 11:30 and I got there 11:15, was not seen until 11:50ish. Then I was greeted with a smile, she was very inviting and didn't feel rushed at all. Sometimes they just want you in and out. It has been so hard for me to find a good OB&GYN since I had my son and my doctor moved. Fingers crossed that I found a good office. read more

I have been going to Dr. Ottenheimer and Molly Brown for over two years. Office: always clean, nice private rooms, electronic payment keyboards ~fancy. The patients are very 'downtown', everyone looks professional, or like they are working on wall street, very calm and professional vibe. Both Molly and Deborah are very professional and make you feel totally comfortable. They answer any and all questions and really put you at ease. Wait time: I am always seen w/in 30 minutes if not faster of my apt time. I am usually in and out w/in an hour. This is huge, b/c most places make you wait. read more

I've only been here a handful of times & honestly, they're my go to docs when my health calls for a check up. I originally wanted to come here b/c of Dr. O b/c of her high reviews but she was always booked MONTHS in advance. So you've been warned. 3 yrs that I've attended & have yet to see her;. The office: I always had a good experience with the girls upfront. They were never rude, questions were answered when appropriate. Billings were handled on time, all is good. The docs: I've been with both Molly S. & Jo. They're alright tbh. They both answered any of your questions & asked if you were considered about anything else but the physical part I had a bit of an issue. Not to sound weird but they weren't rough/thorough enough. I wanted my breasts to be examined & to me it felt like a light pat/poke all around. I went to this doc at NYU hospital & she was really thorough about it making sure she didn't miss any parts that might of felt like a lump. Both Molly & Jo didn't do that. The only reason why I still attend is that they're the closest gynos that were respectable near me. I would love to rate them higher but I wish I had a better experience with the doctors. It's a nice place overall & they are nice. But, you don't just go to them cause you need a pat on the back, you're there for health concerns & I feel like they weren't doing their best. read more

I've recommended Dr. Ottenheimer to all the closest women in my life. She's an amazing doctor who is incredibly attentive, thorough, and communicates all details clearly. I never feel like I'm a burden, I ask a ton of questions, and she always makes me feel comfortable, at ease, and most of all, makes me feel heard. She has been by my side through my most uncomfortable situations, and has always used her calm voice, joyful sense of humor, and thorough explanations to ease any concerns. If I can't see Dr. Ottenheimer personally b/c of a last minute appt, her staff and nurse practitioners are equally as attentive. It's clear they speak to each other and value your time and any concerns you have. I've been with Dr. Ottentheimer for almost 15 years now, and I feel incredibly lucky to have found a doctor I can truly trust. Lastly, I'd like to add, Dr. Ottenheimer has always been understanding and empathetic to my financial situations- everything from being a freelancer, to working full time, to different insurances, to all the shifts that comes with changes in government policy. At times of true hardship she has always taken that into mind before doing anything- we've always had a trusting, clear, and open dialogue and it's an insane blessing to have someone as caring and concerned- as thoughtful- as Dr. Ottentheimer by your side during those times. read more

I rarely use Yelp, but I needed to come on here and give a rave review to Dr. Ottenheimer's practice, and more specifically to Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Callahan. I'd had a horrible experience with a previous GYN, and she made me feel so much calmer, non-judged, and totally taken care of. It was SO easy making an appointment online, and they saw me right away. I cannot recommend the practice highly enough. read more

Saw Jessica Weiss today - couldn't have been happier walking out of the office. She is kind, intelligent and easy to talk to. I was in a bit of a bind w/ last minute prescriptions and I feel she went above and beyond to help. Although after reading the reviews on here, I find the portal more than a bit dodgy. I wouldn't have known to turn off the free trial without having read on here, as they never mentioned I was being signed up for one, and you also need to email the portal support system to cancel. I'd almost go so far as to say it's disgraceful. But again, I can't recommend Jessica Weiss more highly. Truly a first rate physician. read more

So far I am not impressed by the services here. It started from poor reception calling to remind me of my appointment and the receptionist sounding angry and hostile on the phone. After arriving for my first visit the reception desk ignored me for several minutes to gossip. My doctor had no bed side manner and in fact was arguing with me. It was really weird tension and not from someone with their fingers inside of me. The portal to get my results cost 69 a year which is ridiculous because I only go to the ob once a year. Feels pretty scammy. I am thinking of switching because this place feels unorganized. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Ottenheimer for about 4 years. She is great and I am so happy to have a stable and genuinely caring doctor to go to. I am never nervous or scared to go because she really listens and is a great source of information. This is one of the best women's health offices ever! read more

I've read the many reviews online and I must agree with the positive sentiments. Dr. Ottenheimer is great. I've been going to her for years and my initial reason for choosing this office was due to her expertise, educational background, and proximity from work/home. In the 5+ years I've been going there, she's been consistently thorough, easy to talk to, and professional yet friendly. She's easy-going and I am comfortable sharing personal stories with her and receiving her guidance, advice, and insights. As for the credit card thing- I never even thought of it as invasive. When I initially started going there, they did not have that in practice. However over the years, she has informed me that so many people don't pay for their bills which I was quite surprised to hear, given the location of the office (the office was in Tribeca initially and now in Union Sq/Flatiron). Knowing that, I didn't have any issues with handing out my credit card number- and I've never been charged once without my consent. Actually, I tell them to just bill me on the card and they don't without my approval. As for missed appts, I've been late many times and never have been charged. I feel regretful for those who's had bad experiences in the office. For me, it's been quite pleasant and convenient. I even email her with questions and the responses are always almost immediate. As of late, receiving my results via email is not as consistent, however. The last two times, they've forgotten or I ended up emailing first. Either way, they got back to me. It was a non-issue. Overall, I will continue to go to this office. I would refer her anytime. read more

I had my first appointment with Dr. Ottenheimer today and had a wonderful experience! I showed up early to fill out the new patient paperwork and then did not have a very long wait until she came to get me from the waiting area. She took time at the beginning of my appointment to get a well rounded medical history before we moved to the exam room. As a gay woman and hearing stories from others of gynecologists who disregarded their relationships and sexual health, I was slightly worried about this aspect of my visit, but Dr. Ottenheimer was very knowledgable and made me feel comfortable throughout the entire visit. I will definitely be returning to Dr. Ottenheimer and would recommend her to anyone looking in the lower manhattan area! read more

I'm really sorry to leave this review. The doctors in this practice are extraordinary women--kind, warm, and professional. Head and shoulders above anyone else I've seen. However, I've now twice been defrauded by their billing department, which signed me up (unknowingly) for a company called Hello Health, which has charged me $70 for an undisclosed service. I went through a long and complicated fraud complaint process with my bank last year, and today I've had to do it again. I never authorized any charges of this type and I'm disappointed that I can't trust my credit card number with Dr. Ottenheimer's office. I would STRONGLY recommend against ever trusting them with your financial info. If you can somehow pay cash for everything, great--but their billing department is at best sloppy, and at worst willfully incompetent. Don't trust them. read more

I had a visit with Dr.Rocio about two months ago. Came in for a UTI and while she was testing, she recommended a few other tests which I agreed to because 1. She's a doctor and 2. She made me think something was wrong with me so I went ahead and made sure I was healthy. But, a moth later I received a check in the mail for $500 because of all the labs she ran. Called the office for explanation and to speak with the doctor but they would not allow me to. The billing department (very rude, uneducated and attitude driven female) told me that if tests were being done "shouldn't you have noticed something and asked what the doctor was doing?" And continued with "I'm sorry Miss, but you KNEW what was going on so I'm not sure why you're acting like you don't?" Now I'm left with an enormous bill which I don't have the money to pay with. Will not be going back to their offices and hope they learn how to clearly explain what each visit is for and what the insurance will be billed. I went in for a UTI check up and left with a "annual exam" and $500 bill. When you think doctors are there to help, think twice because being a doctor is also a business- Dr. Rocio def squeezed every last penny out of me. read more

I had a very odd and overall disappointing experience here. The extra star is for Jo Zasloff as she is both warm, helpful and kind. However, the front desk staff was rude, dismissive and completely unhelpful. I had gone in for a routine exam but the results called for further testing. As I was traveling quite a bit at the time and there was no availability for Dr. Ottenheimer, I booked at a different practice. You see, there were no hard feelings at this point. I just knew that waiting a month and a half would do a number on my anxiety and wanted the quickest available service. God. The process to get my paperwork transferred (and I mean it couldn't have been more than a few sheets of paper - I'd only been there once!) was a pain. After figuring out that I could indeed get in touch with a receptionist directly, rather than fiddle with their inane website, the snippy receptionist told me that the papers would be faxed within a business day. I also called the next day to confirm this had actually happened. Two days before my appointment at the new practice, they gave me a call to urgently ask that I have my papers transferred. Um...what? I called Women's Health back and they said they had no record of my request. Um...what, what?! I had to get two more receptionists on the phone in order to complete one task. Phew, finally I was done with them! Nope. The next day, Molly, who I'm guessing is another nurse practitioner (?), I dunno, she didn't say, called and left a message. As my appointment was looming and I thought they might have further information, I immediately called back and was told she was in with patients and would not be able to call me back...all day. To add insult to injury, I ended up getting a call later that day from Dr. Ottenheimer who barely offered a hello, and launched into a short but hostile reprimand about how they should know I had made an appointment elsewhere, her dismissive and rude tone making me feel as though I had done something utterly egregious (Dr. Ottenheimer, perhaps you should have better communication with your front desk staff as the apparently very cumbersome process of transferring my records to another practice as well as my telling them I was going to another practice should have tipped your office off to the fact that I was going... to another practice). I think I maybe got a "hello" and "okay, thanks, bye" in there before she hung up. Ugh, still trying to get the bad taste out of my mouth. That front desk staff is seriously the worst. read more

Just called them, the girl that picked up kept sighing, and she was like "What?" repeatedly so I decided to find somewhere else.

I have beening coming to Dr. Ottenheimer's for a number of years now, and usually have had a wonderful experience with the medical staff. Today I got a return call in regards to a prescription from a nurse/PA who was incredibly condescending, misspoke--stating that two very different prescriptions/drugs were the same (when they are very different), then when I said they were in fact, very different she started back-tracking instead of saying, "I'm sorry, I misspoke." She then proceeded how to explain how they are close and that most people just ask for them in general. Then told me she was going to forward my call to the front desk to schedule an appointment because it had been a quite long since my last appointment with them--not giving me a choice or suggesting I make an annual. Here's some advice: Have a little bedside manner and empathy. Know the difference in the drugs/medications. Apologize when you make a mistake--I know that there is a general assumption that patients don't have any clue --and yes I am sure it is annoying when patients go into internet self-diagnosed mode (in this case simply understanding the very large, widely-marketed difference in two drugs and stating that information), but there is this wonderful internet thing, and information from Planned Parenthood, WebMD, birthcontrol.com are regarded as reliable resources...oh yeah, as well as the www.FDA.gov. read more

It's a shame that I can't go to this practice right near my office anymore. My actual appointment wasn't that bad. I went once after my insurance changed and saw Meghan McNamana, who was really sweet and professional. I wasn't impressed with the way I first booked my appointment. When I got there, I had to fill out a ton of forms, which I wasn't used to since at my old office they told you to fill out the forms in advance on their website. When I told Nurse McNamana this, she told me they were supposed to tell me that I could fill out the forms on their site in advance. But apparently the receptionist I spoke too didn't and rushed me off the phone. I also was wary that they made you keep a credit card number on file so that they could charge you if need be. The receptionist told me it was mandatory when I asked about it. The office is ok, a little dingy and dark, but hey, I know that NYC real estate is always odd. I definitely missed my old doctors' office that was painted a pleasant purple and had lots of cute feminine accents. But hey, I don't need beauty. Again, Nurse McNamana was so sweet and friendly. I was probably in and out of the office in about an hour. I was told I'd get test results emailed to me. This never happened, but I figured I would've gotten a call if anything out of the ordinary happened. When I was in the office, I heard another woman asking the receptionist for her test results because she, too, never received them. The less than friendly receptionist sort of yelled at her that she would get them by email and she was too busy to check right then. Not such great customer service. I had to wait about 10 minutes to turn in my prescription to be faxed into a mail order service to the receptionists. They weren't just curt. Rude and unreceptive would be a little more like it. Ok, so after my "just ok" appointment, I figured I'd found a new doctor and all was fine. But then, just recently I got an email from Dr. Ottenheimer (who I have never seen or met) asking me for a "voluntary" fee of $100 to keep using the practice. What?!? I've never heard of this from any doctor (including the much swankier Soho practice I had recently gone to). I pay a lot for my insurance, and I rarely go to the doctor. Seriously, once a year! And to have to pay $100 a year is so ridiculous. When I wrote back to the email to explain why I would not be paying the fee, I was told that it was not out of the ordinary and other doctors' offices are doing it. Plus it was "voluntary". What a strange, strange practice! I think I'll go elsewhere next year since I only need a doctor once a year. This is NYC with so many choices! Just beware of the $100 fee and poor service if you're interested in this practice. read more

I've been a patient for some time now and I have to say I am beyond impressed with the care I receive. The care is so exceptional that this is the first yelp review that I have even bothered to write. I want to highlight my experience with the nursing staff since I frequently call in with medical questions and feel that they are a huge contributor to the high quality care that I receive. The nurses are super professional and extraordinarily thorough in their responses as well as attentive and warm in nature. Highly recommend going here! read more

She was awesome, took the time to get to know me as it was my first visit and listened to all my concerns. Very easy to talk to and made me feel very comfortable. Office staff was also very friendly. I will definitely continue to see her and recommend to friends read more

Dr. Ottenheimer is awesome. Smart, beautiful and hard working. What else can you ask from a woman? She's so easy to get along with and very open minded. Being honest, frank and telling her the craziest of stories to finally end up with, 'so what do you think? do you think thats medically problematic' is definitely OKAY! I'll even get a little personal with you-- I hope i dont gross you out. afterall Dr. Ottenheimer is a gynecologist.... *I told her how i went scuba diving with my period. so i used a tampon. after diving, cleaning out the gear, and eating, i was so exhausted I took a nap. after 2 full hours of napping and 3 full hours of cleaning gear and eating, (in total 5 hours) i realized i left the tampon in! so i rushed to the bathroom, pulled it out and shlushlyshshshshush! maybe two buckets of sea water came out! 'oh SHIT! i i'm doomed!' surely some brine or bacteria must be living inside of me now! dammit, i've just made myself into a host! damn! ...that means, i'll surely go into a feverish shock and be hospitalized! then i'll be a medical 'case'! dammit... so careful to avoid the bends, but not careful enough with stupid oceanic water up the vag. so i tell Dr. Ottenheimer this silly tale, and she laughs. I laugh. She composes herself and admits she has never been confronted with that problem before. But she suspects I'm fine. One week later the pap came out fine and she says if i'm feeling fine, smelling fine and acting fine, then i'm fine. Two years later, I have not become the Aquatic Woman.** Embarrassing? yes. Does Dr. Ottenheimer care? No. She cares for your health and your health only. Be free! have brine in your vag! its all good with this doctor! Her clinic is safe, clean, and confidential. She'll even wave administrative fees for shots. just pay for the meds and forget the handling. _________________________________________________________ *true tale! and brothas, please don't avoid me from this. i swear i'm fine! **maybe being the Aquatic Woman wouldn't be THAT bad. might turn off some brothas, but the fish lovin' ones.... oh yeaaaaahhhhh gotchu there! come to mamaaaaa read more