All these past reviews are definitely not recent because Poornima Kaul is a terrible doctor with an incompetent team. Expect to wait an hour before any of your appointments, and if you're lucky, you'll be given the option to quickly see a PA or wait said hour. When you do see her, it will feel rushed. read more

Great experience with her during delivery wish she stayed to it's completion but overall great doctor

Dr Kaul delivered our baby girl and we have been BEYOND impressed with her - the perfect combination of extremely empathetic, kind, overtly prepared, knowledgeable and keenly concerned. She came prepared with questions for me that already would cover 80-90% of my own questions. She has been SO kind with post partum health care too. A wonderful person!!!! :) read more

- scheduling disorganized , make you come back another day - lost Pap smear test and went back twice to redo - mail and phone response not good Not only did I find the doctor and office unresponsive to emails, the doc had no time for me in person to talk. She really quickly saw me even though I had an appointment. I also had to call in to check for Pap smear results. ended up that THEY LOST MY PAP SMEAR TEST. So I had to go back into their office to take the test but when I got there , they made me come back another day instead read more

I was a patient of Dr. Kaul's from 2013-2017 and she delivered both of my boys, one in 2015 and the second in 2017. I loved having Dr. Kaul as my OBGYN. She was helpful with all of my questions and nervousness during my first pregnancy and was really supportive during my second when there was a chance that my husband had been exposed to Zika just before we found out we were pregnant. She delivered both babies through C-Section because my first had some distress during the end stages of labor and the second baby was even bigger than the first. When they put me on the operating table and his heart rate dropped, everyone in the room seemed pretty frantic and I was freaking out, but Dr. Kaul was calm, cool and collected, which put me at ease. She performed both c-sections wonderfully and I had easy recoveries. Now that I'm planning a third pregnancy, I'm so sad she's no longer my doc...thinking about moving back to SF for about 9 months just for her. ;) read more

I started seeing Dr. Kaul shortly after my second pregnancy began when I was looking for straightforward medical advice. During my first pregnancy I had my medical care with a birthing center in San Francisco, an overall stressful experience that ended in an emergency C-section at UCSF. Looking back, I felt that they had been more concerned about their own liability and legal risks than listening to my concerns or paying close attention to my pregnancy throughout. When I found out that I was pregnant a second time, I knew that I wanted to attempt a VBAC and felt from the start that Dr. Kaul's direct but respectful manner was right for me. Dr. Kaul has always treated me like an equal -- she is never condescending, does not talk down to me, and provides me with facts and data to empower my own decisions. She is an OB/GYN who looks me directly in the eye when speaking to me and really lets me know that she respects my humanity. I have seen many healthcare providers and know that this is not common -- even among those less accomplished than her. She is definitely kinder and more considerate than most. I know where she skews in her beliefs because she tells me, but have always felt free to make my own decisions with her full support. I ended up with a successful VBAC under her care and guidance. I know that my health is truly a concern to her because while in labor, after the birth, and in the difficult months post-partum she has called me directly to check-in and have frank discussions -- even when I was having a hard time picking up the phone. Ultimately she was exactly the Dr. that I needed during this time, and my family and I hold her in the highest esteem. We will always remember her as the pivotal figure in my son's birth, and for that we are forever grateful. read more

I am a patient of Dr. Kaul since March 2020. She delivered my first baby boy in August. I couldn't ask for a better gynecologist than Dr. Kaul. She is very kind, polite and listen to her patients patiently. During my delivery, she wanted me to relax and get enough sleep before the last push so that I have enough energy during that time. Her response time to emails and calls is very quick. I had breast infection few weeks after delivery, Dr recommended best Breast specialist and made sure that I have recovered fully until I have. I had very good experience with Dr. Poornima and feel connected every time I meet her in person or remotely. read more

I love Dr. Poornima Kaul, she was there every step of the way through my pregnancy. She was attentive, available, and most importantly trustworthy. Any concerns I had during the process she always responded with an action, like when I was afraid the baby would be large she ordered an ultrasound, or when I didn't feel the baby kick as much, she ordered an ultrasound and sure enough we needed to induce. When many Dr.'s go the route, "let's wait and see", Dr. Kaul does not follow this old rule, she is so proactive that it help ease any worries. With all the support she gave me, the one thing I am extremely thankful for is that she stayed throughout my delivery and delivered my baby. I know after talking to a lot my friends their delivering Dr was whoever was on staff that night. Dr. Kaul went the extra mile and stayed and did the delivery even thought it wasn't her night to do so(I know she did that for all her patients that night). She was there at the very beginning to the very end. read more

Super late on this review (life has been crazy busy lately) I was the MOST complicated pregnancy ever! With a Severe case of hyperemesis gravidarum she helped me until we found the right "solution" to my problem. Shortly after I was diagnosed with full placenta previa which caused a total of 3 hospital stays and eventually premature delivery and she was there for me EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! Dr. Kaul you truly are amazing I couldn't thank you enough for all you did for me! I now have a beautiful and healthy bay girl. read more

Dr. Poornima Kaul did an amazing job with my c section. Aside from the surgery itself, she was so calming and made me feel very comfortable. I was nervous because Laurie Green is my doctor and she wasn't there. Once I met Dr. Kaul, I felt like I was in great hands and I was right. Thank you for getting my baby out safely. Please read my cpmc hospital review for more on my delivery experience. I cannot thank you enough!!! read more

Reading some of the reviews below I am not sure these people are talking about the same Dr. Kaul that I see. At every appointment she has been patient, always taking time to answer questions and address concerns. She is very knowledgeable, however if there is a question she does not immediately know the answer she always follow up with the answer by phone call or at the next visit I seriously have not met a doctor, who cares more about her patients. I started seeing Dr. Kaul shortly before I got pregnant. Through out my pregnancy she was not only there to answer all my questions, but also to help me deal with my crazy and emotional self. She even came in to deliver my little guy in the middle of the night. She is very sweet, kind and good natured. She listens and takes the time to discuss options and realistic possibilities. She has fantastic bedside manner and really makes me wish there were more doctors like her out there. read more

Dr. Kaul is just the best. She's been my gyno for years - Dr. Kaul was there for me when I was deciding which birth control to use, whether or not to work on getting pregnant, and then when I got pregnant, she was there to make sure my baby was healthy AND that I was healthy and getting the care I needed. She recently delivered my baby at CPMC, and I was really happy with the overall experience. I'm a very fact- and numbers-based person, so for me, I didn't want a doctor who would brush off my concerns or not be able to answer the many (many!) specific questions I brought to each appointment. Dr. Kaul was extremely patient with my lists of questions, very thorough when citing studies and the latest clinical data, cautious when ordering labs on anything out of the ordinary, and when my delivery went a little sideways and turned into a c-section, she was there to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible. At a time of extreme stress, I didn't want someone to give me platitudes about how my body is an "opening flower," or how I was "made to do this" (ugh - both things I heard elsewhere). I needed a doctor to tell me in a matter-of-fact way what was happening, what my options were, and once I decided how to proceed, how to do that in the safest way. Dr. Kaul delivered (pun intended). She's the best! A warning, though - because she gives specialized attention, the wait times at the practice can be a little long, but I'd rather wait for her than be seen by someone who rushes me through. read more

Dr Kaul is a fantastic doctor. For the past 6 months I have had a medical mystery and she stayed on top of it the whole time, while I saw over 15 doctors. She is very positive and encouraging and I am happy I found a OB that makes me feel like I am cared for. read more

HORRIBLE DOCTOR!!!! She fired me as patient two weeks prior to surgery just because I asked alot of questions about my upcoming surgery and complained about being rescheduled for surgery 3 times. She is unprofessional, unethical and did not perform her due diligence and lacks sensitivity. She does not like alot of questions and never once apologized for the stress I was under having to deal with 3 rescheduled surgeries and possible ovarian cancer. On a first office visit in Aug 2012 she performed a vaginal exam. Then after experiencing alot of discharge problems I went in again 4 mo's later in December 2012. She then discovered a Polyp (which was missed in August and after surgery turned out to be a Fibroid so she misdiagnosed). I then went for a ultrasound to find out the size and location of the polyp. The ultrasound also found a cyst on one of my overies. I then went for blood tests to determine if the cyst were cancerous. One blood test was fine the other she said she was concerned about. She said the cyst had to be removed along with the polyp. She was never gentle about delivering the news the ovary could possible be cancerous and did not explain things completely. She did not seem to acknowledge the anxiety, fear and stress one would have hearing news of possible cancer. She lacked patience and sensitivity. At one of my office visits with her I was asking questions about the surgery and at one point she said me "you seem like a person that has to be in control and you have to trust me". I was surprised she made a negative personal character remark in response to my asking questions but I let it go. (We all have the right to ask questions about any surgery we will undergo and our medical status). She could not perform the surgery till the end of January in 2013 due to her upcoming vacation but said I could ask one of the other obgyn's to do the surgery. So the next day I called the office to schedule surgery with another obgyn in hopes to get the surgery over with asap. The office scheduled surgery for Jan 18 and also schedule a preop visit for Jan 14 that I had to go in for to talk about next week's surgery. But when I got there the staff was confused and did not have a record of any surgery date. So I went in for nothing and they suggested that I wait for her to return from vacation. When she was back from vacation she returned my call, and I explained the run around that her office scheduled me for surgery with another obgyn per her suggestion, but when I went in on the 14th they had no record that the surgery was scheduled for the 18th. So she rescheduled the surgery date again for February 4th.. I went back to her office and took a breath test to determine if I had any cancer gean carrying breast or ovarian cancer. She called me back and said we had to reschedule the Feb 4 surgery because the breath test did not come back. I got upset since this 2nd reschedule (which affected other people's schedule who had to take time off to care for my 1yr old son since I would be unable to pick him up for two weeks) and told her I was stressed about all the rescheduling and surgery. She got defensive and was unapologetic towards me when she should have been kind and gentle to me as her patient and apologize for all the rescheduling. She should have shown some care instead of behaving abrasive. I then meet with the Oncologist since he now had to be involved in the surgery. He scheduled the surgery for Feb 20th and his office called her office to coordinate schedules to perform surgery. (Because an oncologist needs an obgyn as an assistant and he always goes back to the referring obgyn) But Poornima Kaul declined to assist him in the surgery and I then received a letter from her in the mail, quote "After careful consideration I have decided that I am unable to be your doctor. The style of patient care that you expect is different from my style as a physician. I feel that your needs would be better served at another medical practice". So basically I don't want you as a patient go somewhere else because you ask to many questions and got mad and I don't want to deal with you. Wow two weeks prior to surgery. What doctor does this? Now the oncologist had to scramble to find another obgyn to assist him not to mention an obgyn whom I've never met. What does she mean by "the style of patient care that you expect is differnt from my style"? Patient care being kindness? That's what I expected. And I expected her to answer my questions. Is that to much to ask for? Her office is unorganized and although she says "trust me" she obviously can't be trusted. She is capable of turning her back on a patient in the middle of care during one of the most important times of a person's life. Possible cancer. read more

It has taken me over two years to write this review. Dr. Kaul oversaw the end of my labor at CPMC. Her bedside manner needs work. Before I even started pushing she mentioned c-section. She refused to let me try alternative positions to deliver our posterior son vaginally and after less than an hour of pushing I was wheeled into the operating room completely confused. This experience ruined my following pregnancy and left me terrified of delivering in a hospital again. Maybe I needed surgery and maybe I didn't, but her lack of respect for me led me to seek care at UCSF for my next pregnancy and guess what? I had a successful VBAC with another posterior baby by laying on my side. This review would be zero stars except she did a good job with the surgery and my scar (although incredibly crooked) is almost invisible. read more

I probably called her office to book an appointment for my wife. They charged me 35$ saying that we did not show up(months down the line). We did not receive an email update or a phone call before the appointment. I don't recommend booking an appointment with them. read more

Have been to see dr kaul several times over the past 2 years and she has been very patient, professional, thoughtful, and kind. Highly recommend. read more

DO NOT GO TO THIS DOCTOR! They care about money and not patients. I was a patient here for several years (which by the way most of the time I didn't even see the doctor as they made my appointments with the nurse practitioner). My insurance changed one year and when I got to office they told me that my insurance wasn't in network anymore and did I still want to see the doctor? I said no thank you I will find another doctor that is covered and left without seeing the doctor. Over a year later, I became pregnant. I had different insurance that would be covered so I tried to go back to see Dr. Kaul, as I wanted a doctor close to home for this pregnancy. I had not heard a word from them since that day I couldn't see the doctor. When I try to make a new appointment, out of the blue, they inform me that I am banned because I refused to pay for services from the time I showed up for an appointment and didn't actually go past the waiting room. At no point in time did they tell me that I would be charged for that appointment and I never received a bill or any notification in the mail. I called and explained the situation and they would not hear me out or do anything to rectify the situation. They claimed the doctor did see me. I am 100% sure I did not, as I would have never kept a doctors appointment, knowing that I would be paying out of pocket unless it was an extreme emergency. And at no point on that day that I went in was there any hostility or indication that I would need to pay for making an appointment and not being able to keep it. Find a doctor who actually cares about you, and not about getting paid for not doing anything. read more

When I gave birth, I happened to majorly strike out and get Dr. Poornima Kaul, who was insensitive, pushy, mean, impatient, and hurried. Within the first ten minutes of admitting me in the very beginning stages of labor, she refused to discuss delivery options other than a c-section because it was an attempted vbac. She did not believe in vbac deliveries. Despite my having planned (with Dr. Green's blessing) on trying for one, Dr. Kaul made it clear that I was going to end up with a c section on her watch and proceeded to bully me to have one. She was awful, she made me cry, she made my husband angry. Wonderful CPMC gyn nurses who were on duty took care of me and quietly overruled some of her advice, which was helpful. But I cannot stress just how miserable she made my labor experience. I truly still have flashbacks of it. read more

I went on Yelp today to see if my Ob/Gyn was on here because I'd just heard a girlfriend say she's always surprised that doctors have Yelp profiles. I'm really, really shocked to see these negative reviews of Dr. Kaul! I've been a patient for over 4 years and I have appreciated, so much, her candid nature and her ability to answer my many questions with grace and always a lot of knowledge. I'll admit she definitely has her opinions and does like to gently push patients to certain birth controls perhaps, and I had a horrible experience on one she recommended, but I also appreciate a doctor who has her opinions and gives them openly. After all, she's the one who went to medical school, not I! I have not had any serious vaginal/ovarian surgery nor given birth like the other two reviewers so I cannot speak to her skills in that regard, but I have recommended her to many friends and cannot speak highly enough of her manner and care and thoughtfulness to the treatments and issues that I've had thus far. Anyway, for anyone looking to Yelp to find a new doctor, wholeheartedly give her these 5 stars... read more

Dr. Kaul is not only the worst OBGYN, but the worst physician I've ever been treated by. After seeing her on what seemed like an okay visit with a normal pap, she referred me for an ultrasound which ended up being a miserable experience in an unhygienic, unprofessional environment. I contacted her office afterwards to try and discuss this with her as I thought she should be aware, and she refused to listen, was extremely rude and spoke over me every time I tried to get a word in and I'm now stuck with a bill that won't be covered by insurance. I would never wish this experience upon anyone, would never recommend her to anyone looking for a new physician, let alone medical advice from a professional. If I could report her practice I would, it's a disgusting environment. Do yourself a favor and research a good doctor before thinking about calling this office for an appointment, I wish I had. read more

Dr. Kaul is hands down one of the best physicians I've ever had! She is patient, kind and makes herself very available via e-mail or phone to answer all of my questions. Besides being incredibly knowledgable, her bedside manner is truly the best and she never makes me feel rushed or like I am asking too many questions. I also like the fact that she is young and bright and very up to date with the latest research and practices. I feel truly lucky to have found her! read more

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Dr. Kaul. I have referred many of my friends to her as well because my experience was so positive- and they love her too! She is kind, professional, and intelligent. I highly recommend her! read more

I wish I could say that I enjoyed having Dr. Kaul as my obgyn but there has been several instances where I truly felt like she does not care for me as a patient. The first time is when I continuously told her I was having pelvic pain and after having no idea what it could be from she suggested that I see a gastro specialist. She gave me a referral but was extremely hesitant as if my issues didn't warrant the referral. She specifically said ..."well these people are really busy". The next time she cancelled my annual 1 week before I was scheduled and the phone rep said there was only 1 appointment day available to reschedule. I voiced my concerns that I was unhappy with this given I have had annuals that were in the grey area before and need to make sure I have a annual every year. Because of this I asked for my records and the rep said I had to pay for them. Last I checked they are my medical records and no one should have to pay for them. Doesn't my insurance pay you enough even though you cancel my appointments, dismiss my concerns, and are always running late? read more