Catherine M Kirchner, MD

Dr. Kirchner has been my doctor for about three years. The first year or so was fine but after some time, I noticed that her staff was less than competent. However, since I don’t have many problems and her office was convenient, I stayed with her. My wife had an appointment with Dr. Kirchner today and a woman called my phone and in a very rude manner demanded to know if my wife was coming to her appointment. I put my wife on the phone and I quickly noticed that there was something very wrong with the conversation. My wife put the call on speaker-​phone and the woman was actually yelling at her. I took the phone and asked the woman to please not yell. She then started yelling at me. At that point I hung up the phone. It was like she was on drugs or something. Within a few minutes I received another call from Dr. Kirchner’s office that I could not answer because I had taken another call. The same woman left a message informing me that Dr. Kirchner would not see my wife and that I was also no longer welcome at that office. In the 70 years that I have been alive, I have never had such an experience. STAY AWAY FROM THAT OFFICE.

This is a warning to anyone looking for a doctor. Do not even try to go to this one. First off good luck trying to get through on their phone, they have the most incompetent staff I have ever had to deal with. I asked to speak to the doctor and they flatly said she will not talk to me or call me back because she is so busy. Went there for some blood work, they never called with results. When I called it took 2 days for them to finally answer the phone, and did not return any of the messages I left. Their excuse was they inputted the wrong number, how about the messages I left with my name and number. How about mailing the results to my home. I complained to them, again I cannot speak to the doctor. Just do yourself a favor and go somewhere else.

I took my elderly mom to this doctor for a consultation. When the nurse called for us, I explained to her that a) My mom’s English is not great, and b) She has trouble understanding things, that I wanted to translate and ask specific healthcare questions that she would have too much trouble articulating. The nurse responded coldly, «We don’t allow that here.» I told her to ask the doctor, because it was important. She said she would, and had me wait alone while my mom went in by herself.
15 minutes later, after I kept calling my mom (which appeared to annoy the doctor), the nurse showed up and told me that both SHE and the doctor don’t think it would be a good idea to allow me in. Why? Because if my mom ever needs to come back and I can’t come with her, it would be a problem. How ridiculous is that? I told her, that would not happen. We would not make an appointment if I could not be there. Makes sense, right? Well, her response was, «The doctor does not see patients who do not speak English.» Say what???
Something was odd about this whole visit. I felt like there was a bit of discrimination going on, to be honest. I told them to just have my mother come out so we can leave. They noticed we were not happy.
Less than half an hour after we left, we received calls from this office. I told them, do not call again. Then they called again. The receptionist said, «I know you told me not to call… but the doctor wants to speak to you.» Why didn’t the doctor just talk to me WHILE I WAS THERE? Unbelievable.
I immediately called other doctors to make a new appointment. Every office I spoke to said they would not mind if I was present during the consultation. One was even appalled by how we were treated.
So consider this a warning to anyone who wants to accompany an elderly patient, someone with Alzheimers, or someone who does not speak perfect English.