Marla Kushner, DO

I’m a long term patient of Dr. Kushner, but I had a 3 pm appointment today and at 3:30 when I was still in the waiting room, I asked what was going on. I was told she was running behind schedule. The issue was the receptionist and nurse could not give me a time frame of how much longer I was going to have to wait. I got lots of attitude from both staff members while I rescheduled my appointment for a time when I could be seen first thing in the morning. I really like Dr. Kushner but she needs to re-​think her office staff.

Dr Kushner is a wonderful doctor. She has helped me so much and my life is that much better because of it. She’s attentive, serious, won’t let you get away with any bs, but her warm, compassionate, and considerate manner makes you feel very comfortable in her presence.

Dr. Kushner is great and the negative reviews regarding the students are confusing. Yes, a student comes in before you see the doctor but that takes about five minutes max and allows the doctor to focus on value add care versus administrative items.
I enjoy going here and have never had anything but a positive experience. I highly recommend!

I think she is a truly good and caring doctor. No doubt about it, but many of my visits I would feel rushed and as other reviewers before have written I got tired of seeing the nurse, then the resident/​med student until I finally got to see Dr Kushner. Even when I would request to just see the doc the resident/​med student wouldn’t get the memo and would show up ready and eager to ‘learn’.
I will miss seeing her for my care as she is fantasic, but after a year I have gotten tired of the cumbersomeness of my visits. It’s an office for people who don’t mind being seen be a few other healthcare people before they see the doc… time and patience required

Overall the staff is great but Dr. Kushner spends very little time with you and most of your visit revolves around a different student doctor in a rotation. When you finally get Dr. Kushner she is either rude and short or happy and short — depends on the visit.
I would have given it more stars but I can only compare to other experiences I have had with other doctors and it just doesn’t come close.

I was a young mother who take my toddler to see Dr Kushner many times. We had insurance and were fully covered by blue cross blue shield. I expressed concerns to her about my sons behavior at daycare. He wasn’t developing verbally and socially and I was having to pick him up early because he was disruptive. Come to find out by going to our new family doctor that he was showing signs of autism. He was eventually diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and is functioning well today. Dr. Kushner never asked any questions beyond what I told her and never referred us anywhere else. She was uncaring and when I went in to get my records for the new specialist she told me I wasn’t parenting him sufficiently and that was why he was disruptive at daycare. I wouldn’t recommend her to my worst enemy.

I agree with several of the other comments regarding the terrible process in place at this office where you are seen by 2 – 3 persons including a student Dr before briefing seeing Dr Kushner.
It’s wastes so much time and is very repetitive.
The admin staff are very polite.

Horrible insurance processing experience.

if you ever get to physically see Kushner herself, you’re OK.
but there’s a wall of people between you and her and it’s almost impossible to get 1-​on-​1 time.
you have to run thru a gauntlet of nurse practitioners and med students first.
and the front desk staff is very unhelpful and disorganized.

When it comes to my health I can often times be neglectful and then when something arises I will think the world should stop so people can cater to my needs. This is not how the world works.
Doctor Kushner is a special breed though. She truly cares about her patients and who are often times apart of community that can be for less of a better word overbearing.
The other day I had a health scare and was freaking out, she made room for me in her busy schedule (that very same day) and even stayed past working hours to help. (This is not how normal health care works. Normally it takes weeks to get in and see a doctor of this high caliber) she put me at ease by not only properly diagnosing me, but informatively educating me after patiently listening to my concerns.
I then impatiently blew up her office phone during what I assume was the offices lunch hour a couple days later where she personally answered the phone and compassionately talked to me some more.
I would definitely recommend her to anyone.

My issue isn’t so much with Dr. Kushner as it is with the office staff and the lack of organization in this office. When I arrived for my first appointment, I had to interrupt the nurse/​secretary from watching TV on her computer so that she could help me. She didn’t ask for my information, just told me to take a seat. I told her I was a new patient so I probably had forms to fill out. She gave them to me, I filled them out, then when I went back up to the counter to hand them back to her, she was talking with someone else, and two younger staff members were facing me, but completely ignoring me. They were on their computers, did not look up, did not say anything. Very frustrating. I loudly said I was done filling out my paperwork. While I was filling out my paperwork I saw Dr. Kushner leave, which was unsettling because it was only about 20 minutes before my appointment with her. She walked back in right when my appointment time came up, fortunately I was called back and she saw me within the next five minutes. The same nurse that was watching TV when I walked in took me back to exam room and confirmed that I was having a pap smear… nope…was there for a physical. Nothing to do with a pap smear. I commented about their lack of organization and she said she just looks at what is on the chart. She didn’t say anything else after that and then left. Another person came in and confirmed I was seeing Dr. Kushner, which made me laugh because of how ridiculous a question it was. Yes, that is who I made the appointment for, that is who I wrote that I was seeing on the paperwork I filled out online when I made the appointment as well as the paperwork I filled out when I got to the office. Dr. Kushner came in and redeemed the situation a bit by being so friendly and personable, but the same nurse came back in to do a few more tests and was still unfriendly and standoffish. After she finished she said I was good to go, but I hadn’t received some paperwork I was told I’d receive and I also hadn’t had a shot that I had discussed having with Dr. Kushner. So, my main issue is not with Dr. Kushner herself, but the office staff and their lack of organization and lack of professionalism. I won’t be going back.

I went in as a new patient on Friday after calling to see if a same day appointment was available. They said they were booked but would try to fit me in. I didn’t have to wait more than 15 minutes or so.
Office staff, residents and the doctor could have been nicer — everyone was friendly and accommodating and took the time to listen to my problem. They recognized me on the phone a few days later during a followup call.
If this is the kind of friendly, personal medical service I can expect, then I am glad to be moving to this practice for medical care.

I truly am happy with Dr. Kushner and the PA/​nurse who took care of me. I felt taken care of; that i was listened to and my concerns were not just dismissed; personal calls and follow up from the doctor really surprised me. I dont think i have ever had a doctor call me personally for follow up. Her office staff is not as impressive, i dont know if they are new or just inept but they improperly billed by insurance for the past 2 visit, do not return calls and just dont seem to know what they are doing.

And so it continues… phoned to pay a familiar looking amount which — you guessed it — had already been paid. Good job I called rather than just filled in the credit card details on the slip!

I found Dr. Kushner to be sympathetic and understanding. I had a sinus infection, she worked with me to find an anti biotic that worked but did not make me feel like I ate a bag of metal plates.
I found her office to be very accommodating and even fit me in on short notice. She took the time to talk to me and not rush me in and out like other doctors offices I have been to. It also helps that she has some Saturday hours which made my life so much easier, especially now that I no longer live in the neighborhood and have moved to the burbs
I have recommended her to friends and family.

I’ve seen Dr. Marla Kuschner at least 5 times and I feel that I gave her a fair chance as my primary doctor. Whenever I came to the office she would dismiss my symptoms as anxiety and not even perform a thorough exam. I’m a Registered Nurse and fairly knowledgeable about various conditions as well. I’ve later found out that my symptoms were not caused by anxiety, but by a heart and neurological problem. I have a new primary care doctor that takes my symptoms and concerns seriously, which is very important!

Let me say that I get anxiety going to the doctor. I love the dentist, but the doctor is another story. I found Dr. Kushner though my HMO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Advantage plan. I was pleasantly surprised with the level of service. Toni the receptionist is adorable; classy and friendly. She calls everyone doll! Does it get better than that? Made me smile and even laugh to myself.
Dr. Kushner had two residents in the office and the one girl did my vitals (she’s going into pediatric medicine) she was kind, through and I felt very knowledgeable. I was happy to see some residents as I have several friends that are doctors. I have skin issue and was happy to find that the other resident was a dermatology resident.
I found Dr. Kushner very kind, hip and easy to talk to for the few minutes I saw her. She was the kind of woman you would want as your mom. I got a referral to go to a dermatologist and Toni (receptionist) called me as soon as the approval came. The nurse (I missed her name) was extremely pleasant too.
I was happy with the experience. Not sure what happened with the other people that have reviewed but I plan on keeping Dr. Kushner as my PCP.

I went to Dr. Kushner because I had a serious head cold, and I was worried that I had a nasal infection.
First, the woman who brought me to the exam room never introduced herself. I never learned her name or her job title, which I would expect to hear from someone asking me about my symptoms and medical history.
Next I met with a person who asked me similar questions to mystery woman #1. This person seemed to be a student, but never gave me the disclaimer that she was.
Then I met with a third person. This gentleman was very dismissive of all of the symptoms that I explained to him.
I should also mention that between each of these people coming and and out of my room was a wait that seemed to take forever. In actuality it was probably about 5 – 10 minutes between each person, but with no clock in the exam room, I have no idea. I’m sure the fact that I was ill added to my frustration about waiting this long, but I was at the doctor because I was ill.
Finally, before I could meet with Dr. Kushner, I could hear the third person that I spoke to recalling all of my symptoms and ever part of the conversation that we held. He was telling Dr. Kushner OUTSIDE of my exam room so that she would be prepped to speak with me.
I think that this is incredibly unprofessional. It would have taken me the exact same amount of time to tell her myself, and it’s a good thing I wasn’t going in because I thought I had an STD or it would have been public information for all who could hear as this gentleman shared everything in a common area of their office.
When Dr. Kushner finally came into my exam room she was very sympathetic and seemed nice. I was frustrated however that she had person #1 come back into the exam room to give me a strep test, even though I did not have a sore throat.
This was my second time seeing Dr. Kushner, but I will be looking for a new doctor shortly.

I’ll start off by saying I’ve never been to Dr. Kushner and have never been to the office. I was referred to her by my PCP whom just left practice for maternity leave. Here’s why I am not even going to make that appointment to go in:
I called with a medical emergency and the receptionist (who was nice) told me Dr. Kushner only sees patients until 3:00 even though she is there until a whopping 4:00. I am a teacher and cannot be there until 3:30, and was told by the receptionist that perhaps I should change doctors again to someone who has more appropriate hours (hell, I’d love to be a doctor and only work until 3:00 everyday, too. Can’t blame her!). I let her know that because of insurance I am stuck with them through December, and wouldn’t be able to see my new PCP until January.
So, for a medical emergency I am supposed to wait another 5 weeks? The lack of compassion and the lackof Dr. Kushner putting in hours for her patients are enough to keep me away.

I found Dr. Kushner through my health insurance provider website. Looking at her credentials and seeing that she was an MSU alumni I figured I would be in good hands. She is very knowledgeable and personable. She really listens and makes sure you are getting the treatment you need. She also seems to be a huge advocate of taking in young doctors and mentoring them as I’ve met new ones each time I go in. The receptionist here is very friendly, and helpful. She made sure I got to see Dr. Kushner after my accident for a follow-​up. I didn’t have to wait a long period of time to be called in from the waiting room. It’s always nice to know that there’s a doctor to go to when you need something checked out.