Women First Specialists

I, like other reviewers, wish I could separate my review from my doctor and the staff. I really liked Dr. Hidalgo, and would have loved to continue to see her, but I have had multiple issues with the front desk staff and have since decided to never go back.
They have been hasty and dismissive on the phone and most recently a staff member refused to pass on an important message/​question to Dr. Hidalgo. After not responding to calls from my pharmacist I called and they said the doctor would not be in for over a week and so there was nothing they could do. Even if she was not around they could have connected me to another doctor, but she refused. I had to contact my primary care doctor, even though they were not familiar with the situation, and they were in disbelief that a staff member would refuse to connect me to a doctor. The final straw was when the staff member blamed the situation on me because I was late on making a yearly appointment (even though I have been told multiple times that if you have never had problems a yearly visit is not necessary).
I really hope things change here, because Dr. Hidalgo is truly a great doctor.

My primary care doctor recommended a few gynecologists to me and, since I live in an apartment building literally behind this office, I decided to go here. Not my best decision.
First, the office staff doesn’t even answer the phone with «Women First Specialists» or anything of the like. The first time I called I hung up because I thought I had a wrong number. The office staff is not overly friendly and not great to deal with. Also, the office itself is not nice. At all. It’s really old and kind of gross. However, I can deal with all of this (to an extent) if the doctor is good.
I saw Dr. Lombard for a procedure. She did little to explain what she was doing and what I would experience. She was very fast and didn’t really seem to care about me as a patient at all. She called me a week later to talk about my results and, while normal, did not explain anything or ask if i had any questions. I was not impressed.
The real kicker was when I had to see a doctor for an urgent matter. I was told that I couldn’t get in with Dr. Lombard or ANY of the other doctors at the practice for TWO WEEKS. Seriously?! Why would I have a doctor that couldn’t see me when something was actually wrong with me?
I have since found a wonderful doctor at a Northwestern practice downtown. She takes the time to answer all of my questions in great detail. She has even explained to me why one of Dr. Lombard’s recommendations for follow-​up was outdated and unnecessary. In short… find somewhere else to go!

After continued issues with the staff here I decided to transfer to a new doctor. It took four tries to get them to send my records over and even then my new doctors office had not received all of them. When I called to follow up I discovered that Womens First had faxed my medical information (including pap smear results) to a wrong number in spite of 1) having received the correct number from me 2) having received my new doctors website info to verify 3) transferring to a doctor that womens first has sent patients too before.
When I called back and asked to leave a message so that I could speak with the doctor about my privacy concerns, I got a call back instead from the office manager telling me «not to worry» b/​c there’s a cover sheet on the fax that says that if the fax is not for you to destroy it.
Not only were they unresponsive and careless, they refused to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserved. This is a violation of federal healthcare privacy laws and I was very concerned that their response was «don’t worry.»
So glad I am switching to a new doctor.

Sadly Dr. Hoffman has left, but I’m still going here and really like Dr. Hidalgo.

Just as some of the other Unilocalers have noted, Dr. Hoffman is gone… I asked the office how much they would charge me to literally, turn around and take my file out of their filing cabinet and they said $ 25. Yeah, that’s never going to happen and this place is never again going to happen.

I was a patient of Amy Hoffman’s, and l completely agree with everyone’s reviews — she was FANTASTIC. She recently moved from Chicago, and I’m sure she’ll have a wonderful business with her next practice.
Now that she is gone, I do NOT recommend Women’s First Specialists. I called to schedule an appt. with Dr. Hoffman, which is how I found out she was no longer with the practice. The office staff was very nonchalant about the matter and said they’d set me up with someone else. I voiced my shock and disappointment that office management didn’t find it reasonable to notify Dr. Hoffman’s patients of her departure proactively.
I requested my medical records because I don’t feel comfortable being dropped into a new doctor’s lap — I’d rather find someone via word-​of-​mouth and build a new relationship. I was told that there would be a $ 25 fee to release my records to myself directly. I spoke with the office manager and explained why it’s unreasonable to charge a fee (though minimal) when the office dropped the ball in it’s non-​attempt to retain patients. Again, I was told that they’d be happy to set me up with another doctor (of course they would — Dr. Hoffman carried that office and the practice is going to hurt without her). I explained that I found the office’s failure to notify patients concerning, and since I’m involuntarily in a position of finding a new doctor, she should understand why I believe the records should be released free of charge. She said, «It wasn’t our responsibility to notify patients. Dr. Hoffman didn’t give us enough notice before she left.» To which I said, «But even after she left you could have mailed or called her patients.» And she said, «That wasn’t our responsibility.»
SHOCKING.
Moral of the story: if the office that handles our records, billing, and appointment availability doesn’t feel their doctors’ patients are «their responsibility,» then why should we feel comfortable there? Dr. Hoffman was great — but without her, Women’s First Specialists has nothing special to offer.

I finally found a doctor that I was comfortable with and have been happy to be Dr. Hoffman’s patient for the last 3 years. Like Jennifer, I just called to make an appointment with Dr. Hoffman to find out that she is no longer with Women First. I did some searching online but can’t seem to find her either… help! Anyone know where she is practicing now?

Amy Hoffman is AMAZING.

Dr. Amy Hoffman is fantastic. It had been a long time since my last gyno visit, and I was a little apprehensive about going to someone I didn’t know, but I was pleasantly surprised. It only took me a few minutes to fill out my paperwork, and (granted, it was a 2pm appointment on a Wednesday) I was in the exam room and talking to Dr. Hoffman in under 15 minutes. She made me laugh, made sure I was comfortable, and was both professional and friendly. I’m done looking for a doctor — I’ve found her!

I recently found out I am pregnant and am trying to find an OB/​GYN. I had wanted to meet with the doctor and ask some questions prior to scheduling an appointment. I wanted to make sure I liked her and we mesh well prior to anything! Well when I asked the receptionist who answered the phone if this was possible she said «well, not really because she is really busy. You would have to schedule an appointment.» When I asked what this would consist of she stated «an ultrasound and papsmear.» Well what happens if I don’t like her and have to go somewhere else? I’m pretty sure my insurance is not going to cover that. As a mom-​to-​be I want to know my Dr first! I was then told that there were no appointments available for another month. Guess I can mark Dr. Hoffman off my list!

Ok — so it is a little odd that I am reviewing my Gyne but SHE IS AMAZING! Amy Hoffman is smart, funny, and completely engaged. She listened and gave opinions as well as direction and I couldn’t be happier with her surgical skill and true dedication to my reproductive plans. I have seen some of the best and worst GYNs in the Chicago area and she is by far the best. I never wait more than 20 – 30 minutes and when she is in my room she is 100% present — which is a huge gift considering the amount of responsibility she has.
I know that she will be a great partner in this next phase of my life and I don’t have to worry about fighting to be treated well anymore ever!

At the risk of sounding creepy, I love my gynecologist. Dr. Hoffman is great. She’s super friendly and outgoing. She’s so easy to talk to about whatever. I also love that’s she’s so supportive. I hear horror stories from my friends about doctors telling them if they don’t have kids by age thirty their uterus will fall out (or something like that). That’s never happened here.
I’ve been going several years now and I’m always in and out within thirty minutes.
FYI, St. Joseph’s Hospital will validate parking (but it’s still four bucks).

I saw Dr. Amy Hoffman for my entire pregnancy, I just gave birth this past April. As the previous review stated the waiting room was dirty looking and dingy, until they moved. Now they are in a different suite with in the building, and it is a very clean waiting room. I have had nothing but great experiences with this office. This was my third child. My other two were born at Prentice, I had a doctor that was right off of Michigan Ave, and I always felt rushed so I decided to change and ended up at Women First Specialists. I have to say that with Dr. Hoffman my experience was by far better. I feel she did not rush through the appointments, always made sure she explained everything completely. She is so personable and I love that. The receptionists were never rude, always polite. Sometimes the wait could be 45 minutes, but I find that common with most doctors. I also saw Dr. Hidalgo, and Dr. Bilinski during my pregnancy, and was very happy with them as well. I am glad that I changed doctors, and found Dr. Hoffman. They also have another office at 6121 N Elston.

If I could give them zero stars I would. Here are my complaints:
1. I waited ONE HOUR AND 45 MINUTES in their disgusting waiting room until the dr. was ready to see me.
2. Receptionists are cold and mean.
3. They marked my diagnosis sheet incorrectly so insurance didn’t cover it.
4. They do not offer reminder calls for appointments and they DO NOT SEND YOU YOUR PAP RESULTS.
5. It took me calling for 5 days in a row (two weeks after my pap) to finally get the dr. to tell me my results (which were abnormal). FIVE DAYS of me hounding them — and my results were abnormal!!!
6. The dr. took zero time to explain what was wrong to me. I felt as though I was bothering her.
7. The office is dark and dingy — not a good feeling for a medical establishment.
I immediately hung up with them and made an appointment with another gyne who a friend of mine recommended so that I can get the answers I deserve.
I should also note that the last time I went to Women’s First — I also waited more than an hour — but hoped it was just a «fluke» that day.
I highly recommend you to look elsewhere when searching for your gynecologist!