Penn Ob/Gyn & Midwifery Care

BUYER (Patient) BEWARE!!!
I thought I had a great experience with this practice — they were both professional and courteous, until I received my bill. After trying my best to do due diligence to get procedure codes and information based on my insurance, I was STILL BILLED almost $ 200 for something that I was told was zero charge, by both their office and my insurance company. I even asked for this in writing, but they assured me that it was of zero cost.
I just got off the phone with an office billing representative and she told me that I was given codes based on what they know, but there was still an «unknown» element because the doctor can bill you for whatever he or she wants. Seriously?! This was ELECTIVE and I elected for it because I thought it was preventive and covered 100%.
I feel like I just took my car to a shady mechanic and had work done that I was not quoted for, except it was my BODY. Unreal and sad. Never again.
As a side note, I work in Marketing and rarely take to Unilocal to express my displeasure but I called them and gave them the opportunity to fix things and make it right, and they could literally not care any less. I’m sure it is business as usual.

My experience with this practice has been amazing. I gave birth to my first son January of 2014 at Pennsy with Elka Easter, and I thought the whole experience was fantastic. I could not have asked for a better birth experience. I didn’t use any of the natural the birth rooms, as I was already fully dilated when I arrived, but I heard they are very nice.
It is true that you see a bunch of midwives when you go on your visit and you get who you get when you are in labor, but that never bothered me. I thought I lucked out with Elka. She was incredibly patient with me and helped me through one of the most difficult things in my life. I had my doula there and my husband who did all the «coaching», but I knew I had an amazing midwife in the room the whole time checking on my progress and making sure my son came out the healthiest way possible. She was calm and cool the whole time and kept the energy incredibly positive.
Only one time I waited a while at this office, but with as many visits as a pregnant woman has with her OB/​midwife, that was nothing. I am currently pregnant with my second child and still going to this practice, and there is no midwife I dread to have during labor. There are definitely a few that I would prefer (based on personality only), but all are more than capable and qualified.
This really is a wonderful practice and I highly recommend it.

Pros: Great View, New Office
Cons: *Always* behind schedule (no acknowledgement)
I’ve been seeing Dr. Mehta for about 5 years now and have followed them from their offices in the Curtis Center to the new high rise on 8^th. Dr. Mehta is great but the office staff and administration processes leave much to be desired.
A poster below summed it up saying «The office is ALWAYS running an hour behind, even first thing in the morning. Actually getting anyone on the phone is an exercise in patience (and calling repeatedly over a course of days). No one in the office has any idea what any other part of the office is doing.»
As long as I’ve been going to Penn Ob/​Gyn + Midwifery Care I’ve experienced the same, regardless of checkup time (They could learn a LOT from the prompt + organized departments on the 17^th floor, sending timely reminders and electronic satisfaction surveys).
In addition to the office always unapologetically running behind, 2011 – 14 I never received any reminders to schedule an annual exam, electronic, paper, or otherwise, even after repeatedly filling out one of those postcards with my address. This year I did receive a letter dated ²⁄₁₇ to remind me my annual visit was due on ²⁄₁₄. Yes, that is right, a reminder sent after my annual passed.
Strangely they have a new form requiring you to state if you are there for an annual visit or if you have any additional questions for the doctor to answer. If you choose option 2, it is stated you will be billed a copay. So apparently, if I have any OBGYN questions for my doctor I’ll now be billed as something other than the annual exam and will now have to pay for what should be a fully insured visit. This definitely strikes me as sketchy and another example of offices trying to bleed as much $ as they can from insurance providers and does not sit well with me. They do not explain the form and when I asked about it the staff actually just recommended I check #2 ‘In case I had questions’ — so you can charge me? No thanks!
And lastly, the office staff at the front are unhelpful and straight up rude, ignoring you while they finish their private conversations among eachother and feigning ignorance when you pass along a request verbatim as advised by another staff member. Very difficult to deal with or interact with, total polar opposite of the ease that Delancy Internal (Penn) Medicine up on 17 displays. Hard to believe both operate under Penn Medicine.

First off i would like to say that i am writing this review in hopes it will help someone from going through what i went through, by not going here, or that the midwives will see this and never let it happen again. I spoke to the head midwife about this so she is fully aware of the situation. It took me almost a year to be able to talk about my experience.
I had my daughter at penn almost one year ago on January 27^th 2014. I had been trying to get pregnant for two years. I was very prepared and had high hopes for a natural birth using hypnobabies. I am not sad that i didn’t get the natural birth i wanted, with my long labor, and lack of progress it did save me from a c section. I had all my prenatal care at penn obgyn and midwifery by the midwives.
I made a point to meet every midwife, so i made at least one appointment with every midwife in the office. What i didn’t know was that there was a midwife who didn’t do in office visits, she only attended births, and that is who i ended up with.
My contractions were 3 mins apart for 24 hours when i was admitted. My midwives name was Sue, i had never met her before, i brought her and the nurses a cake, we prepared to induce with pitocin since i was over 42 weeks and i was only at a 3. i was very tired so i opted to get an epidural as well. When sue examined me she broke my water WITHOUT my permission. I asked if i could still move around with the epidural and they said that yes i could, but after they put in the epidural they did not allow me to move,
When i handed sue my birthplan she shrugged it off. when the epidural was in she looked me right in the eyes and told me «now you need to listen to me. What i say goes and when i say jump you better say how high» she also went on and on about how i needed to let her take control and that she was in charge. Mind you i hadn’t even laid down on the bed yet. At that moment i should have asked for a different doctor but in my time of great venerability i did not. I did have an amazing doula tho who kept me positive despite sues negativity. when i laid in the bed I was not allowed to move around on the bed and was forced to lay on my back.
Throughout the experience sue went on and on about all the ways i could die, (if you have heard of hypnobabies you would know this is very counterproductive and was in my birth plan for everyone to be positive around me), since i had a very long labor sue did not hesitate to remind me that she had been there for 17 hours and that she would send me down for a c section if i didn’t start progressing.
I feel i was abused by this woman! she accused me of being on drugs, because i was so calm (i was in hypnosis), when i questioned something sue was doing she said «what do you do for a living?» Which i replied «i am a hairstylist» to that she exclaimed «well im a midwife!», i also had a straight catheter and sue would refuse to change it for hours upon hours 7 hours one of the times. the head nurse finally did change it for me without the permission of sue.
When it came time to push i was forcibly held down against my will, by her an one nurse while my husband was pushed out of the way.
The head nurse and my dula were my saving grace if it weren’t for them i Don’t know what would have happened. She refused to let me squat on the squat bar although the one nurse did let me which is when my daughters head crowned, at that point sue ran back into the room and forced me back onto my back and made me stop pushing for 5 minutes. I begged and pleaded for perennial support but she refused and said no, when i placed my hand down to do it myself sue slapped my hand away.
I spiked a fever and i was informed they would have to take my baby to the nicu i said ok. And that i didn’t want to talk about it sue would not stop talking about it meanwhile i my baby’s head was crowning and i wasn’t allowed to push plus she had refused perennial support.
Finally i was allowed to push and my baby was born. For that one moment i was the happiest i had ever been, i felt as though i was watching from outside my body… And then it hit me. Why didn’t i ask for another doctor? Why did this woman abuse me the way she did?
My baby was taken away for 4 hours, i was unable to pee without a catheter for 3 days and was only able to pee in tiny spouts for the next 3 weeks. i was also unable to make a bowel movement for 3 weeks, i think it was because they wouldn’t change the catheter. I TORE, and to this day i bleed every time i have sex, i assume it was because she refused perennial support.
This woman sue took advantage of me, hurt me abused me. I reported her to the head midwife who was very sweet and compassionate, yet nothing was done. I was dehumanized and abused by this midwife sue, this person i was suppose to be able to trust, hurt me in ways i may never emotionally heal from, because of this experience i am terrified to have another child. I hope she reads this i hope somehow this makes a difference.

The midwives at this practice are absolutely amazing. I have seen a handful of them throughout my pregnancy and each experience was great. Obtaining and appointment was not difficult, wait time was reasonable– usually less than 20 minutes, and the rest of the staff were very friendly. Being that it was my first pregnancy, I was a little nervous and didn’t know if some of the symptoms I experienced were normal. The ease of the online patient access portal was great– you typed in your question/​concern and would receive a response or call less than a couple of hours! Extremely convenient!
I am a FTM and delivered my daughter at Pennsylvania in December. I really wanted to have a natural (no pain meds) birth and had a couple of birth wishes. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned and I had to get induced with pitocin. After 23 hrs of labor, there were a few minor obstacles that prevented me from carrying out my other birth wishes. Maria Bizzo was my midwife the day I delivered and she was absolutely WONDERFUL! She really cared about making this experience a good one and went above and beyond to make sure I was able to carry out at least one of the birth wishes. I am so happy with my delivery and would recommend the midwives to anyone who is searching for excellent, compassionate care!

First off this is a huge practice. I swear half the city of Philadelphia goes here.
The midwives and OBs are fantastic. There are definitely some I like better than others, but for the most part I’ve been very happy with the care I’ve received. When my daughter was born there were some complications, but I felt informed and respected the whole time.
Unfortunately, getting care can be like pulling teeth. The office is ALWAYS running an hour behind, even first thing in the morning. Actually getting anyone on the phone is an exercise in patience (and calling repeatedly over a course of days). No one in the office has any idea what any other part of the office is doing. The surgical scheduler is so hard to get in touch with that I seriously contemplated whether it was easier to just miscarry at home rather than have to interact with her again to schedule the D&C.
I don’t know what, if anything, can be done about the miserable office situation. The OBs seem pretty powerless to do much about it, but I might try to take it up with the patient advocate at the hospital. Right now I view the office as a flaming wall I have to climb in order to see the doctors I’ve come to trust.
But if you’ve got a strong stomach for bureaucracy, the doctors and midwives are great.

Do you guys answer your phones? Second try this morning with a 20+ min wait time. I have a kid and a life I have to attend to.

I’ve been coming to Penn Ob/​Gyn for years now (not the same department as Penn Ob/​Gyn and Midwifery – see the full list of Penn’s gynecological-​related practices here:
).
The main problem they have is the requirements (set by insurance companies) for the number of patients they have to schedule in a certain period of time, which creates major back-​up problems and the wait is often excruciating (especially if you’re trying to fit an appointment into a lunch break, etc.). However, the staff is polite, the new space at 801 Walnut Street (12^th and 15^th floors) is beautifully appointed (and more convenient), and I love my doctor.

Agree with most reviews — the midwives a WONDERFUL, the front desk staff are… frustrating.
I received prenatal care here for my first pregnancy and delivered with Maria at Pennsy. I am now pregnant with my 2^nd and returning to the midwives. I really can’t complain about anything about my entire prenatal/​birth experience except for the difficulty of dealing with the receptionists. Nothing TERRIBLE, just always seemed impatient, never in a hurry and NEVER smiling (at least at patients, they always seem to be having fun with each other).
I guess those are just «above and beyond» expectations that are worth putting up with for the excellent care of the midwives. I’ve seen most all of them and they were all great! I would encourage seeing as many as possible before birth since you never know who will be at the hospital when it’s baby time.

I’ve been seeing the midwives here through both of my pregnancies and have had a really positive experience. Pamela Kane is especially amazing and I would recommend her to anyone. The reason I started going here is because I wanted to deliver at a hospital, but with a midwife. This practice is the only one in the city that has a midwife on schedule at a hospital (Pennsylvania at 8^th and Spruce) 24 hours a day.

I just wanted to comment on the 11÷7÷2013 post from Michele R. I have nothing to say against her feedback other than that she is not posting about the correct practice. Dr. Desouza-​Sanders and the Pen Ob/​Gyn practice on the 12^th floor is not the same practice as this Unilocal entry for «Penn Ob/​Gyn and Midwifery Care.» This practice is in the same building on the 14^th floor and Dr. Desouza-​Sanders and their reception staff are different.
I have had a great experience seeing the midwives at the Penn Ob/​Gyn and Midwifery Care practice on the 14^th floor (and in the link listed above:
).

This practice has moved to 801 walnut st, 12^th floor. I was seeing dr. Desouza-​sanders for my first visit with this practice after learning the highly sought Dr. Kolecki wasn’t accepting new patients. I arrived 10 minutes early for my appt and checked in, signed the paper and handed it over to the receptionist. After 15 minutes I should’ve known something was wrong since I wasn’t given new patient paper work to fill out. I figured my info was in the system from a network visit at the hospital 6 months prior. Nope. She just plain forgot to check me into the system. I watched women get called back after arriving long after me but figured with all the doctors in the practice that was irrelevant. I sat for 45 minutes and was going to give it 5 more before I said something when another receptionist ask me if I was seeing a doctor. «I hope so!» she set me up with paperwork and apologized for the wait, but I had already worked up a good half hour of impatience.
I finally got in to see the doc at 2:55. She wasn’t all smiles or anything and didn’t apologize for the mistake until the end of the appointment but overall I found her to be pleasant enough. More importantly, she listened to my issues, asked appropriate questions and led me down the problem solving path without being patronizing.
I will chalk the check in mix-​up up to «shit happens» and say that the new environment may be what the staff needed to cheer up a bit. I wouldn’t say anyone was rude or unpleasant as other reviewers have mentioned in the past. But if it happens again, well, I will amend this review and also my choice in practice!

I have seen almost every midwife at the practice, and each has been as caring, patient, and warm as the one before. I’ve (purposefully) never seen a doctor because the midwifery care is so consistent and positive.
When I was admitted to the hospital for the birth of my first child, and nothing went as planned, Vicki say with me and my husband for hours and even stayed with me in surgery until the anesthesia kicked-​in.
I wish I could be more upbeat about the front-​office staff. In person, all of my experiences have been great. However, the phone skills need some work.

honestly, i wanted to love this practice. the clinicians, themselves, seem pretty good. i don’t have too many issues with them, but the practice as a whole is AWFUL. i’m a penn grad student, so naturally, i wanted to have my OB care with penn medicine despite the fact that i live on the main line. that was the complete wrong decision! and here i am at 23 weeks pregnant, trying to switch practices to the main line health system. i had a UTI go undetected for over a week (because it takes that long for them to send out labs), and they then proceeded to prescribe me a SULFA drug in my first trimester! for those of you who are not familiar with what is/​is not ok in pregnancy, this is NOT, especially in the first trimester, since it can interfere with folic acid uptake. when i called to rectify the problem, the midwife i spoke to was very kind and luckily fixed that mistake right away, but i am very upset that it was made in the first place. thank goodness i’m in healthcare and knew this! what about those who wouldn’t have?
second, the staff is among the worst i’ve ever seen. they treat you horribly. their customer service is just awful. they put you on hold for long periods of time, bark at you through the phone and in person, and literally have hardly ANY availability. i’m having some complications, and when i called to reschedule my appointment three weeks ahead of time, i was told i couldn’t be seen until three weeks AFTER my original appointment date for days i needed. that would essentially mean not being seen for two months at this point in my pregnancy. not ok.
honestly, stay away. the only reason i gave two starts is because of the good clinicians i HAVE met. they need to hire all new staff.

Wow. My experience here was completely different than the other reviewers! First of all, did you know midwives see non-​pregnant ladies for regular gyne exams?! I didn’t, but I do now! Best of both worlds!
I ADORE my midwife, Nancy Hazle. She spent a lot of time just talking to me, getting my history, both medical & personal. I didn’t feel rushed at all. And instead of judging me or scoffing at my use of an acupuncturist & a naturopath, she encouraged me to continue seeing both of them. She ordered a lot of tests & was really focused on helping me figure out what’s wrong with me & figuring out solutions that work for me.
The office staff was also super nice to me (I often wonder at the behavior of people who rant & rave about nasty customer service at places… how THEY acted towards the people they’re ranting about… do unto others, ya know?) and I didn’t have to wait all that long.
When I called for test results today, one sentence uttered by the nurse who called me back lost them a star. One sentence. «Your chart is a disaster!!» Um. I’m calling for serious test results & THAT’S what you said to me?! What. The. Hell. Apparently, she meant it was disorganized (again, what the hell?!), but still.
(For the record, all of my tests came back negative… which is, of course, positive.)
I definitely recommend, & definitely will be back again… but hopefully, just once a year.

In agreement with the other reviewers, the general staff of receptionists is lazy and un-​accomadating. When told by your doctor to make an appointment in 2 weeks, the schedulers don’t really care and will happily make your appointment 4 weeks later because «that’s all they have available.» I have sat in the waiting room for upwards of an hour for no reason and had other people seen before me while I waited, even though my appointment was before them and I was on time. This all shows the poor communication of the office staff.
The doctors and midwives are themselves rather inconsistent. They don’t usually know my name or anything about my history when they come into the room, so you must explain everything over again (and again). One doctor will say one thing, and another doctor will give you a completely different response. I suggest that if they are going to have you see someone different each time, they come to agreement on certain general aspects of care and take 1 minute to review your file before walking into the room.
I do not recommend this place.

I have been seeing Dr. Mehta for over 4 – 5 years even at their old location. I like her very much and have recommended her to many friends. She is great! Since their move to the Curtis Building, my experiences with the front desk employees have been spotty to almost unrelational. The last time, I waited for an hour to be seen. Was there even an apology or even an explanation of what was going on? None. Dr. Mehta did apologize & I willingly accepted. Since I am in the health services as well, I totally understand emergencies. This time, on a rainy day, I was running 10 minutes behind. By the time the receptionist saw me, one was chatting on the phone & the other chatting at the back, 17 minutes had passed my appointment. She tells me that the doctor cannot see me since they don’t have a late policy. Excuse me?!? I was 10 minutes late & by the time she saw me it was now 17 minutes late. Anyway, I didn’t want my anger to get a hold of me. Instead, I’m just warning anyone who may seek services from this practice, that the front desk employees are terrible. The office manager is Kat Duncan.

Great Doctors but the Staff is worthless. They have awful phone manners and aren’t caring at all. Also, expect to wait for your Doctor for at least an hour. They’re always running late and instead of checking you in, the staff is normally gossiping and goofing around. I’ve never gone there and was able to go in for my appointment and see a doctor without spending 3 hours there. I really did like the Doctors, but when I became pregnant I’ve opted for another doctor. I would suggest the same for other Philly ladies.

I can’t say anything about the OBs because I never saw one, but the midwives are really great. I delivered with Randi Singer, who was incredibly supportive and helped me to have the birth experience I wanted. The only drawback I found with this practice is that a couple of times I spent a lot of time in the waiting room, but I think you’d be hard pressed to find an OB or midwife where this isn’t the case.

They lost me at hello. I’m relocating to Philadelphia and called to make an appointment with Dr. Mehta. The receptionist was very unaccomodating. I’d rather find a doctor’s office who works with me and seems to care rather than come here.