Bernbeck Sabine, MD

Dr. Bernbeck is an amazing doctor! I highly recommend her and her staff. So highly supportive of different parenting styles while remaining firm in her beliefs. I respect her so much!

Literally created this Unilocal account to write a bad review on her. I’ve been a patient of Dr. Bernbeck for the past 3 years, yet I rarely see her.
3 years ago I caught a bad case of whooping cough and when I set an appointment Bernbeck was booked for months so I was forced to see Pretty. Pretty is as dumb as they come. She diagnosed me with a cough and sent me on my way with antibiotics. The antibiotics did not work and I was back 2 weeks later. Again Bernbeck was not available and again I settled for Pretty. She gave me another round of antibiotics and again sent me on my way. Again this did not take so I needed to make yet another appointment. I went to schedule and not to my surprise Bernbeck was unavailable. I was livid and told the staff if I couldn’t see her I was changing doctors. I didn’t get to see Bernbeck but I at least got a referral to an ear nose and throat doctor. After having whooping cough for 3 months he told me the treatment I was given was all wrong and actually made me worse.
1 year later I had been avoiding the doctors because of this incidence. Due to my avoidance Bernbeck decided to hold my birth control hostage until I came in for a pap. So I unwillingly set an appointment. They again tried to put me with Pretty and this time I refused and told them I would wait for my Doctor the one I pay to come here for. I got an appointment 2 months from then. This was the first time I ever met my doctor after a year and a half of being a patient. As she had the clamp inside of me she looked down and said, «so I hear you don’t like me» This women needs to work on her bedside manner!!! I was already in a compromising position getting my first pap and all and to make matters worse she tried starting a fight with me.
Flash forward to today she again is holding my birth control hostage and again is forcing me to see Pretty.

I went to Sabine Bernbeck with severe pain in my upper abdomen. She did several tests and reported that all tests were normal. Nevertheless, I still had the pain and asked her what to do next. She actually replied «I think it’s all in your head.» She then asked if I had been sexually abused as a child. When I said «no» she insisted that I wasn’t telling the truth and that she thought I had been sexually abused when I was young, and that many people who have been sexually abused have «imagined pain» as adults. But the REALLY CREEPY part is that, as I sat waiting in the exam room, the door was ajar and I could hear her talking with her staff about a Danielle Steel novel she was reading which dealt with the subject of imagined pain in sexually abused women! By the way, another doctor promptly found that, although I did not have gallstones, my gallbladder was not functioning at all, and I had to have it removed before it ruptured. It was filling with bile but not releasing it. If you want a doctor who does not make diagnoses based on the current novel they are reading, you should find someone else. I am every bit as educated as she is, and I found her condescending attitude and refusal to give me credit for knowing my own body, together with her accusation of lying about my history, extremely insulting.

Dr. Bernbeck is the best GP I’ve ever had. She alone, deserves the best rating. I like her nurses and all the staff. NextMD email access is THE BEST. I always hear back either at lunch time or at the end of the day. She is personable, lovable and friendly. Honest with high, positive energy!
And I love her German accent.

After reading all the great reviews on Dr. Bernbeck I decided to switch over to her as my PCP. When calling in to make my first appointment the receptionist (who is very sweet) told me that Dr. Bernbeck is booked and I couldnt get an appointment until next month. I explained to the receptionist that its an urgent matter, she then told me that they have a P. A that works under her and I can come in earlier n see her instead. Disappointed as I was I had to settle for the PA, but even booking an appt with her was hard, I couldnt get in until 2 weeks later! Anyways, my appt was set for 4pm and on that day I drove 30 mins through traffic barley exiting knowing that I was going to be 5 mins late I did a courtesy call to the office just to imform them. Little did I know the receptionist told me the PA couldn’t see me anymore because im holding up all the other appts! I was livid!!! First thing I wanted to do was call the insurance to complain and change doctors! By the time I got home I was calm so I decided to give this office the benefit of doubt n give it another shot. So today I called in trying to get another appt with Dr. Bernbeck, same S*** happened again! She’s booked for another month and I was offered the PA AGAIN! I needed to see a doctor asap so again I tried booking the and this time they wouldnt work with my schedule! I told the receptionist I get off work at 330 n it takes me 30 mins to get there n she kept offering me an appt at 345 and I cant be late so how am I suppose to get there on time? This office is one disappointment after another… I cant even see my own PCP why should I keep her as one and gets paid for me being on her capitation list when she cant even see me! I finally called and changed doctors and im finally being seen next week.
Overall… if you are a new patient and need to be seen asap DO NOT even attempt to come here.

Am a new patient and called for a appointment. Very rude office person. Said the next appointment was in 90 days. I could be dead by then. Sounds to me like they are very busy and do not care.

Dr. Bernbeck is the best Doctor i have ever gone too. She has been my Doctor for 10 years. She is very thorough and has a great sense of humor. and knows how to put you at ease. She will never over prescribe prescriptions. BECAUSE Your total best health condition comes first and foremost. I am appalled at some comments I have read. Why complain about waiting on a phone call when this practice uses NEXTMD .com for prompt answers from all staff to questions and appointments. Answers routinely are processed day of receipt You receive an answer from the correct person that processes your type of question-​be it Front office, Nurse Practitioner, PA, Nurse of Doctor. is the most efficient way to run a practice. The office is very busy treating patients who are in the office. Phone calls can come in multiples during busy and critical times while medical staff are caring for patients that are in the the office. Don’t expect a Doctor to leave a patient to answer phone call questions while they are examining a patient.
If you have a real emergency –go to Hoag or another emergency room or urgent care facility if he practice is busy treating patients. You could also try to go directly to the office to get an answer but why bother. Sign up for and use NEXTMD. I do!

I tried getting care for a burning sore throat over the holiday weekend and she did call me back promptly. However she blasted me for wanting to see a doctor with having a sore throat for one day. I called the service and said I woke up to a burning sore throat among other symptoms. I’ve never had these go away by themselves. New patients should look elsewhere.

Dr. Bernbeck is my doctor and my daughters doctor who is 11 months old. She is kind, patient, and understanding. She has answered calls on weekends and late at night. We are lucky to have her taking care of our family. My husband also goes to beach family doctors and we are very happy. I would highly recommend them!

Since I moved this office has been nothing but a hassle. Everything seemed to be going well, I was told that I just needed my information sent over (mind you, i moved 3000 miles away from my home) and I could refill my prescriptions. Not receiving any calls regarding my account I assumed everything had been transferred, when I called to refill I was told I would need an office visit before I could refill anything… this is pretty nerve racking contradictory information for someone needing to refill anxiety medicine… so I explained that they should probably inform their front desk of this info so they don’t tell other people… well. I got a very snobby remark, and was then put immediately on hold and transferred to someone else without my knowledge. When the new woman picked up the phone she had none of my information which confused me because I didn’t even know I had been transferred… after asking for my name I was hung up on. I got an appointment with a PA, not even the doctor, but have to wait a few days before refilling anything. I was also told today that the office is not receiving any new PPO patients, so be aware. Two months ago when I called no one informed me of this change and apparently it has been in effect for 3+ months. That also would have been nice to know before I went through all of this hassle of sending them my information… I would have immediately found a new doctor. Now, because my mom happens to go there too… i was able to make an appointment. JUST BE AWARE. no new patients… I wish there had been some sort of apology for the incorrect information their office provided me with… instead I was snapped at, scoffed at, and hung up on.

This Dr deserves no less than 5 stars! She makes you feel so at ease and addresses all your concerns. Definitely the best doctor I’ve ever had! Glad to have found her.
Also, I think her office staff is making strides to improve. Making an appt on the phone did take awhile, but they were nice enough on the phone and in person as well.

I’m appalled by the bad reviews that have been posted about Dr. Bernbeck’s medical expertise and professionalism. I’ve received NOTHING BUT THE BEST CARE.
THE GOOD: Six years ago, I had been misdiagnosed by another physician as having acid reflux and was given free boxes of Prilosec. It was Dr. Bernbeck who took the time to listen to me and ordered an ultrasound. They found that I had a serious cyst condition and was scheduled immediately for surgery. More recently, I had a hyperthyroid condition. When I was asked by the radiation technician at Hoag Hospital how long it took for me to get diagnosed, I told him 2 – 3 months. He was surprised because he says that normally it takes patients 1 – 2 years. Dr Bernbeck then referred me to an equally good endocrinologist and even followed up to ask how good the endocrinologist’s services were. Needless to say, I’m grateful for Dr. Bernbeck. She has clearly demonstrated that she’s an excellent doctor. The fact that she’s even careful about her referrals shows how meticulous she is. This is where Dr. Bernbeck’s German roots shine through, most notably the German precision and engineering! :-)
THE BAD: Yes, sometimes you have a long wait. And yes, it takes time on the phone to schedule an appointment or talk to someone. And yes, she has a snooty receptionist staff. However, there’s a simple solution. Dr. Bernbeck strongly recommends using the online system for scheduling, emailing questions and getting test results. Again, it’s a part of the German efficiency.
CONCLUSION: For me, MY health is worth the small inconveniences considering my experiences with other doctors. When I faced serious health risks, Dr. Bernbeck quickly diagnosed my conditions and got me the proper care. It’s up to you to decide if you think the inconveniences are worth the troubles for YOUR health.

Being new to an area is a stressful situation when trying to relocate services like a good doctor.
I read reviews here before choosing Dr. Bernbeck and when I did finally go in two months ago – she was in fact amazing! Funny, attentive, very good at caring for patients BUT its not all about the doctor, at least for me.
Her office is not well run. Lots of people at the front desk, yet the average hold time (I have called at least 5 times) is over five minutes, up to ten – which is when I hung up.
I had an issue with a transposed insurance number and tried to call back between meetings (oh yeah, I too have a job and life) and was on hold too long, so I showed up to be greeted by a very annoyed lady who made me wait 15 minutes while she processed the number because «You didn’t return my call.» I explained about the holding and she said it would delay me. No smile, no welcome as a new patient, just you will be delayed.
Then I waited for an hour from my set appointment time to actually see the doctor… cause I got nothing else to do!
Doc wanted me to get tested for some things, I have to follow up with the office to be sure they were ordered – twice I had to call. They sent me test results for a test I didn’t do and when I called about it they blamed it on short staffed. I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR STAFFING ISSUES – I GOT MY OWN JOB.
My medical records have still not been requested, even after I signed off twice to get them and that was two months ago. Its one fax people, dial and hit send, my old doctor is waiting.
Called today hold, hold, hold, hold, hold…8 long minutes of «sorry for the wait» recordings.
its a dilemma for sure. Go for the doctor and be treated like yesterdays trash by her staff? or find someone who can manage their medical business?

Wonderful, thoughtful, caring, answers endless questions, sooths your paranoia… answers your phone calls at midnight, and is always there for you…
Best Dr., she treats myself, my husband and all 4 kids for 13 years…
I can’t live without this woman!

I love Dr. Bernbeck. She is very direct, but at the same time, very caring and nice. She even called me back to discuss my lab results and prescribe medication over the phone so I wouldn’t have to leave work and pay a co-​pay for another visit. I don’t know if that’s common, but I’ve never had a doctor do that. I think she’s great.

Dr. Bernbeck is an amazing physician with a loving heart. I travel all the way to from Pasadena to Huntington Beach to see her. She has great bed side manner and truly cares about her patients. When you go and see her you are treated like family. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an extraordinary physician.

I don’t know why I haven’t Unilocaled Dr. Bernbeck years ago, but it’s better late then never.
She is the only Dr. I know that specializes in paps-meres/women’s needs. I wouldn’t go to any other Dr.
I once had gone to another Dr. because at the time it was closer to my house and had a urinary infection. The meds they prescribed to me didn’t work. I was in dire need of some fixin’! So, after kicking myself in the ass I went to Dr. Super Woman and there I was treated right away with the right meds… go figure.
It also helps that she use to attend the same church as I did and knew her aside from her work zone. But never the less, the fact that we knew each other outside of her work zone didn’t interfere with my liking her as a Doctor.

I have been a patient of Dr. Bernbeck’s since November 2011, and she has never spent over 10 minutes with me. As a result of our hasty visits, she misdiagnosed me and prescribed me antibiotics, now the condition that I have has gotten worse and she claims, «there is nothing else she can do.»
I understand that being a doctor is strenuous and that she has many patients to tend to, but she is not doing her job right when a patient has to call several times over the span of three weeks about a worsening condition only to have antibiotics thrown at her like candy.
If my health insurance permitted, I would change doctor’s in a heart beat. A likable personality can only take a physician so far in the eyes of a patient.

I’ve suffered from migraines for almost 20 years and for the last 10 years have opted to not see a Doctor because either the treatment options were limited or I couldn’t seem to find a Doctor who was genuinely interested in finding a successful form of treatment that suited my needs. In the past I’ve been shuffled like cattle into waiting rooms where some faceless person gobbles up my money and sends me on my way with various expensive prescriptions.
I began to suffer from migraines every 2 – 3 days it was affecting my work, my family and my everyday life. Having a migraine is like loosing a day that you’ll never get back. I was tired of losing days and although skeptical began researching Doctors.
What I was unable to find in 20 years I found in Dr. Bernbeck in 30 minutes. We sat and discussed my previous health care, my frustrations with my migraines and my desire for an overall better quality of life. She suggested a treatment plan that I have been on now for just over a week and guess what? Its working. I haven’t had a migraine in 9 days. This just a small milestone but it gives me faith that I am finally on the right track.
For anyone looking for a caring Doctor that actually listens to you I would recommend Dr. Bernbeck a billion times over.

OMG! You mean nobody has interviewed the amazing, stupendous and brilliant Dr. Bernbeck yet? Yay! Another first for me!
Dr. Bernbeck is, like, the totally most caring doctor, who is like, a surfer chick, but she doesn’t like, talk or act like a surfer chick, because she’s like, A Doctor. But when you go see her, she doesn’t like, make you feel totally gnarly. You kind of like, wanna hang out some more, but it’s like, a doctor’s office, so you kind of like, wanna go, too…
But don’t go yet, cuz, she’s like, multilingual. As in she speaks German, Spanish, English, and maybe she’ll humor you and speak a little surf… But rarely will she speak Medical-​Jargon to her patients. I think she’d speak any other language just so you understand what’s going on with your bod.
So if you’re feeling sea sick or any other ick… Go see Dr. B at Beach Family Doctors!
Yeah Brah! Surf’s Up!