Bekhor David, MD

I don’t like to post negative reviews, however being treated at this office has left a bad taste and a lasting negative impact on me.
I should start by saying that I am a health care provider myself. I lived and practiced in New York City until 2014. I saw this medical group up until about 2011. However, like I said, they’ve «damaged» my health history, and left a rather lasting effect. I agree with other reviews in the fact that Dr David Bkhor seems to be well trained and knowledgable, however he does not realize that he treats people with health issues and not just health issues. He doesn’t really care to hear what you have to say about your health concerns. He cares to write down a diagnosis that he thinks fits best (easier to bill that way). I couldn’t agree more with the review that said Dr Bekhor, should have stuck to research. Being smart, does not make one a good doctor. He may be smart, but he’s a terrible healthcare provider.
Let me brief and to the point though.
Office staff is rude and oftentimes unhelpful.
Dr Bekhor will list every one of your slightest concerns, as a major medical issue. In our world of healthcare, there is a code for every diagnosis. Problem, is you may be stuck with that diagnosis or rather misdiagnosis, as it happened in my case. I came in for quick physical, and was given 6 diagnoses, as I found out later on an insurance application. I’ve had more than 10 physicals since that time and everything was absolutely fine. When I called, Dr Bekhor refused to speak with me. When I made an appointment and saw him, he refused to listen to me. He said that maybe two of the 6 I don’t have, but the other 4 diagnoses are correct since HE had SOME concerns about about those things? He handed me a prescription on which he wrote in one line that «patient does not have these two conditions». When I faxed it to the insurance company, they thought that this was a joke.
To make a long story short, DO NOT SEE DR BEKHOR. Terrible bedside manner, terrible staff, and poor quality of healthcare.

Dr. Bekhor helped me through my stay at Mt. Sinai while I was suffering from a gastric infection. He is extremely knowledgable, attentive, and willing to answer any and all my questions. Following my release from the hospital after a weeks’ stay, I had a follow up appointment at his office. Dr Bekhor is now my primary care physician.

Finding another doctor and another practice are highly recommended.
The review below from Max S. where he recounts that he received a termination letter from the practice — while remarkably unbelievable — is actually in this instance quite plausible. I do not put this past Dr. Bekhor’s personality.
Doctor Bekhor is a remarkably intelligent man, trained at McGill, and for those who don’t know it is one of the finest schools in Canada comparable to the best schools in the US and Europe. He has missed his true calling however, and he should be better applying those skills and his great intelligence to a career in research. Why do I say that? Because he is devoid of bedside manner, at least as I can tell from my time with him. His demeanor with me included being aloof, impatient, verbally hostile to his assistant and staff, disinterested in what I had to say, and on one occasion he snapped at me (because of a misunderstanding his PA caused), and on a few occasions he was genuinely patronizing. For one appointment I was late 20 minutes; I called the office over an hour in advance of the appointment time and stated I was being kept late at another doctor. When I explained this to the secretary that answered my phone call, she said that being 20 minutes late was no problem, thanks for letting them know. I signed in when I got there and sat in the waiting area. I was kept in the waiting area for more than ninety minutes. So much for «no problem», and in fact is was impossible NOT to take that treatment as a passive aggressive statement on the part of Doctor Bekhor. As another professional person, it did not sit well with me that he presented the attitude that, as a medical professional, a doctor’s time is more valuable than mine.
This man is an infectious disease specialist and his patients are all in situations that are both physically and emotionally draining. We don’t need to be treated like this. I have had the same primary care physician for 15 years, the same cardiologist for 10 years, etc. I don’t capriciously blow through doctors because of petty offenses. These here have gone far beyond one little instance or two.
Also in the other review’s border-​line racist remarks have been made of his office staff. Sadly, I must concur that these are accurate observations. Additionally, they made billing mistakes with my insurance.
I wish Dr Bekhor well, and hope that he makes a career change that better suits his talents. Until then, I can not recommend him as a doctor, no matter how intelligent he is.

NOTE: Apparently Dr. Bekhor’s office figured out who this review was written by and I just got a letter stating they «wish to end our physician-​patient relationship.» I didn’t know retaliation against a patient for posting a partly negative review was something a professional who had collected a substantial amount of fees for services from my appointments was a real possibility, but there it is. I was previously going to the same primary care doctor in NYC for ten years with no problems before I had to switch because of insurance. I have been going to the same dermatologist for years and we have a really good relationship also.
Three «not currently recommended» reviews for another of the four Village Park doctors tell very similar stories about the office staff.
Word to the wise I guess.
Dr. Bekhor teaches at nearby NYU and is no doubt highly knowledgeable and professional and concerned and seems to listen to the patient. He is relatively youngish and wears a dark suit all the time, something I’ve never seen before for an MD. He is often sitting behind his laptop when you enter and may not get up from behind it during the appointment. (All records are on computer, not paper, and previous computerized data about you from elsewhere might show up, which is a good thing.)
If you bring up something new that might make an appointment last more than a certain time you may find you have to make another appointment and come back next week. Yes, I was a bit taken aback when that happened
The practice also has several other doctors. I got an initial appointment fairly quickly and the office is conveniently located a block from the West Fourth station. Like a lot of NYC doctor offices, the office is very cramped for the number of employees and the examination rooms are as small as they could possibly be, as is the tiny bathroom. The copier is in the waiting area about two inches from the chairs.
I have had to go to various NYC doctors and dentists and most staff and doctors are great. But like in some other NYC doctor offices, some of this staff seem rather less professional than they might be — much more so than I’ve experienced elsewhere.
The receptionist likes to play Spanish pop music on her computer speakers (or small radio of some kind) and seems to prefer gossiping with staff members and making personal phone calls and opening snacks to greeting patients or doing much of anything beyond the bare minimum, and then only with the clear attitude that you might be interfering with her busy life with your presence. She talks loudly in Spanish all the way down the hall to other staff so everyone in the waiting room can hear, if not understand. When you arrive don’t expect a greeting or a smile or even any indication she is aware of your presence. Do expect to stand at the counter for some time waiting while watching any or all of the above.
I unfortunately had to provide some medical documentation to a federal agency under some time pressure and eventually was referred to a Leilani, after she did not return my phone call and the office did not manage to call another doctor all day after previously not taking care of the issue for a week. She seemed to be much more about being rude and very defensive than complying with any requests in a timely or accurate manner.
Later requests in person in the office for records being sent or received from other doctors or to the agency were handled efficiently and in a friendly manner by I believe the same person.
A week later I called back and was transferred to three different women, none of whom seemed to know anything except that the document was not there. Usually I was abruptly transferred without a word. One of them just hung up. The last one finally said I had to talk to someone who wasn’t there. I was in no way verbally abusive, but just flatly stated the facts.
I was an EMT-​B for six years and have worked a long time for a federal agency where most of my job is dealing with the general public in person and on the phone in often very busy circumstances, so I don’t think I have super unreasonable expectations about either medical providers or customer service. I am expected to be and am polite and as efficient as possible even with the very occasional rude or hostile customer.
The other comment here about administrative support at this office being «a bit of a mess» is certainly more than true. But at this point I can’t give anyone the benefit of a doubt or chalk it up to being too busy. More like too incompetent, rude, and uncaring.
I would strongly suggest hesitating before making any doctor in this office your primary care doctor.

Nice enough guy, but hoo boy, the administrative support at that office is a bit of a mess. I’ll give the front office the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to them having too much to do and not enough people to do it.

He does not care about his patients because I have bronchitis and he did not prescribe antibiotics plus he pulled the virus card and said it would just go away. He was very non nonchalant and seemed like he was just trying to get through the day. I do NOT recommend him at all.

Dr. Bekhor is one of those quiet, unassuming types, who listens well but isn’t going to necessarily leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Nonetheless, I like him — and his dry sense of humor. Plus, he’s Canadian, so what’s not to like about that?
I got to see one of the other doctors (Carter) in the practice on a follow-​up visit once, and he was great. Just like mom said, you are a reflection of the company you keep, so I’m thinking that’s reflected in the office. The doctors here seem pretty engaged with patient care — they’re not yet thinking about nothing other than their retirement.
The front desk staff is nice enough, and if you’re nice to them first, that goes a long way. I never understand what they say when they leave me a message, but I always have my appointment reminder card handy so I know if I’m going to have an appointment or not.
They office is also very responsive to email requests for prescription items/​authorizations when your insurance company is being silly/​stubborn, so I appreciate that.