Downtown Women OB-Gyn Associates, LLP

Only for RICH WOMEN.
People say great things about this place but I’ve never had an easy welcoming experience here. It seems like they only want to treat soho lululemon beastly yoga finance wives. The receptionists are know-​nothings.

This place treats its patients terribly. The level of service is very poor. They do not seriously address the responsibility that is required when working with feminine and reproductive health.

Well, they aren’t horrific but every time I’ve had an appt they’re 15 – 30 mins late without apology and not to mention you can hear the nurses gossiping about you if you ask when you’ll be seen (yes, I heard you ma’am, I do have a lot of nerve as I’m paying for a service and worked my whole day around this appt during my lunch break). The doctors are knowledgeable and ok about informing you, but nothing to write home about. After today, I’ll probably find another place with better bedside manner and service.

I hate this office. You can never get an appointment, no one calls you back, they transfer you between lines before you can speak, your RN and doctor never remember you nor will they call you. Horrible. No patient relationship. Horrible service. They’ll refer you to City MD — hah!

I have nothing but rave reviews for this practice. My wife and I are both patients and have received nothing but good service since our first visit. The front of the house is always professional and helpful. Wait times for appointments are minimal and there have been no issues with billing or our insurance. The staff is really helpful. The midwives — especially Emory Ship — are wonderful and very informative. No matter the question, they put you at ease. During my pregnancy I saw the majority of the doctors. Rave reviews for Dr. Taylor-​Shih, Whitehead, Ufberg and Collins. All are awesome. I never met Dr. Lajoie prior to my delivery so that could have been an awkward experience — however, I felt completely safe in her hands. Dr. Lajoie stayed with me throughout my entire labor. She answered all of my questions each step of the way and was an amazing labor coach. When the baby was in distress, she was calm under pressure and reassured my partner and me that everything would be okay. She found a way to avoid a C-​section. When it came time to push (and I pushed for over an hour), Dr. Lajoie sat at the edge of the bed the entire time and really made me comfortable. She motivated me to push and encouraged me when I was exhausted. I did experience significant tearing and blood loss. Dr. LaJoie walked me through what it all meant and controlled the room when a number of other NYU doctors and administrators came in due to the protocol. She even checked a nurse when the nurse kept calling me by the wrong name. I could not have asked for a better experience and doctor. Post-​partum, Dr. Ufberg came by to check on me. Her bedside manner was lovely. She circumsized my son and answered all my stupid questions.
My experience at NYU was also positive. The intake and labor nurses were all business. The post-​partum team/​nurses were amazing. They made sure I was comfortable at all times. Thank you.

I hate to add to the pile-​on, but this place really disappointed me after a friend recommended it highly. I called during business hours a week ago to make an appointment, was on hold for 20 minutes before a machine asked me to leave a message, and 7 days later nobody has returned my call. At my first appointment they put me in a room and forgot about me… I had to wander around calling out «hello?» in my gown until someone was like «you are still here?» I am sure this is a tough business, and there are probably reasonable explanations for all of these things, but I don’t have the time or patience when it comes to this area of my health. See ya, DW.

Billing Department is inept and the receptionists are too chatty and careless. After suffering through a few rushed appts with Dr. Min, I did have a provider here that I really liked; Elisabeth Newton, NP. But, as she no longer works here, there is no reason to deal with their lack of professionalism any longer.

The billing department is awful!!! I get bills I have no idea about and when i call to understand the young lady names Wilma is so rude! I have been going here for years and never encountered such rudeness in my life at a doctor’s office. Especially when they are in the wrong! I am already on the market to find a new OBGYN that doesn’t change me for every little tiny bit of a conversation…

I have been a patient here for over 20 years. Because I sincerely like Dr Buxbaum, I have tolerated the rude, incompetent front desk staff, the lazy people manning the appointment line, and the one hour waits at my appointments. I have been told that I didn’t receive a call back because I spelled my own name wrong (really?), I have received appointment confirmations for appointments that weren’t mine, and I’ve left messages that went unanswered Enough. Like most of my friends who have used this practice, I’m going elsewhere.

I love the doctors here and have been a patient here for years. However… it is a large practice and getting a human on the phone is an ordeal. I have had two appointment cancellations recently, neither of which I knew about til I arrived. They had a typo in my email address and my phone number so I never received notification. I guess this is life under crappy «affordable care» where every office that accepts insurance is short staffed and overwhelmed. Still, I really do like every doctor I have ever seen in this practice so I’ll take my lumps and hope 3^rd time is the charm with my next appointment.

Everyone was friendly and there was minimal waiting time. Medical staff were very welcoming and informative

To be honest I was a bit nervous after reading the reviews — the last thing you want to feel is rushed at your gyno. But I had a great experience and will definitely be coming back for all future appointments.
I was a new patient and was able to get an appointment within a few days because I was concerned about something. The downstairs receptionist is so friendly and chipper and really put a smile on my face. The receiving nurses who take you to the room were very rushed and informal, but it didn’t bother me, as I wasn’t there to see them. My doctor, Jessica, was great — she spoke to me for a few minutes and asked me a lot of questions before examining me. She let me know that with routine PAPs, I wouldn’t be getting a call if everything was normal. However, about 2 weeks later, she called to let me know everything was fine anyway.
I also had to schedule an ultra sound based on the appointment, and they were able to schedule me first thing the following morning, which was amazing, especially because I was new to the practice. That doctor was quick, but thorough, and answered all my questions and made me feel very comfortable.
While the service was quick, I didn’t feel rushed, even though a lot of reviews mentioned this. I felt like the doctors new exactly what they were doing, asked the right questions, and took time to respond to all concerns that I had.
I honestly never thought I’d leave a gyno appointment in such a great mood.
Thank you to the staff there!

I agree with other review that the service here is impersonal, and it’s very costly. It’s a business, I get it, but there are better options.
We used them through the first trimester, then moved, and didn’t realize until we were with another care provider how much Downtown Women OB-​Gyn nickeled and dimed us. They insisted that my wife come in for a ton of visits, sometime weekly (the more to charge for, right), and they were less than forthcoming about procedures and costs. A year and half later, we’re still getting bills for unknowingly out-​of-​network services they sold us. They also charged us extra for not staying with them for the full term.
Our next OB-​Gyn office went out of their way to consolidate visits, helped us manage costs, educated us on each stage, and ultimately let us make all the decisions. They were friendly, kind and sincere. All as an OB-​Gyn should be.
For anyone in NYC, I would not recommend this practice.

I was a new patient going for an annual wellness/​gyn exam as well as a fasting glucose and cholesterol test. I was very happy with my doctor, Dr. Collins, who was thorough, kind, approachable, and efficient. I was, however, deeply disappointed with the nurse assistants who, if they condescended enough to actually give me orders instead of just silently expecting me to know what to do as they took my blood or expected I follow them without having seen who even called my name, actually criticized me under their breath. Going to see health care providers for gynecological exams can be jarring enough but the nursing staff left me frustrated and near tears.

I wish zero stars were an option.
I am shocked at the marginal response I received today to a situation that requires attention and care. I called and told the nurse my symptoms, and she told me I have a cyst, but it’s not an emergency. OK, so last time I checked, you can’t diagnose a cyst over the phone. Second, who is she to say it isn’t an emergency? I’m the one experiencing the symptoms. She told me to make an appointment. I was then told I could only see a nurse practitioner who couldn’t give me an ultrasound, «that would be a different appointment». OK, so, do you think I could get one of those? Anyway, I called another provider who told me to come in right away so I then called Downtown to cancel the appointment I’d made for today at 3:15. I was told there was a $ 40 cancellation fee for same day appointments. That’s great. I think that nurse’s only job is to collect the $ 40 cancellation fee.

Post appointment– The décor is really nice however you will feel a bit rushed at check in as the admin front desk staff (upstairs at least) don’t really practice customer service… more concerned with getting the admin stuff done. So it’s not warm or welcoming.
Felt Dr Min was def impersonal & my appointment felt rushed. Sent me for a few tests & the follow up for my results was poor. For a health issue that was so concerning to me, I’d have thought there’d be a bit more tact or even professionalism. The call basically constituted «your tests didn’t show anything»…no talk of other options or an alternate plan. As fate would have it, I saw Dr Reddy on a 2^nd visit & she came across as warm & so concerned about her patients. She is also extremely thorough & talks you through everything to make sure you’re comfortable. Def will switch Dr’s if I stay with Downtown women…

I went to this place about 3 years ago. Horrible experience. Zero empathy or compassion. I went for an IUD insertion. Nobody warned me about pain. The midwife who saw me didn’t prep me. The doctor who attempted the insertion was brusque, lacked compassion, empathy, and manners. More painful than anything I’ve ever experienced. She was rude and demeaning to her assistant as well. I asked her to stop because she was basically torturing me with multiple probes. She complained my cervix was «too closed», as if I can help that. There in no an aesthetic involved and no explanation of the pain involved. Doctor rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room and left me in the stirrups when I said I couldn’t take the raw pain anymore. The IUD never came out of its wrapping. They still charged full price to my insurance. Worst experience of my life.

This practice was absolutely horrible when I was suffered three miscarriages in a row. Instead of explaining my options and tying to get to the bottom of my issue, when I repeatedly asked to undergo testing to determine the cause of my pregnancy losses, they told me to «calm down» and that I was just «having bad luck.» It turns out that I had a hormonal imbalance that, when treated by my next doctor, immediately resulted in a successful pregnancy with my daughter.
My experience with Dr. Reddy was particularly horrible, and other pregnant patients of hers have told me that they share my opinion. Emory Ship, the midwife, was really nice, but she also labeled me a «worrier» and sometimes behaved as if I was overreacting to my multiple miscarriages.
I spent eleven months in emotional hell as I lost pregnancy after pregnancy, and Downtown Women’s ob/​gyn made an already terrible experience exponentially worse. I would recommend this practice only to people that hate themselves and want to be kicked while they are down.

Well, I’ve been here twice for 2 annual exams with Dr. Min.
The first visit was lackluster. The receptionist at that time had an attitude problem. He just seemed miserable and wouldn’t look me in the eye. The doctor was nice, answered all my questions, but did seem to be a bit rushed.
My 2^nd visit, a year later, was great. The receptionist was pleasant. Dr. Min was thorough, not rushed, very present. Got blood work done and a flu shot. All in all a great visit.
I guess there are just good and not as good days. Seems fine to me and i’ll probably keep going back unless I’m not working in the area anymore.

It’s difficult to find a chick doctor in the city. Most of us ladies rely on referrals from friends, which is how I found this place years ago. I have seen a couple different docs, but prefer to see a nurse practitioner. Actually, I’m sure anyone on their staff is a good choice. I never have any issues making an appointment either. The waiting area is separated by gyn and ob appointments, so, that’s cool too. I would recommend this place to any woman for their annual exam. Also, I’ve never had a problem with the admins; they’ve always been friendly and in bubbly moods.
Potential cautionary tip: I will tell you that while I understand taking a patient’s credit card information to keep on file (b/​c I’m sure they’ve been stiffed on patient payments more than once), I certainly don’t condone it and I think it’s rather sneaky. It’s sneaky for this reason: they will charge you for services not covered by your insurance – obviously, which I fully expect – BUT, they will not send you a bill for anything under $ 200. That, is kind of crappy, to say the least. So, check you credit card statement for any charges you had been unaware of. That said, their billing staff has been helpful (to me) in the past. They seem to know their stuff.