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Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD
Rating Details »
Category: Obstetricians and Gynecologists [Edit]
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills8920 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 511
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 657-1600
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
22 reviews for Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD
There are so few people you feel you can really talk candidly with--Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is one of them. I'll give the warning that this office is EXTRAORDINARILY busy. As the friend who recommended it told me--"It's like a black hole of time." I was there for 2 hours. I should have brought my laptop. Or charged my Blackberry. Anyway...
Every single person I encountered (other patients aside)--from the office staff to the nursing staff, techs, etc... was so nice and friendly and warm. And Dr. Gilberg-Lenz was clearly whip-smart, funny, engaging, and made me feel totally comfortable for my least favorite doctor visit of the year.
I felt confident that she was giving me good advice as well as a very thorough exam. Despite the crazy long wait, I recommend her 100%. I'm also completely bummed that she won't be contracted with Cigna starting in the spring, but I may even pay the extra out-of-network costs just to go see her.
*Note to Dr. Lenz- if you think what I wrote is slanderous, just look at the OTHER bad reviews below*
I have been to Dr. Gilberg-Lenz several times, but not because I feel confident in her or her staff, but because like many people, it is hard for me to find a good gyno that I can stick with.
Anna is very rude on the phone and does not accommodate patients. I've had a very bad bacterial infection for 2 weeks and I had to call back Dr. Lenz and BEG her to give me the right medicine. When she or Dale are on the phone, they always make you feel like you are a pain in the ass and really, they have better things to do so make it quick kind of attitude. I have never felt so uncared for by any type of doctor. I am looking for a new gyno as I type.
They ran tests and gave me the wrong antibiotics before the test came back. It was so hard to contact Dr. Lenz to follow up to get through that wall of rude people, from Anna to the front desk ladies. It is always so hard to get my prescriptions sent because they say they will send it and they don't. So I finally get a call back from Dale and she tells me the one I have will clear it up. She promises to send new birth control, but surprise, my pharmacy did not receive anything AGAIN. Then I suffer another weekend and finally get a hold of Lenz where she explains then I NEED another antibiotic. Also, abruptly tells me after 5 minutes of me asking serious questions, "I have to go now" CLICK!
My condition was not improving the next day so I left her a message and she called me back. Dr. Lenz was very caring towards me and we discussed what were the next steps. She even said I should come in. I was about to alter my review, and to increase it and modify it, but then she mentioned my review on yelp. She pretty much mentioned that I was writing things that were slanderous and that I needed to find someone else. She told me that I should not write that Dale Perry didn't know anything, because in my opinion she doesn't! (Do you guys have any idea how much I've spent on antibiotics that were wrong for me? Missed work?) Maybe Dale Perry does know something, she just doesn't care enough about her patients to get it done! She always talks to me in a belittling manner.
I began to cry and explain to Dr. Lenz that I stood by my review and that all the things were true and then my cell phone died.
I am going to go to another gyno because I know I deserve better.
After reading the reviews, there's a clear discrepancy between love her or hate her. What I noticed with many of the "hate her" reviews was that the complaints weren't about the doctor; rather they were about a long office wait time, inappropriate phone etiquette, and parking cost/validation, all of which is not an assessment of the actual physician. Granted, people are writing about their full experiences but a line needs to be drawn between pettiness and true assessment.
In my experience as a patient and as a person who has worked in a busy doctor's office, it's hard for staff to be perky all the time. The parking issue is important to mention up front because there are often alternatives to parking in the medical building garages - there's 2 hour free parking just one block north of Dr. Gilberg-Lenz's office. And as for wait time, remember that it's a doctor's office. Some patients need more time and some need less time. I often wait 2+ hours (past my appointment time) to see my oncologist because she is the best. Waiting a little extra time to receive the best medical treatment is important - and can sometimes be the difference between life and death. Patients often don't see how much doctors' have on their plates.
As for Dr. Gilberg-Lenz, I think that she is superb - extremely intelligent, a great listener, very humorous and gentle. I wouldn't go to anyone else. The fact that other top doctors in this city send their daughters to Dr. Gilberg-Lenz says something about her ability, competence and respect within the medical community.
After reading all the great reviews about Dr. Lenz I was sure that I had found my doctor. First trying to make an appointment seemed impossible, multiple times I tried to call for a new patient and could not get through. You would think that this would be my first sign that she was not worth it but against my better judgment I drove down there and paid the over priced valet parking, just to get an appointment. Finally getting one I was excited.
I am an first time expecting mother, our appointment was for 3pm, we got there at 2:45 and didn't get in to see anyone until 3:40, then we were shuffled between 2 different rooms, the waiting room, the ultrasound room and her office. The first thing her nurse asked my husband and I was if either of us were of Jewish decent and my husband is half. They quickly gave us a cost sheet of the different test that are not covered by insurance and the Jewish one that they recommended was $2600, first sign that all they wanted was to run all the test, even though you may not need it for the money.
We were really excited about the ultrasound, we saw the baby move and it had grown so much. We were then shuffled back to the waiting room and then back to Dr. Lenz's office when she told me that the ultrasound tech. thought that I had TOO MUCH FLUID IN MY SAC. Which can lead to DOWN SYNDROME. Mind you I am only 10 weeks into my pregnancy. I was devastated and went home crying the entire day and the following day as well.
Something inside told me to contact my original OB that no longer delivers and get a second opinion. And thank goodness I did. She measured my sac and said that i was right on track and it was too soon to be making those types of assumptions. And that I needed to have a specialist do my first trimester aneuploidy screen, not a general OB and be 12 or 13 weeks along. Dr. Lenz, wanted me to do the test at 11 weeks, which is too soon because the baby is still developing and they have research about what the baby should be at during week 12 or 13 but not 11 and if you or have been pregnant you know that every week your baby is growing a lot.
Thank goodness I had my original OB to comfort me and talk to because if it wasn't for her I was still be crying my eyes out about what type of decision that I would have to make.
Don't go to Dr. Lenz, they are over booked and under staffed. Oh and we didn't leave that doctors office until 5:30, talk about a long appointment.
I've been with Dr. Gilberg-Lenz for at least eight years. The first appointment I ever had with her, she was in a hurry and I felt brushed off. I called her up and told her so. Guess what? The next appointment, she sat down with me and spent a very, very long time listening to me and addressing all my concerns. Since then, I've never found her to be anything but caring and capable. I don't expect her to be perfect, because no doctor is. What I expect is for her to remember me, listen to me, and address my concerns.
The reason some people feel brushed off by her is because she's an extraordinarily busy person, with many patients. She also consults for multiple maternity-related websites and does occasional media appearances. That's because she knows her stuff. It also means that maybe she is not the doctor for you. If you know that going in, you won't take it personally when on certain days she is running behind. When she is in a rush, she goes out of her way to make it up to you next time. I've had 30 minute consultations in her office, but I've also had to wait 90 minutes to see her for 5. It is what it is.
Now, here's why I love her: in the years I have known her, she has taken time to talk me through depression, comfort me through an emotional breakdown, and try different avenues to solve various medical problems I was having. She genuinely cares and wants to help. After all this time, I'm now pregnant and she has been overjoyed on my behalf, every step of the way.
Everything the other reviewers say about Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is true- she takes you in her office before the exam, I didn't have to wait long at all and she was very attentive and informative. The one thing that bothered me was that when I said I was not in a relationship, she said "ok, so you are not sexually active" as if you have to be in a relationship to be sexually active. I felt a little judged and didn't feel I could be completely honest. It might have been a harmless assumption on her part, but I think she should have known better.
Best OBGYN I've ever been to hands down!
Efficient, friendly, down to earth, and THOROUGH. Doesn't give you dissmissive Dr. Babble if you have a question. She takes the time to go through your options and finds a solution to all of your questions. She even helped me discover that I had a tilted uterus (and explained in depth what the hell that means)-RAD!
I left her office knowing that I was 100% healthy because she gave me a 5 star examination.
Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz is so nice, and really makes you feel comfortable.
i have been seeing her for almost a year now, and she has always helped me out a lot. she is also my mom's gyno, and due to the openess in our relationship, my mom took me to see her after i first started becoming sexually active with my boyfriend. the first time i went there for birth control and an exam i was so nervous and felt really weird. i was entering such a new phase of my life, growing up becoming a woman etc, but Dr Gilberg Lenz made me feel really comfortable. when she takes you in her office, she just talks to you like a person, and is so relaxed and nice it made me feel really secure, she also made it easy for me and my mom to talk about things in a way that was open, and didn't make me feel embarrassed in front of my mom at all. all the staff there are really nice too.
the girls who do my Guardasil shots are really friendly and make jokes with me so i don' have to focus on the shot ( which i am terrified of!!)
and once when i really needed a perscription for a antibiotic for a UTI,
they did me a big favor and called it in for me even though i didn't come in for an exam, other times they have pulled strings for me, and helped me out of some jiffys at the pharamacy. all in all this is just the best place to go for all things woman, and you always leave 100% certain of your sexual health, this place is the best!
So, I'm sure this lady is really good at what she does but I gotta say I was NOT impressed.
I called to make an appt and I was made very clear they DO not validate parking which is ok you know I can live with that, but she is booked full until March and I need a new prescription for bc NOW. I was initially told that she could write up something for one month of bc (birth control right not like some highly addictive narcotic).
Well, I called back today to verify my appointment and ask about that one month and I was told under no circumstances does this doctor do this for new patients.
I canceled my appt and now I have to keep the search on for a new doctor in LA.
As if adjusting to LA isn't difficult enough...
Thanks to good Yelp reviews, I had my first visit with Dr. Gilberg-Lenz today. In general, the experience was a mixed bag but the negatives were no one's fault, really. For example, the building has valet parking, which I incorrectly read as "free parking." (I'll get to that later.)
I arrived about ten minutes late, I'll admit, but still waited about half an hour to be seen. I was having my annual exam, so at first I saw the doctor's assistant (extremely nice) and then met Dr. Gilberg-Lenz in her office. She's young, friendly and puts you at ease. The exam wasn't any more uncomfortable than normal (I mean, it IS a pelvic exam) and the doctor recommended that I get a bone density test since I've been on Depo-Provera (a godsend) for many years.
What's nice about this office, rather than smaller ones, is the capability to do things like bone-density scans in-house, rather than sending you elsewhere. Long story short - the scan was easy, painless and the technician was also extremely nice. I met with Dr. Gilberg-Lenz briefly afterwards - she explained the results (nothing to worry about) and on my way out, I scheduled my next Depo injection.
For a big office, it was a well-oiled machine - despite seeing multiple people (doctor, assistant, technician, scheduler) everything ran smoothly. I should mention, though, that for a 9:45 appointment, I didn't leave until noon, and the bone density test took all of ten minutes. This may because the practice IS large and has multiple doctors - the waiting room remained nearly full the entire morning.
My last gripe is about the aforementioned parking. Granted, I was there over two hours, but I was charged $13.20 for parking. I don't have a Beverly Hills parking permit, so street parking is out of the question. Being stuck with paying for parking every three months for my injection is a bit of a pain but I'll give it a shot (no pun intended) for the time being.
So, in a nutshell - I recommend Dr. Gilberg-Lenz, just don't go if you're in a hurry :)
[ Update! Apparently there's free parking on the side streets south of the building! Thanks, Kristin! ]
Wish so badly I could still see Dr. Gilberg-Lenz. We've recently downgraded to an HMO and unfortunately I am no longer able to go to this office! Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is very busy but is always at the top of her game...I did have to wait from 30 - 60 min for my appts even when I was pregnant. And you DO have to valet park (I've tried street parking -and with the waittime, there isn't enough time to be at the meter). It's not all bad news. She was great treating me during my pregnancy complecations, and pre-term labor...and actually was THE one to catch my baby... I just wish I could continue seeing her...
I've been going to Dr. Gilberg-Lenz for 4 years now. She has always been a fantastic doctor. Her bedside manner is what we all wish for - kind, concerned, etc. She performed surgery on me a couple of years ago at Cedars and it was a great success. Now I'm expecting my first child and I'm glad she will be the one to deliver him/her.
The office is a bit hectic. Be warned, because of this, the communication breaks down at times. You need to be your own bullhorn and make sure that you have all your information straight so that you can tell each person in the process what you need.
Best OBGYN experience I've ever had. Yes, waiting is a pain, but you wait because it's a good reputable doctor and a lot of things can come up during the appointment which they will take care of then if they can.
I lucked out finding Dr. Gilbert-Lenz. She listened to all my concerns and even had me speak with an assistant or maybe she was the billing department (who was sitting right in the office) when she suggested some lab work and another procedure. I expressed my concern since I had recently been hit with a ridiculous bill for a GI doctor who had just checked my reflexes when I went into his office.
It was by far the least expensive experience I've had with a good doctor.
In addition, they were able to do everything at the time of my appointment and I didn't have to reschedule!
In addition, I called in a few times and always got a call back.
I love love love Dr. Gilberg-Lenz. She is the best ob-gyn I've ever had. Let me first explain the negatives--even though they weren't strong enough to deter me from giving a 5-star review. You should definitely expect to wait when you get there--anywhere from 30-60 minutes, so definitely take a magazine or a book you've been meaning to read. Also, parking in the garage is $12. If you can find street parking, go on with your bad self, but I am lazy and would rather pay $12 than risk physical and mental injury to myself while trying to parallel park on side streets off of Wilshire. But those are the only downsides. Her waiting room is packed, but the minute she comes in to see you, you might as well be the only person in the office. She is so friendly, asks questions and listens to your answers. If you're searching for advice on birth control or anything, she will provide you a list of options that she would recommend for you and your lifestyle. And, on your very first visit, she takes you into her office to get to know you and your history before taking you into the exam room. I've recommended her to other friends who instantly love her as much as I do. She's just a really great doctor who really cares about her patients.
We found Dr. Gilberg-Lenz randomly on Yelp, so figure we should write a review of her here as thankful payback. We came to L.A. for a year and found ourselves happily pregnant here, though far from our normal home. We found Dr. GIlberg-Lenz reviewed here, and I saw her through my entire pregnancy and successful delivery of our daughter. She is kind, patient, helpful, and was completely supportive and encouraging of our having a natural, non-medicated birth. She was also super mellow and reassuring that pregnancy and birth are natural, normal processes, not medical emergencies! She was fantastic. In the end, she missed our daughter's birth by about five minutes because the nurses called her a little too late and things progressed fast at the end, but all was well that ended well. Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is super - wish we could see her for our next child! Little tip that is the same as at any OB - try and get the first appointment in the morning or after lunch to avoid waiting.
Dr. Gilberg might be an awesome doctor, but when I tried to find out for my self and make an appointment with her it was too difficult.
When I called, one lady picked up the phone. To make an appointment with Dr. Gilberg, she transferred me to her assistant. This assistant picked up the phone without a hello, introduction, nothing, not friendly at all. She had an attitude. Especially when I told her that I'm paying out of pocket. She was short and inattentive. She didn't even knew the fees of the doctor she assists. She thought it was about $200 for a consult but doesn't know how much the exam is. For that she transferred me to the finance department. There I was told the whole exam and consult is from $225. Okay, I'm ready to make an appointment. Well, for that I need to talk to the assistant again, who doesn't pick up, and her voicemail says:
"Since I'm SO BUSY, I don't check my voicemail during the day, blah blah blah..." wow, I definitely don't want to meet her in person or have her at all involved in my yearly exam, which is unpleasant enough!
Bad customer service, especially miss Judy, Dr. Susan's assistant. Terrible system, why do I need to speak to three people just to make an appointment and know their fees in advance? That's ridiculous!
I'm going with the other suggestions made on yelp.
Uber friendly staff, great doc, clean building. I shouldn't have to say more, but I will. I had the last appointment of the day, and the doc stayed to talk to me, not about the vaj (she is a gyno) but about my life. It was like a gyno visit and a shrink appointment all in one. Parking is what it is... and what it is, is L.A. Four stars because I waited about 45 minutes for my appointment. But, for the last one of the day, it could have been worse.
I think I speak for most of us ladies when I say that although I don't avoid a trip to the gynecologist, I wouldn't say I look forward to it either. It can be awkward, uncomfortable and for some, a little embarrassing. I happend to find Dr. Gilberg-Lenz in my Blue Cross insurance book. She's close to my work which made her the perfect candidate (I formerly had a doctor closer to my home, but I tend to move quite a bit). The first thing she did was take me into her office (an office with a desk and pictures, not with a table and stirrups) and just talked with me. She asked me about my job and my family and told me about herself. We spent a good twenty minutes just getting to know each other! Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is a rare kind of doctor. She's not only personal and attentive, but sensitive to your comfort level.
I needed an OB/GYN and so I turned to yelp! And thanks to Aubrey, I checked out Dr. Gilberg-Lenz. I had a really great experience. Her staff was super nice, and I was seen promptly. She met with me in her office (as Aubrey mentioned) in order to chat in a much more comfortable environment and see how I was doing, if I had any complaints, etc. The exam was as comfortable as possible and super fast. Although I am not pregnant nor have any kids, I would definitely see her as my obstetrician, too. In fact, the majority of people in the waiting room were pregnant couples. I definitely would recommend her!
I've had a not-so-great experience with Dr. Gilberg-Lenz or her office. In fairness, I haven't seen her in about 2 and a half years, but the reason for that is that the last few experiences were so off-putting that I didn't want to deal with going to the gyno (I know, bad). Three years ago I had a hormonal issue that was wreaking havoc on me physically and emotionally that she mis-diagnosed as high testosterone. She later called me to say her diagnosis was wrong, but she didn't offer any alternative testing or suggestions, she left it at that. A short time later my PCP, who is awesome, correctly diagnosed the problem and I was successfully treated. For the rest of the year, I received bills from Dr. Gilberg-Lenz's office,for bloodwork which was covered under my insurance plan. Phone calls to her billing department went to voice mail and weren't returned. When I went to see Dr. Gilberg-Lenz a year later to discuss birth control, I waited for 45 minutes for my appoint ment and when she saw me she thought I was a new patient (I had been to her at least 3 times prior at this point). She covered by making a joke about seeing me fully dressed versus in the stirrups, but I didn't find it amusing. She did take the time to go over several options with me and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each, which I appreciated. However, after that visit, I had to deal with the same billing issues. Again, I received bills that should have gone to my provider. Again, my phone calls to straighten it out were never returned. It finally did get straightened out when they called to collect on what they felt was a seriously overdue bill, having no record of my calls to direct them to my provider.
Super-efficient without feeling rushed.
She & her staff are really nice, answered all my questions, and just generally took good care of me. :)
Oh -- and their lab is actually in-office. I could be wrong, but hopefully that means that I won't be getting random bills from labs all over southern California, like with my last doctor, which would be a happy thing.
Gilberg-Lenz is kind, genuine, professional and thorough. Plus, she is simply one of the best in her field! Gilberg-Lenz truly cares about her patients. I highly recommend her!
