Dr. Christopher Scott Russell, MD

I am highly dissatisfied with the level of care Dr. Russell provided. As this was my first pregnancy, I felt I was in too far to switch providers. I had mentioned in office twice and sent a document stating my birth preferences that in lieu of epidural and other pain management methods I would like to use nitrous oxide (unsolicited he responded that if he were in my place, he would get an epidural). It wasn’t until I was at the hospital to give birth that I learned that nitrous oxide is not currently available and has not been for a full year due to Covid. After birth when I brought this up to Dr. Russell, he said that he wasn’t aware it was unavailable or that it was my preferred method of pain management. This leads me to believe one of two things: either Dr. Russell lies or he does not pay attention to to what his patients say. Both options are worrisome. On a side note, had I been informed that nitrous oxide wasn’t available, I would have been able to research other options and… make an informed decision in advance. When scheduling my final appointments leading up to my due date, I learned from the front desk that Dr. Russell would not be in town the week I was due. This was fine by me. However, it was surprising that I did not hear this directly from him. As we were making the appointments, Dr. Russell walked by and my husband was able to stop him and ask if he was going to be out of town the week of our due date and Dr. Russell confirmed that he would be on vacation. Again, not a big deal to us, but it was surprising that he had never thought to mention it to us. There were several other “red flags” throughout my care with him: mocking the idea of a birth plan, not asking my permission for a student to witness my Pap smear, leaving a medical diagnosis in voicemail and being unreachable for several days, not looking at my ultrasounds during my appointment, etc.

When I went into labor, Dr. Russell was on call, but wasn’t my OBGYN. After trying to send me home when my contractions were less than four minutes apart and I couldn’t walk or talk through them (everything they tell you to look for to know you should be at the hospital!), the nurses finally got him to admit me. Once admitted, my labor progressed very quickly. He came in when I was at an 8 and asked if he could break my water to “speed things up”. Once I agreed, he sat on my bed to break my water and then jumped up and acted shocked when it got on him and the bed. It went downhill from there. He had me pushing when I was at a 9, even though my labor and delivery nurse was telling him repeatedly that I wasn’t fully dilated. (Guess what, it didn’t work.) Then he started trying to tell me he was going to give me a shot to “numb things up” and when my husband and I declined, as we were hoping to have a natural labor, and had no clue what he was talking about. He then essentially acted… like a toddler and mocked us, “Oh, you want a naaatural labor.” (My OBGYN later told us that he is one of the few doctors around that uses that intervention during delivery.) Once the baby came, he put her on my chest, without telling us if it was a boy or a girl, my husband had to look under the blankets to find out. (Not quite the way we had anticipated finding out the gender of our first child!) Dr. Russell then proceeded to stich me up without any anesthetic (it still seems pretty vindictive, since I wouldn’t let him have his way and “numb me up” before labor...) and when I told him I could feel every stictch, he told me I was fine and that it didn’t hurt. The following day, he hardly even stuck his head in my room to check on me. I can only rationalize this behavior by assuming he was ashamed of the way he had acted the night before. (From the time he let them admit me until my baby was born was under two and a half hours.) I know I wasn’t “his” patient, and that he didn’t know what we were hoping for with our delivery, but if he had asked a couple of questions or took the time to read any of my chart, he would have been able to figure it out...if he had any plans of me being anthing more than a two and a half hour inconvenience to him that night.

Dr. Russell is a very condescending man. I'm a younger woman who, at the time of my appointment, was engaged and couldn't conceive. Dr. Russell told me I "should be married before having kids", then proceeded to give me an exam for extreme pelvic pain before deciding, without the help of an ultrasound or surgery, that I was fine and I needed physical and psychotherapy. He also gave me no pain medication for my excruciating pelvic pain and a low dose of lidocaine that didn't even work. I got a second opinion that resulted in surgery because of a cavity defect Dr. Russell decided he was too smart to catch. If you're going to this provider for any type of pain or infertility, you might want to consider someone else.

I saw Dr. Russell for complications in my pregnancy and the delivery of my daughter. I was initially seeing a midwife, but I had several complications and had to transfer my care to a physician. Not knowing who to see, I asked my specialist for referrals. Dr. Russell was the recommendation, and it's easy to see why! He did everything he could to make my birth experience what I wanted I it be. He was also able to keep me from having to have a C-section! I highly recommend Dr. Russell.

I saw Dr. Russell for complications in my pregnancy and the delivery of my daughter. I was initially seeing a midwife, but I had several complications ...

Dr. Russell is great, but the staff is terrible! They are rude, disrespectful, and highly unprofessional. They do not accurately document patient files, They show no concern for you or your individual situation when issues arise, and contacting or speaking to someone knowledgeable over the phone is extremely difficult. They make fun of patients in the hall and other common areas where those in the waiting room and other rooms can hear. And the reason I am leaving the practice is because they speak to one another about other patients, their test results, and diagnosis' while in the room with you. I can only imagine what they say about me while examining other patients!

Best OB I ever had. His office is wonderful, he is accurate, caring, super nice, and prompt. I really miss this office, I wish all doctor's were like him!

Dr Russell and his staff are amazing.I never felt rushed during my visits, the level of care is excellent,and a very realistic approach to a healthy pregnancy. Not many woman can say they love to see their OB/GYN, but I can. Dr Russell's office is the best.

Dr. Russell is by far the best Gyno I have ever been to and one of the best doctors I've ever been to. He diagnosed an issue 2 previous Dr.'s had missed, including my uber celebrated big city gyno. He spent nearly two hours with me, answered a million questions, and never once did I feel rushed. His bedside manner was fantastic, he is extremely compassionate and patient. I could not recommend more highly.

Dr. Russel is by far the best OB I have ever had. He is very knowledgeable and His bedside manner is great, he goes above and beyond to ensure you get the best care. His office is calm, clean and relaxed. His staff is very friendly, a little ... mmm... slow. But very nice.