Dr. Darrington Phillips Altenbern, MD

My initial OB unfortunately retired just after my 16 week visit, so I switched to Dr. Altenbern because he was taking over my previous OB’s practice and patients. After having our 20 week anatomy scan (which was incredible and exciting), my husband and I went to our first appointment with Dr. Altenbern. When he walked in it was clear he didn’t read my chart or my ultrasound report prior to walking in the room. He sat down, sort of chuckled and said flatly “I hate when they put incidental finings in these reports.” This is my first pregnancy, so naturally I began to feel nervous and asked what the incidental finding was and he proceeded to read the report to my husband and I. When my husband asked, “so what does that mean?” He replied with “honestly I don’t know, but I’ll give you a copy of the report and you can google it when you leave.” Every time I tried to ask him a question he spoke over me and did absolutely nothing in terms of bedside manner to make us feel any better. Dr.… Altenbern had absolutely no social awareness and zero bedside manner and neither my husband nor I felt comforted or reassured in any way. I felt talked over and dismissed. While I realize that doctors don’t know everything, I work in the medical field with patients and in no way is it acceptable to tell a patient “honestly I don’t know, but I’ll give you a copy of the report and you can google it when you leave.” The appropriate way to handle that would have been to read the report prior to walking in the room and doing some quick research about the incidental finding so you could adequately explain it to the patient. The fact that he told me to google it made me furious. Why am I paying you all this money for me to do your job for you? I’m not sure if this is a generational issue and he’s just an old school male doctor that comes from the days when treating patients like they’re simply a number instead of a human being was tolerated, but I have never felt more dismissed in my life as a patient. I understand that as an OB, they see lots of patients everyday and see incidental findings of unknown significance that usually resolve themselves all the time, so it’s probably not a big deal to them, but it is a very big deal to the patient. I am still a human being and this is still a baby. These doctors have lives in their hands. It is their job to provide competent care, and part of what goes into providing care is bedside manner and treating each patient with the respect and empathy that they deserve. And in my opinion, if you can’t do that, then you have no business being a doctor. Especially an OB. Needless to say we will not be continuing our care with Dr. Altenbern and we will be transferring to a physician that can display basic human empathy.

Literally the worst visit of my life. Will NEVER be going back!

Dr Alternbern is my GOD..yes he is... My son came healthy into this world only because of his care.. He accepted me as his patient after first trimester inspire of history of complications... We are very thankful and greatful all through our life...YOU ARE AWESOME SIR!!!

Dr. Altenbern delivered both of my babies. We love him!