Dr. Elizabeth Childress Western, MD

As of 2019, even if you have an appointment, expect to wait an hour. Expect to wait on her some days and let the receptionist tell you to come back two hours later because she is not even at her practice. Expect care that is less than the equivalence of a complete stranger when or if you meet her. When you do, you will feel rushed, she will make your concerns burdensome for her, and notice the high level energy symptoms that distract her from actually paying attention to you, hearing you, and looking for your own emotions that she should pick up on. After trying to find a PCP accepting new patients, Western had an open schedule, got me in 9 years ago at her first/different practice. Knowing now, I can see how desperate she was to get patients and make money. Currently, as of 2019, after she relocated to the new facility: 904 Anna Ave Ste. 507 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401; she told me she lost all entire patient history records, which was a huge deal for insurance, referrals, and diagnosis that… she “couldn’t remember” she diagnosed patients with. This was a huge lack of ethical responsibility on her part, because she quote, “couldn’t remember my symptoms of previous anxiety from work or the medication she prescribed to me that helped alleviate that!” So she wouldn’t take my word for it then and there to check my symptoms, ask about my mental health, or how I am doing period. She told me, it was in my head and she couldn’t treat me anymore. Her answer: She literally felt inadequate to remedy the situation. I have to stop seeing you. She gave me no referral for anyone else and she didn’t even tell me bye and shut the door! All of our visits can be summarized as her being: impatient, can’t look you in the eyes for more that 3 seconds, no attention span, rushed, scatter brained, running around, downplaying ever symptom you have. The day she left me, she had an attending resident and the much younger, less experienced resident heard what she told me; when she quickly rushed out slammed the door so I couldn’t wouldn’t have to explain her unethical actions to me by letting a possible suicidal patient go, the resident apologized and told me it would be ok. I don’t expect great bedside manner, but I do expect her to be law compliance and take care of all her patients and make it her responsibility to help them the best way she can. She is the most cold hearted women I’ve ever met. As a 32 year old, I expect her to treat me as a grown up and not act like a child. Her resident’s apology explained enough. My friends and family no longer seeing her and had the same issues. They were surprised I had enough patience to see her for 9 years. If you read the bad reviews, they are very similar and there is no doubt a person like that will always be incapable of having sympathy.

Dr. Western was my primary care physician for 5 years. I found her to be extremely friendly, patient, and professional. She was very thorough and knowledgeable when it came to my medical care and treatment plan. She is an excellent doctor. - B Elliott

I went to Dr. Western for years. In the beginning she would spend quite a lot of time with me & helped me find solutions to a couple issues. I started trusting her (a difficult thing for me) & opened up to her during those 1st few visits but after she moved to a busier office/practice her bedside manner drastically changed. I would agree 100% with the Jeckle & Hyde review. She would come in preoccupied, often failing to even make eye contact & once even rolling her eyes. In the end she broke my trust in patient/doctor relationships completely. After my last visit I sat in the office bathroom & cried for 20 min because she has a way of making you feel inferior & stupid if you ever question a test she wants to run or don't understand a procedure. She is any angry person. She literally slammed the door on her way out & spoke to me in a way no professional ever should. I did absolutely nothing wrong to warrant this. I have contemplated speaking out about it but let this serve as a warning… for anyone who might be googling her name. Cold/condescending personalities aren't suited for the profession of caregiver in my opinion. I am a friendly, trusting person who has rarely had qualms with anyone so my husband, friends & family were shocked when I told them about my experience with her. I felt so much better when I read other's experiences on here & found out it wasn't just me. It still brings tears to my eyes to think about & has irreparably caused damage to my ability to trust doctors. I no longer see a doctor because of anxiety that I had previously but is now 100x worse. And I promise I'm not a sensitive snowflake. She is just that bad.

Dr. Western is really personable, attentive to your problems/ concerns. A really great listener. I couldn't be any happier with my choice of this physician.

She's a great physician as long as you treat her like she's infallible. I was hospitalized and she showed up twice - both times with a condescending attitude. She was extremely crabby. I contacted another physician who told me I should have transferred to UAB two days earlier. Thankfully, I did so or I'd either be dead or still at DCH. It's bad enough to be ill, but to have a nasty, know-it-all "treat" you is horrific. She's a great physician as long as never get sick or question her authority.

I had a nice relationship with this woman and she told me she was moving her practice to another location so she could spend more time with her patients. When she moved I brought my 17 y/o daughter to her new office, where we waited an one and a half past the appointment time. She felt an MRI was necessary and then NEVER bothered to call me back. However, her nurse left a message and told me it was an emergency and to call her back immediately. I called 1 minute later and got the answering service. I called back two times and didn't get a call back for FIVE hours. Fortunately, she called to say everything was okay. This was from her nurse - the doctor never followed up to see what the next step should be. Fast forward - I brought my nephew there (a college student from 1,000 miles away) we waited FOUR hours past the appointment time. She admitted him to the hospital and never checked on him until 36 hours later!!! When she arrived she was a cold and heartless. She laid out… horrid news in the worst possible manner. NEVER EVER use this quack!!!

It took a while to find a doctor that would take on a new patient in the Tuscaloosa area. I found Dr. Western. Office staff was nice, had to fill out paper work again after filling out and faxing in previously. Only took a few minutes to do. Vitals were taken in the hallway, which I haven't experienced before. It was fine since I wasn't sick. I don't know how I would fill being in the hall and not feeling well. Waiting 10 minutes before doctor came in. I liked the doctor, she spent alot of time with me. Talked to her alot about family history, my history, my background. She did a thorough exam. Had blood drawn from staff, they were very gentle and kind. I have find me a new doctor.

This doctor will 'get you' in and 'out' as soon as possible! She has NO 'bedside' manners, and thinks she knows everything!. She will not LISTEN to any of your questions or concerns. I do not recommend her to anyone, as she needs many years to learn how to 'treat' folks !!

Dr. Western has no sense of caring, is hateful towards her patients. She will not listen to what your questions are, she will assume she knows better. She degrades her patients as though, they are stupid and dumb. Her lack and sense of customer service for patients is NONE. It hurts me because of all the patients, elderly, people with disabilities, children will see the abuse she profiles. I pray that she will come to look at herself and see the verbal and emotional abuse she carries out onto her patients.

This doctor takes her rage and wrath out on patients. She has discrination against folks with disabilities as eplipsey, veterans, and folks with mental/emotional disability. She is HORRIBLE!! She has threaten patient with disruptive, snarky remarks that are very upsetting to patients with panic attack history (the patient has seen this doctor for 3 years, yet, She took rage & wrath out on the patient BECAUSE her 'new software' in her new private practice was unable upload patients records.... (this was not the patient's fault, but Dr. Western ranted on with patient..? This is NOT a Doctor with 'customer service' to patients ! - No one deserves being treated with smart, snarky, answers as she did this patient (who was in terrible pain!)