Dr. Glen Jeffrey Poffenbarger, MD

Without the dedication of Dr. Poff, I would not be where I am today. He took a pretty messed up back and got me back on my feet. He listens, understands and goes to bat for the patient

During our consultation he made comments that every question he asked led to ten other questions. He referred to these as 'rabbit holes' and said he wasn't going to answer them. I thought a consultation was about asking questions to determine a course of treatment? As with another commenter, his clinical notes (a legal document) bear no relationship to the visit. Who offers weight loss counseling to a patient who is 5ft 4in and weighs 110 lbs? After reviewing MRIs he commented there was nothing he could do because there was 'nothing to cut on'. The notes from that visit state 'target identified'. Oh and just to finish the visit he told my wife she was 62 and looked 82.

Dr. Poffenbarger needs to take a lesson on compassion and empathy! He needs to understand that people come to him with issues of pain and needing help. He interrupted me several times when I was describing what my pain and injury issues were and basically talked down to me the whole time. He did not make good eye contact and his demeanor was very arrogant. No thanks! I would like a physician that is willing to listen to me and then make an assessment on my condition. His plan? A cocktail of medications to mask my pain. What a joke!!!

I thought I had researched Dr. Poffenbarger well prior to making my appointment. I was in dire need of surgery so may have skipped some. Big mistake! This man is a condescending a$$ and refused to listen or care what I had to say or what other physicians or therapists had found. Said when I suggested he contact my physical therapist "Frankly I do not care what they say, I've been doing this since 1995". Constantly talking over the top of me and all the calling me a liar at more than one appointment. I have had a LOT of physicians treat me over the years and have never been treated like I was by Dr. Poffenbarger. I too am a Veteran. Luckily I had different insurance. I learned later that he will not deal with the VA even though he is a Veteran himself and is quoted as saying "I don't take VA patients. You need to find different coverage. I never get paid by the VA". He uses a form letter as follow-up to appointments that do not cover all situations and are inaccurate to the patient… being described. Excused by another quote "I don't have time to write exact notes for each patient so I use this letter that covers them all". However, do not cover them all especially when a patient who is quite fit, and ex-marine, and slender is mentioned in the letter as "was counseled on losing weight".

He is an awful doctor. I no longer can walk due to his negligence of care. The worst arrogant bed side manner !

Basically, Dr P gave my husband and myself our lives back. Spinal fusion for us both.

I hope he remember me I'm from Iraq he treated me so good I hope be his patient again & he give me my treatment because I need his help

I took my boyfriend who is a veteran to the ER and we were referred to Dr. Poffenbarger. When he called the office the scheduler was very rude and impolite. The ER said we needed to follow up with the Dr right away; however, the only thing the scheduler seemed to care about was how we were going to pay for the appointment. After several calls and follow up calls to his VA patient advocate she told him unless he could prove he could pay she was refusing to set an appointment for him. The issue that came out of the ER is potentially very serious and he is still suffering after a weekend of rest. I read extensively on the doctors background and history and was surprised his office staff responded in the way that he did. I was hugely impressed with the fact that he served so honorably in the military and saved so many lives of heroic soldiers. I have served myself for 20 years and take my service seriously. I am just shocked that his scheduler blew off my beloved veteran and now we… are left to wait even longer to get his issue taken care of...meanwhile I am missing work and he is missing school because we are not sure when we will finally get an opportunity to have him seen by a neurologist and it was suggested he not drive and be very careful about his activities.

Dr. Poffenbarger was one of the best Dr's in explaning my surgery and showing me the disc parts being used. Also the correct amount of recovery time and what to expect during the recovery. I would recommend him to anyone needing surgery of the spine. He was great.

Saw physician's assistant only during first visit (very unusual). Following new MRI/CT scan tests I met with Dr. Poffenbarger during a second visit 6 weeks later. He arrived late due to emergency surgery (this occurs with his specialty in all hospitals).Following five previous spinal surgeries by three other neurosurgeons, he ordered CT scans vs. MRIs and discovered my first fusion attempt was incomplete. The CT scan also showed three levels of neuroforaminal narrowing both sides per the radiology report. Yet, when I asked about it, he stated there was no nerve root compression. His PA allowed me to view this very issue six weeks earlier using a MRI I brought to office (which was less than five months old). The MDs' & PA diagnoses were contradictory, despite no treatment during the interval.Told me revision surgery was too dangerous; yet stated he would perform surgeries every six months for the next 18 months to resolve newly diagnosed problems, if I lost weight. Stated even then I… had less than 50% chance of pain improvement. No matter what I do I am still going to hurt due to the complexity/severity of my case. He did not scold me for being on pain management meds the past few years. Looked at his watch, played with his ring, stood up, and terminated appt. as I tried to ask a single question after listening to him. He was curt & loud when I failed to answer one question worded to his liking at the beginning of consultation.He diagnosed things other doctors missed, but missed things himself by not reviewing the radiologist's report. I left confused as to whether he actually recommended surgery or not. He is extremely knowledgable concerning his craft, but his previous military gruffness/ impatience came through loud and clear. He is considered an excellent surgeon by professional colleagues & patients, but don't expect to be coddled as he is busy/in high demand and ex-military.