Dr. Rachana Madhusudan Palnitkar, MD

Dr. Rachana Palnitkar is an exceptional physician, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had her caring for me through a complicated joint infection that required multiple hospitalizations, surgery, and an extended course of IV antibiotics over the past two months. From the beginning, she was extraordinarily responsive, thoughtful, and thorough. What stood out most was how much ownership she took over my care. When I needed additional specialists, imaging, or a different plan, she didn’t just tell me who to call — she actively helped identify the right doctors, coordinated with them, advocated for me, and stayed closely involved throughout. There were several points when my situation became complicated or uncertain, and Dr. Palnitkar consistently made herself available, talked me through what was happening, reviewed new information quickly, and helped figure out the next step. I never felt like I was navigating the healthcare system alone. She also has a rare combination of medical… expertise and genuine compassion. She made me feel like my questions and concerns mattered, even during an extremely busy and stressful course of treatment. Her dedication to her patients goes far beyond what I have experienced with almost any other physician. I cannot recommend Dr. Palnitkar highly enough. She is the kind of doctor you hope to have in your corner when something serious happens, and I am enormously grateful for everything she did for me.

I would give her zero Do not select her as your infectious disease doctor. She should not be sent to any patient's bedside and I'm so sorry that Good Samaritan Hospital assigned her to my husband Her working in a lab by herself might be OK, but being a doctor, needs compassion/ understanding patient and family's emotional circumstances. and she is too good to care for that. And you will feel it very soon (for us: first visit) that you are not in hands of a caring doctor + She is rude I 100% agree with the other comment in this page: dismissive, arrogant, and lacks any semblance of patient care skills.

This doctor shouldn’t even have a license. She waltzes into my father’s hospital room and throws crap at us saying that what we’re doing to our father (meaning homeopathic natural healing) won’t ever work and he will continue to have infections. His type of cancer isn’t treatable and we’re delaying the inevitable. This person is not only rude but has a complete lack of professionalism and nonexistent bed manners towards a dying patient and the family. She should be removed from practice!

Dr. Palnitkar was assigned to one of my parents at the hospital. Here are my comments: This doctor needs to return to medical finishing school. She is dismissive, arrogant, and lacks any semblance of patient care skills. She has a HUGE chip on her shoulder, and neglects to realize most of her elderly patients' grown children have been professionals decades longer than her. One day, her hubris will cause her to make a horrible mistake. Maybe that will humble her and she will then become a real doctor.

I would check zero ... worst. I saw her in 2011...I had horrible infection on hands...she took a quick look said get OTC cortizone 10 cream and that was it. no diagnosis, the whole time talking to someone else ... I left very frustrated and had never been to a doctor like that. Her bedside manner was NIL.

This doctor is should be researching behind a microscope, NOT seeing actual patients. Her staff was fine, but she was horrible. A complete lack of compassion does not even begin to describe her. After being abrupt and dismissive with my daughter, who landed up in tears because of the lack of concern, the doctor actually said she didn't know why she was upset, it's not like she had a tumor in her head or anything. Really?! You went to medical school for that diagnosis and care?

This doctor has zero interpersonal skills. Obviously if you are seeing an infectious disease doctor you are ill and have something requiring a particular set of skills, one of which is compassion. I felt like I wasn't heard when I spoke, she ignored my spouse, when the treatment failed she blamed me, and sent me on my way. This is where I add I have a progressive disease requiring treatment, and sending my on my way can have fatal consequences. Do not see this doctor, go elsewhere.