Dr. Richard Jeffrey Handler, MD

I went to dr handler sevl times. I was very ill for many months and was unable for sevl months seeing drs to get an accurate diagnosis. Finally after 7 months of losing 40 lbs, so Dizzy I couldn't walk due to infection and losing vision and hearing, on my visit to dr. Phillips he actually put in my chart it was psychological.! It turned out I had massive staph mrsa infection or 6 months that had invaded my sinuses, my ears, eyes and chest. I knew something was very wrong, I went to er, was admitted, after 3 days and no treatment discharged with same debilitating issues. Now sicker and sicker and many drs my hustand got hospital records which shoped sevl badly infected sinuses which Indian River did not pick up on in hospital. 4 more months so sick. My husband took me back to boston where we had lived and I finally got proper diagnosis. Oral and sinus surgery had to be done so long infected, shame on dr handler for saying it was psychological. Of course I was anxious with such a long… time no dr diagnosed or cultured so right antibiotic. I also have cvid.Ithe took a year to recover partially but I am left with serious problems. Dr handler was uncaring, rude and while I have stage 3 renal he should not have brushed me off like he did and actually put a lie in my chart. I was extremely ill.

Dr Handler is a terrible doctor. He misdiagnosed me during an emergency hospital stay, and wouldn't admit he was wrong. Do not ever use him. Besides misdiagnosing me he ordered procedures that were unnecessary, and in doing so added ten thousand dollars to a short hospital stay.

Dr. Handler may be be a talented doctor but we did not experience that. He has no idea how to deliver bad news. He has no empathy for his patients. My father in law was a patient at Indian River Medical Center. We knew he was very sick but always had a glimmer of hope. It kept him going. The hospital doctor who had been treating him during his hospital stay was out and Dr. Handler was filling in. The prior doctor who was tending to my father in law was kind and thoughtful. She spent time with him, was so smart and kind. She laid out the situation, answered questions and presented the bad news in a sympathetic caring matter. The doctor always left him with a glimmer of hope. Dr. Handler was just the opposite. The way he gave the bad new was so unfeeling and cruel. The more we rethink at moment the more angry our family becomes. How can someone who deals with sick people treat his patients in such a manner. He must have missed the lectures on bedside manner and the… delivery of bad news. We are extremely disappointed in Dr. Handler and would not recommend him to anyone.

I had my kidney-transplant at one of the world's preeminent hospital's (Johns Hopkins) and subsequent nephrology care, there. I was very apprehensive when I relocated to Vero Beach as to being able to find a quality practitioner and practice. Several year's ago I tried Dr. Richard Handler and my concern's were set-aside almost immediately. From his surefooted reception-staff, Nursing Team and of course, himself all without a blemish. Next door to his office is their own lab which make's my monitoring that much easier. Ample disabled parking, comfortable waiting area and central location of office assist in my general abilities as I am a leg-amputee. Most importantly, as a Physician, Dr. Richard Handler's medical understanding of his specialty is on par of the level I came to appreciate at Hopkins. A kind and decent fellow to boot!