Dr. Stephen J Riddel, MD

Such a caring doctor

Been to Riddel for my first 2 prenatal appointments and each time have waited over 2 hours for my 10 minute appointment. And not only that but he openly jokes that you will be waiting and might as well "bring a sack lunch and hang out a while". I work in the medical field and have patients of my own to see. This doctor is unacceptable.

I recently went to this doc and found that I had to wait 3-4 hours for my appointment. I was told that I needed to have my uterus taken out because he saw endometriosis on his ultrasound (the ultrasound looks like its older than I am and I am 33). I went to get a second opinion from another doctor who did a laparoscopy and cured my pain. He said I didn't have any endometriosis but I had some scar tissue. I asked why Dr. Riddel would have said that I have endometriosis on my ultrasound, and he said that you can't see endometriosis on ultrasound and that he probably just wanted my money. I used to go to Dr. Doyle when he was alive, but since then things have gone down hill in McAlester. Dr. Riddel has ran off 4 OB/GYN's since Dr. Doyle passed away. I won't go back to Warren Clinic. Its better to drive 2 hours to Tulsa or OKC for care.

Dr. Riddel is THE best doctor for OB/Gyn. I wouldn't want to see anyone else. I have been a patient of his for over 20 years and he is the only doctor I see regularly. I realize that he is very much in demand AND most importantly he is an OB doctor. He cannot predict when someone is going to go into labor and he will be called to deliver a baby. This causes his patients waiting for an appt either to wait or reschedule. I always just bring a book and plan for an afternoon of reading just in case. Also, for the last 5 months he has been the ONLY OB/Gyn in McAlester. He always takes care of his patients and he makes you feel like you are important. He insists your wishes are carried out by office staff, hospital staff and even family members of the patient. He has delivered my babies, provided birth control, did yearly exams and most recently a hysterectomy. I cannot speak highly enough of the man. He has always been accurate, kind, funny, and caring.

I was seeing this doctor for my prenatal, but he made me wait for over 4-5 hours on a regular basis. I talked to friends, and they told me that he comes in at 11-12 for an 8:30 appointment. After waiting for him for such a long time, I then get a smug look and 2 minute visit before he leaves without answering any questions because he is running late. I left his practice and went to another doctor and they are on time and courteous and explain all my questions. I would not go to this doctor...he just wants your money!!!

I have never been treted so bad by a MD. He completely ignored the fact that I was throwing up every day several times a day, very weak and shaking. His OB nurse (his wife) was extreemly rude. And eventually he fired me as a patient just because I didn't want all the medical interventions he was proposing. That part turned out to be the best thing he could have done since I went to Community Midwives in Norman, OK. In two weeks of beeing with them I was feeling much better and had no medical interventions and a drug free natural birth. The cesarean rate in McAlester is high and you can thank this "Doctor" for adding to it. If you need a Surgeon he's just like any other one. But if you need someone to deliver your baby go somewhere else besides McAlester's Boys Club, AKA, Warren clinic.

If I had to recommend a Dr from Mcalester, he would be the one to go to..The wait is so long because he has a lot of pts. I enjoyed him as my doctor and along with Dr.Doyle,who passed away a few years ago. If you have no choice than to deliver in Mclester, go to him, if you do, go to another town.