Dr. Beth W. Rackow, United States

They constantly make mistakes and do not know how to apologize. Rude staff. A waste of time. Save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere. We changed pediatricians to avoid this place.

I recently visited the Columbus Circle location of ColumbiaDoctors to establish care with Dr. Jessica Fiorelli, and I had a wonderful experience! :-) The office was clean and well maintained, and the staff were very efficient and kind. Dr. Fiorelli took the time to address all my concerns so we could achieve my goals during the office visit. I will definitely return!

Very friendly staff.

I came to this office because of a medical issue and pain I was experiencing. I arrived a few minutes before my appointment, and when I tried to check in, I was told I had to wait because of an outstanding balance. Yes, I had a balance. I had recently changed insurance, and for some reason NYC/Columbia needed several updates before it could bill the correct insurer. I spoke with billing 24 hours before my appointment and said I would pay the correct balance as soon as the claim was processed, as I had been told the claim was denied again. The receptionist brought out a manager who did not introduce themselves. They essentially kept repeating that I had a balance, asking how much I could pay, and saying I needed to make a payment. Their manner was condescending, and I felt attacked. They insisted they were not refusing me medical care, but they publicly shamed me by discussing my business beside the open waiting area and made me late. The manager then had me sit in the waiting area for about 15 minutes before the receptionist called me back to the front. They handed me a phone with Ann from billing on the line. I had already dealt with her attitude during a recent call, but I was exhausted and in pain and began crying on the phone. They put me in a private office at the front to calm down, although that office could have been used to discuss the issue privately rather than in front of everyone in the waiting room. Eventually, they let me attend my appointment. Lauren Golfer is an excellent nurse, and my nurse Cynthia was very kind. I forgot the names of the technician and second nurse who saw me, but they were also wonderful. Unfortunately, the staff made me late, and I hope I did not cause too many scheduling problems. The manager insisted that my lateness did not matter, but as someone who works in a nonprofit clinic, I know appointment times matter. Emergencies happen, but this was not one. This could have been handled with much more grace and tact. NYC/Columbia has some excellent medical staff, but the organization they work for clearly values money over people. My experience at this location was terrible, and I will not return in person. I hope they show more consideration to future patients who may have an outstanding balance while trying to obtain urgently needed medical help.

All I can say is that they are the best!!!

The administrators and front desk staff are great, but the place feels cold, like an episode of Black Mirror. When my PCP first saw me, I was treated like a piece of meat to draw blood from (the most painful blood draw of my life) and met with blank stares. It was awful and dehumanizing. I then saw the doctor, which went fine, so I will keep trying. They also require registration for a "mychart" website that does not work. I am tired of registering for a million of these sites; at least it should work properly. I received notifications saying I had messages, only for the page to remain blank. For example, it has been weeks since I completed my tests and there have been no updates. So I am not happy at all, but this is the current state of healthcare, and because everyone has been very helpful when I call, I will stick with it for now. A friend came here and swears by it, so here I am.

The rudest receptionist I have encountered at a hospital. I have been here several times, and it is unbelievable how consistently rude the receptionist is.

My appointment with Dr. Brooks on the 11th floor was extremely disappointing. I genuinely question why he is allowed to work with children, as he lacks any warmth or charm. Throughout the visit, he seemed irritated and distracted. He also did not ask whether I was comfortable with two women sitting in the room to observe the consultation. Although I did not object to their presence, I believe he should have obtained my consent first. I explained to Dr. Brooks that I suspected my daughter was allergic to salmon. When he asked why, I described what had happened. Despite this, he dismissed my concern, said he did not think she was allergic, and did not recommend allergy testing. I insisted on testing, and during the procedure he accidentally cut my daughter's arm. She then cried hysterically while the room remained silent. I sat down and asked whether the results would be available that day or a week later. He said they would be ready in 10 minutes, and the result was ultimately negative. However, he repeatedly discouraged me from removing salmon from my daughter's diet, which made me feel that he may not have taken the test seriously or conducted a thorough evaluation. When I expressed my continuing concern and fear about identifying the cause of my daughter's allergic reaction, he showed no compassion and offered no further guidance or recommendations. As a new patient, I expected a clear explanation of the testing process, the timeline for results, and possible next steps, but none was provided. Instead, Dr. Brooks was cold, dismissive, and lacked basic bedside manner. Overall, the experience felt more like dealing with a miser than a pediatric specialist.

The receptionist was very rude and had an attitude. They should address this issue.

Dr. J Wu is excellent. She is caring, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and very thorough. The nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and clerical staff are kind, efficient, and professional. The environment is very welcoming. The workflow is smooth, with minimal wait times!

Dr. Rakoff is amazing!! This was my daughter's first visit to a gynecologist, and she absolutely loved her!!!

Dr. Lak was very gentle and considerate with my daughter, and her medical ethics are admirable.

I went for an initial consultation as a new patient. After looking at my history, she bluntly asked, “Why are you here? Who referred you?” She seemed impatient. I have stage IV endometriosis and a long, complex history. I told her I had found her myself. She said she could not manage my long-term care but could help me begin treatment. I had received similar care in another state and needed a surgeon after moving. She told me that “endometriosis does not cause systemic pain,” which I found unacceptable. Current literature describes it as a systemic disease, and I had recently attended an endometriosis conference with many women who shared similar experiences. Although she smiled, she acted as though she understood my body better than I did. I was diagnosed at 16 and am now 24, after two surgeries and many medications. Surgery helped; medication did not. She then told me to take drugs that had previously caused serious side effects and heart problems, including low-dose estrogen despite my extreme sensitivity to estrogen, and suggested Lupron to my family. I believe these approaches are outdated. They were tried when I was 17 and 22 and made me worse both times. She called my case “complicated” and said I would no longer see pediatric doctors after age 25, although I am 24. She said, “You know I am not a gynecologist, right?” I knew she was a surgeon, which was why I came, yet she recommended everything except surgery. Near the end, she told me to take medication that had caused severe adverse effects and was prescribed by my doctor. I felt frustrated and said, “Okay, I will take it,” only because my partner and I wanted to leave. Another doctor told me not to take it because of my previous reactions. I felt she did not understand my history even though I explained it throughout the visit. At the start I said my case was complex and that I would understand if she could not treat me. Rather than saying so directly, she said, “I am glad you are not the kind of patient who considers medical history when trying a new drug,” as though that were reasonable. I was extremely disappointed. I strongly advise anyone with endometriosis to research every prescription carefully and join support groups, which can validate other symptoms and the systemic nature of the disease. I am not saying no one should see her, but among all the endometriosis doctors I have seen besides the doctor who performed my ablation, she made me feel the most dismissed and silenced. It brought back the trauma of seeking a diagnosis at age 10 and not being heard, which caused PTSD.

I had such a great experience with Dr. Rackow!

Dr. Racknow is great. She knows how to work with teens.

She was very kind and explained everything clearly.

Dr. Rackow is an excellent doctor. I completely trust her expertise and judgment. She listens carefully to my concerns and always develops the best treatment plan based on my health and overall well-being.

The doctor was very patient during the visit, listened carefully to our concerns, and was thorough and attentive.

Dr. Rackow was my reproductive endocrinologist at CUFC. She is disrespectful to patients and intimidates them. My mother has endometriosis, and my history included pain, irregular periods, and gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms. Whenever I asked whether endometriosis could be causing my poor egg quality, she said it was impossible and refused to investigate. I eventually saw a pelvic pain specialist who believed me and ordered an MRI, while explaining that an MRI rarely shows endometriosis unless it is severe. Mine showed up. Surgery revealed multiple deeply infiltrating endometrial lesions, urinary tract narrowing, and a mass attached to my uterus. Worse, my IVF cycle caused my estrogen levels to spike. Endometriosis is estrogen-dependent, so the cycle likely worsened it. She wasted my money and a precious year as my fertility declined, while aggravating my chronic, undiagnosed disease. I wanted to sue her, but because no diagnostic testing had been done beforehand, I could not prove it. She does not deserve to practice.

Excellent doctor, very patient, and truly listens to your concerns.

Dr. Laco is simply the best. She is an incredible surgeon and truly listened when I expressed concerns about my fertility. She cares deeply about her patients. She clearly explains expectations, risks, and benefits. I felt like an equal in the decision-making process. Forever grateful to her!

She showed no sensitivity. I did not realize how little effort she had made for me until I met another doctor whose approach was not only genuinely humane and empathetic, but also more scientifically thorough.

The most caring, thorough, and pleasant MD.