Charles Swerdlow, MD

I was incredibly fortunate that my cardiologist referred me to Dr. Swerlow for my arrhythmia, which was out of control even with medication. He spent a lot of time answering all of my questions before the procedure. Dr. Swerdlow did a fantastic job of correcting my arrhythmia with a cardiac ablation. I’m happy to say that I have not had a problem in two years.

Dr. Swerdlow is an excellent doctor. I have been a patient for 10+ years and he has always been compassionate, thorough and communicative. I have never left his office feeling that he has not addressed my issues and concerns and I would not hesitate to recommend him to others.

After visiting a few cardiologists who seemed unwilling or unable to treat my SVT, I was so happy to find Dr. Swerdlow. He’s is a fantastic doctor who studied my case history, made a clear and informed plan, communicated my options in a way I could understand, and performed the appropriate level of intervention I needed. I have a 30+ year history of challenging medical issues and I’ve experienced the best and worst doctors the profession has to offer. I’m now confident moving forward that I have the information I wanted and the health advocate I need to look forward to a healthy future! He’s a keeper!

Dr. Swerdlow solved my A-​Fib problem completely! I had persistent atrial fibrillation and the two cardio-​versions were useless. Dr. Swerdlow performed an ablation on me in September 2015 and I have had NO A-​Fib with perfect EKG’s ever since. I am also extremely appreciative to Dr. Harold Karpman (of the same practice) who recommended Dr. Swerdlow!
I disagree with the negative comments regarding his «bedside» manner. He gets to the point and solves your problem. If you need therapy, then go to a mental health expert. If you want your heart to function correctly, go see Dr. Swerdlow!

Suzan B.
If they had more stars, Dr. Swerdlow would get them. He is the most brilliant, caring Doctor I have ever met.
My husband, Irwin, has had a heart condition since he was 32 and is now 72 thanks to Dr. Swerdlow.
Irwin has had many procedures done while living in New York and Florida. We are living in California for the last 9 years and thanks to Dr. Swerdlow, Irwin’s quality of life has improved greatly. Irwin could not walk 1 block without getting out of breathe. Now he can walk many blocks without a problem.
Dr. Swerdlow did complicated procedures on Irwin, but never rushed into them. He thought out every procedure carefully and made sure this would be the right one for Irwin.
All I can say, Dr. Swerdlow you saved my husband’s life. Thank you for being such a wonderful human being.

STAY AWAY…
I have to agree with the review posted by Kurt D. Dr. Swerdlow is arrogant and abusive. I came to him for a second opinion. He was very intimidated by the Dr. I was seeking the second opinion from. His way of dealing with it was to treat me as low as possible and to continually tell me how talented he was. He complained about having to read my records (that is what you do in the case of a second opinion, ISN’T IT?) He did absolutely nothing to help correct my problem. It was all about him. Shame on this Dr.

One of the worst Dr.‘s I have ever been to. Forgetting for a moment how he is as a human being, bedside manner, etc., this is strictly how he is as a surgeon. I was 32 when I met Dr. Swerdlow and knew I had a heart condition. He was so cock sure that I didn’t need a surgery and I had to urge him to prescribe another heart monitor, so he could see more results. He called me two weeks later when he got the results from my monitor, which showed a BPM that peaked at 294. He immediately said, «I’m wrong and you need surgery asap for SVT.» A few weeks later, as he did have the sweetest assistant who fit me in right away, Dr. Swerdlow went in to do the surgery and 3 hours later was unsuccessful. A good Dr. would have gone back in another time, but I think he was too scared and his ego was too big to say «I failed!» I asked when we could schedule another surgery and he replied with, «you’re fine.» He tried me on one beta-​blocker which brought out Bradycardia and then gave me the advice in his office, in front of my parents to «smoke weed,» and wrote me off completely.
Since then I have had 3 more ablations by great, competent Dr’s and am doing fantastic!
As far as I’m concerned his license should be revoked as he not only pays no attention to the Hippocratic Oath he is sworn by, but just does whatever he wants.
Worst Dr. EVER.

Before scheduling to see Dr. Swerdlow read the recent malpractice litigation against him. Google: VALER V. SECAREA, JR., v. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA et al., He is the most unpleasant doctor I’ve ever met. Arrogant, abusive to patients and staff alike. Appears to do you a favor to answer life impacting questions. Suggest getting a 2^nd or 3^rd opinion before proceeding as with any surgery, He stated that cardioversion was the best procedure for a-​Fib when other cardiologists have told me there is no study comparing it to simply doing nothing. He babbles med jargon but refuses to explain. Dealing with this doctor was terribly unpleasant.

Dr. Swerdlow is a brilliant and compassionate physician and surgeon. He saved my husband’s life when he was in ICU going into shock at a hospital across town 11 years ago. His subsequent surgeries and compassionate care changed the course of my husband’s disease and his quality of life. We moved to another state last year, and with Dr. Swerdlow’s gentle assistance, we are slowly transitioning our care to a doctor he knows and respects. We have tremendous faith in Dr. Swerdlow and his excellent team of professionals. His entire team over the years has been and continues to be top notch. I would refer anyone in need of excellent professional care to him.

I have had heart issues all my life. I moved to LA in my 20s and started having him monitor me. 20+ years later I have moved in and out of LA, seen other electro physiologists due to being in different cities and without a doubt I have not interacted with a more talented physician.
Over the last 20 years, I have been under his knife six times. Each time he has been the medical partner you want IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.
He is brilliant, he understands risk, he is current on today’s technology, he is talented and concerned for the patient. When I speak to him, I am confident I am giving myself the best opportunity for a successful outcome.
I saw some reviews discussing his bedside manner. Really? I have not experienced the issues the others have but 1 I have had hard conversations with him where he told me THE TRUTH and 2. If he had the worst bedside manner, had to wait hours to see him on a bed of nails, I would do it if it gave me the best possible chance TO LIVE the rest of my life.
I will continue to see him. I would bet my life recommending him because I already have.

I love love love Dr Swerdlow. I live in Orange County and was seeing another Electrophysiologist who I was very very unhappy with. I decided to find another Electrophysiologist for a second opinion and found Dr Swerdlow. My first apt took over 2 hours. He took out his time to listen to all my concerns and go over my medical records with me. I was so impressed. He is warm, friendly, sincere and has great bedside manners. His staff is amazing too. Armando who check my defribrillator is very nice and knowledgeable and Kimberly is great. She’s always there to answer your questions and gets back to you when she says she will no matter how busy she is. All the other staff are super friendly as well. I feel so blessed to have found this doctor. I have had over 30 smthing shocks from my device so I’m always feeling on edge and have a great deal of anxiety but it’s been a lot better since I’ve seen Dr Swerdlow. Thank you to everyone at the office.

I have been seeing Dr. Swerdlow for a little over 1 year, travelling all the way from Orange County to see him. He is an excellent doctor and tells it as it is, without «mincing any words»! I have had atrial flutter about 10 years ago. When I first saw him, he ordered the modern version of Holter and echocardiogram and then determined that my heart condition was in good shape except for the atrial flutter. Because my last episode of atrial flutter was almost 10 years ago, he did not recommend ablation.
Today, he suggested that I monitor my liver function tests twice a year while I am taking Multaq OR I should let the atrial flutter to occur so that he can use surgical means to remove the flutter forever. Because I live so far away AND my family members have many health problems which need more urgent attention, I will stay with the toxic prescritption drug Multaq for now. Love a doctor who calls it as is. BTW, my wife also sees Dr,. Swerdlow for her idiopathic anomaly in basal EKG.

These reviews MUST be based on his surgical ability and not his bedside manners, because let me tell you, this guy is an asshole.
He diagnosed me with PVCs of the heart in early 2014. When I tried to ask him any questions about it, he shut me up and rudely would say, «I’m not interested in your questions.» He then finished it up by saying, «You and I will get along really well when you listen to what I tell you.» Just not the approach I think a doctor should take with a patient who is obviously freaked out.
I had to plead with him to do a stress test on me — he thought my echo was enough — but after enough pleading, he agreed. Did the stress test, went back to his office for a follow up. He kept me waiting in the room for 1 hour after my appointment time, no apology. Walks in, fumbles around the computer and goes, «I think you need to do a Holter monitor.» I respond to him, «I did one with your office 2 weeks ago. You ordered it.» His response, «Oh did you?» He finally gets the stress test results up on his screen and he goes, «Okay, you don’t have PVCs, you have ILVT of the heart. See me in 6 months.»
Honestly, fuck this guy. I’m sure he’s an amazing surgeon, but he needs to retire from clinical practice. He’s not the kind of guy that seems to care at all about his patients.

Excellent cardiologist. In fact the best… EP Dr. I have met. I met him… in 1997.(as a writer in Beverly Hills. from Philadelphia)-I was having frequent irregular beats.& runs of SVT. Dr. Swerdlow explained to me, what was happening & why. He took so much time to explain. He is a cardiologist, with a «heart» ! –
As I am now older, I may need a cardiac ablation (and I am in Philadelphia, with terrific Drs) — but, if & when I need one, Dr. Swerdlow is the one – ! His excellent reputation has earned him praises from cardiologists even here, 3,000 miles away, in Philadelphia – ! (Cardiologists at Thomas Jefferson hospital know of him-​)
I was lucky to have met him. (A caring ER Dr, in Cedar Sinai Hospital made an appt for me with him-​! How lucky I was.) He is really special – ! (Richard in Philly)

Everything about my experience with Dr. Swerdlow was very impressive. To start with the office staff and the nurses were friendly and made me feel very comfortable. Dr. Swerdlow was the best of any of the cardiologists I had been involved with as he truly took his time and cared about my situation. He explained everything and the thing that impressed me the most was that he listened to me. If anyone has any problems with atrial fibrilation or any heart rhythm problems this is the doctor to see.

Dr. Swerdlow is amazing! And I’m not an easy patient, he totally had his hands full with me. My previous doctor overlooked my irregular heartbeat, saying it was irritated airways. so by the time I reached the ER I was in really bad shape. I went to Dr. Swerdlow he suggested a procedure that scared the crap out of me… after 2 more opinions by other Dr.‘s (who by the way said I was definitely in good hands) I had the procedure done and I’m better then ever.

This is the doctor that changed my besty’s life. Ken’s arrhythmia started when he was a teenager. It was painful and scary and he ended up in the ER multiple times when he had a bout of tachycardia and his heart couldn’t slow down.
Dr. Swerdlow performed a cryothermal catheter ablation to fix my besty’s heart. He spent 7 ½ hours working away to fix a tiny little channel that wasn’t working right. When he came out at the end of the day to let Ken’s mom and I know that everything was okay and there was a 90% chance that his heart would work just perfect from then on, I finally cried all the tears I’d held in all day while I was fearing the worst.
Thank you, Dr. Swerdlow! You are my hero.