Catherine R. Zelner, MD

American health care horror story here.
Amazing doctor with appreciation and respect for patients and the body’s ability to heal itself when well nourished, meets American health care system.
I’m ecstatic she accepts healthcare insurance, because honestly, her life and practice would be much more organized and streamlined if she didn’t.
Unfortunately, many people, including myself, would not have access to her if she were strictly self pay.
And so this is where things get interesting. She has to hire office people to process all the paperwork and claims – Make appointments and such.. . And this is where things get disorganized and frustrating.
I’ve been seen here for at least a year and it’s a very impersonal experience overall. Moving people on a conveyor belt is what it feels like.
Unfortunately, in the current American healthcare ecosystem, if you have a solo practice you have to see people back to back and move them in and out in order to just break even.
Dr. Zelner herself is very personal, competent, and compassionate. I feel she is distracted with so much going on in the office its impossible to give full attention and focus to each patient as needed.
The supplements.
I appreciate her focus on supplements. My opinion is the American mentality in general does not understand how much our diet affects our health and wellness.
Even if we are trying hard to eat well, we still fall short nutrient wise. I love the high quality supplements offered here. She uses xygomen products, which are effective but not cheap.
Problem here is sometimes what I need is not in stock, and I end up calling and asking for when is the next shipment– and again that’s frustrating.
During my most recent visit, I was met with new staff. New assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioner. I don’t know if this is good or bad. To me it just looks like unstable.
Given the right, organized office, and healthcare climate, this doctor would really shine. But as is, the practice as a whole is not working for my needs.
Again, I really appreciate her approach to health. And I realize that what she’s doing is damn difficult.. .
So if you’re reading this and trying to find a new doctor, please take into consideration everything that’s written here.
Because a doctors practice is much more than the doctor, and you may encounter similar experiences at other practices too.
We the patients, and the doctors, and other healthcare providers, are all a part of this American healthcare horror story whether we want to be or not.

I like the fact that she focuses on natural health. She was able to prescribe a natural thyroid treatment which helped balance my thyroid levels without all the fatigue, dry skin patches and hair loss (unlike synthroid and levothyroxine). I have been there several times this year and none of my visits felt very personable. I’m not saying they weren’t cordial, however it was just an in and out type of operation. Also, I have always waited a long time for every appointment I’ve had. It would be nice to be seen shortly after my scheduled arrival time.

Dr Zelner is a really nice lady but I’ve had too many issues with this office to give it a good review. I have blue cross blue shield for my insurance and somehow they always order a million lab tests and cultures and I end up being billed hundreds of dollars. This should NOT be happening. They know exactly what I have and are just retesting for it every six months yet my bill shows up with 8 different test charges. Also they are now saying if you are a birth control user you must come in for a check up every 4 months in order to get a new prescription. I have been on the same birth control for years and do not need to pay a $ 25 copay every 4 months thank you.

I am very well read in hormone replacement and endocrinology. They have both been hurdles as I started navigating menopause. I also had the challenge of helping my 17 year old who was finally diagnosed with PCOS. I’ve consulted a number of specialists prior to meeting Dr. Zelner. I’m extremely pleased with her care and knowledge. She never once suggested putting my teen on synthetic birth control. She used natural progesterone which helped a lot of her symptoms. She takes insurance which is unheard of in the realm of bioidentical hormone therapy. She does have supplements she sells just like any business I have used. She also uses a higher end line such as Xymogen which is fabulous and often sold out on line. Xymogen makes the only shake that holds my blood sugar for almost 5 hours. I am a type 2 diabetic.
I will say this. with any good healthcare provider you have to be a active integral part of your care and your children. You have to be organized with good feedback on what works for you and what needs improved. Caring for our bodies is a process in the gynecology arena. You also have to be clear in telling that doctor what you are able to treat and pay for when it comes to supplements. Some supplements were good for me but we figured out I was not good at absorbing them. Communication is essential. I remind my doctor of things in my chart as we speak «knowing» she cannot re read everything in the window of time my insurance gives me with her. I like that partnership and I like teaching my teen that’s how it should be.

Dont trust this place, they make you buy unnecessary drugs to make money.
I was tested positive for some common thing that goes away on it own and I confirmed with many other doctors elsewhere else, they all said that there are no drugs to treat it.
the doctor made me buy bottles and bottles of 5-​MTHF instead, looked it up online, its made or Pregnant woman, IM NOT PREGNANT NOR NEED THIS! and the bottle was labeled DR. ZELNER!!! they sell you their own drugs…