Seymour Greenstein, MD

The worst experience ever. I’ve been going here to see Michelle Cleary Np for a while… I was at my wits end with my last visit. A week and half ago I came to this office very ill with flu. Cleary prescribe antibiotics which didn’t help in fact I got worst. .I struggled to urgent care to find out that I had pneumonia and very low oxygen blood levels and very low blood pressure. The doctor at urgent care told me that I needed to go to ER i immediately… i was admitted and found out I had a very bad case of viral pneumonia. Cleary never told me this she just sent me on my way she didnt give me abreathing treatment like urgent care or ER. When I went to Cleary I was very weak and felt like I was going to die. After getting out the hospital still feeling pretty bad in about four days later I returned to work. wrong move… became very sick again. .went back to Cleary who wanted to take me off work for only 7 days… my job involves lifting bags and it a very fast pace work environment and I’m around hundreds of people everyday. I told Cleary I think 7 days isn’t long enough enough to recover from viral pneumonia and she thought more for my co workers then my health. Her words were «what about your co workers with you being off work to long» I was livid from a comment like that… to make matters worst I applied for disability benefits for the time I was off from work due to pneumonia and hospitalization and recovery… I submitted disability forms for the doctor to sign Cleary left without signing the paperwork and went on vacation… needless to say I was angry because now I won’t be able to pay my bills while tryi g to get better and stronger so I can go back to work. Cleary was cleary not interested in my health and if I didn’t take it upon myself to go to urgent care it would’ve been a very bad outcome. This isn’t the first incident I felt was shady and unprofessional… that was my last visit!!! If I can give her a minus 5 I would… how dare she mess with peoples lives.. Unacceptable!!! And don’t let me get strated with that mean Greenstein who need to retire because he obviously hates his job by the way he treats his patients. I’m so done with this place!!!

DO NOT GO TO THIS DOCTOR! HE IS GROUCHY! HORRIBLE! RUDE!!! That was the worst experience ever!!! ALL THESE 5 STARS HAVE TO BE BY HIS OFFICE. I came into see him because he was in NETWORK and wanted to get something checked out to make sure it wasn’t cancerous. HE started talking about my previous medical history from my past doctor instead of addressing the PROBLEM! I kept asking him to to FOCUS on what I came in for and he was rude. every and review on here about him is 100 000 true. DO NOT GO TO HIM.

I have been going to this doctor for over a year, and have seen Dr. Greenstein ONCE. All the other times, I have seen Michelle Cleary, who is a Nurse Practitioner, not a doctor. But when I call for appointments, they always push me to her. I wasn’t crazy about Dr. Greenstein, so it seemed fine. But, if I am going to pay my copay and all the other bills, I should be seeing an actual doctor on some appointments.
I have been frustrated with Michelle’s lack of follow up and a few other things, but the final straw was information I found out from my insurance company this morning.
I have chronic migraines and need more medication than is allowed by my insurance company each month. I let the Michelle know that I needed prior authorization with my insurance company to get more medication. I had to wait a month to see a neurologist, and needed more medicine in the meantime. She assured me she was doing this. I called the office two times to ask, and was told the paperwork had been submitted and they were waiting. I called after a few weeks, and was told the authorization had been denied by my insurance company.
Turns out, the paperwork was never sent in. They completely lied. Each time I called in to check, the nurses were annoyed and said «it probably won’t go through», and I always felt like I was bothering them just checking in on medication I desperately needed.
When I finally saw the neurologist, she mentioned doing a prior authorization, and I told her my doctor had tried but it had been denied.
In the meantime, we both talked to the insurance company and found out they had NO paperwork of any prior authorization being submitted. I asked for supervisor to review my files to confirm this. She did. It was never done.
Although I know Nurse Practitioners s are very qualified, Michelle shouldn’t be playing doctor at this practice. I think Dr. Greenstein is close to retirement, but either way, find another place to go for your health and well-​being. This is not the best option.

OK — one of the previous reviews just stunned me…“Dr. Greenstein, it is time to retire because your version of patient care is no longer useful to a population that has more opportunity and access to understanding human biology.” HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! My husb and I have been going to him for 15 years. He has definitely helped us with some great work diagnosing thyroid problems in both of us; my husband’s ended up requiring surgery. For a long time, I’ve written off his gruff demeanor to the fact that he has his own health issues (over the last few years) But while he may be an astute diagnostician, there is the fact that he has mispronounced my name FOR 15 YEARS! I spent the first ten correcting him. Then I gave up. Now, he just blows off any worrisome symptoms I present. Nerve pain in my leg? Yeah, everyone gets that. Ringing in my ear? That’s common, too. Really? At what point do you determine who gets what kind of care, Dr. God? I think it’s time for me to move on. The office has always been crowded, the staff seems too busy to care about patients. Michelle the PA is the exception to everything: she is attentive, personable and kind.

I love Dr. Seymour Greenstein!
I just can’t believe what everyone is saying about him. My family has been seeing him for over 11 years. He has always treated us with respect and kindness! I love the fact that he gets to the root of my ailment and treats it. He in a way saved my husbands life, when John Muir did not notify us about a huge Blood clot in his leg. So I can’t say enough good things about him.
Also Michelle Cleary is awesome.
I feel a little offended by everyone’s bad comment’s. I will agree it is a little of a wait, but that is because he takes his time with each patient.
I do not understand about the thin walls? I have never heard anyone’s problems while in the waiting room or the exam rooms.
Overall I have been very pleased with the treatment he has given to me and my family.

I have been going to Dr. Greenstein for over 10 years and I have found him to be very knowledgeable and thorough. He’s been able to correctly diagnose everything I’ve come to see him for. His office tries to keep up with the technology, including having all patient records computerized and accessible by laptop which they bring into each exams. You can even communicate with their office through email.
I do admit that Dr. Greenstein doesn’t sugar coat his message. He’s direct and honest, and will tell you exactly what you need to do. I’ve been struggling with keeping diabetes at bay and have recently let it slipped to an uncontrolled state. He told me what I need to do to get it back under control, but also reminded me not to dwell on the past and made it felt like I had a partner in my fight with diabetes.
The last thing I want to say is that although it is sometimes a little long, but that’s because he takes the time to really talk to his patients. I never feel like he’s rushing through the office visit.

I saw Dr. Greenstein maybe three years ago now. I only saw him once and we left our meeting knowing we were never going to see each other again. He was incredibly rude, presumptuous and snobby. My husband continues to see Dr. Greenstein for basic things like bloodwork and physicals but he has to wait like everyone else for a minimum of 30 minutes. I had a very similar experience when I went in the one time I did. I feel like a doctor should respect his patient’s time like the doctor wants his time respected too. Dr. Greenstein does not seem to care that people are waiting for him even though they have an appointment for a specific time. While you are waiting in the room for 30 minutes, you get to hear about other people’s health problems too because the walls are so thin. It made me feel uncomfortable to know that patient privacy is not a priority at Dr. Greenstein’s office.
Dr. Greenstein is not a patient man or a listening man. He makes it very clear that you are the «patient» and you need to listen to him. He already knows what is wrong with you before he even meets you. He is extremely subjective and he knows more about you than you know about yourself. Incredible! If you believe everything a doctor tells you then he is the perfect doctor for you and if you know nothing about yourself, well, I am certain that Dr. Greenstein will know everything about you. Should you be aware of your own biology and you have opinions about how you can be help, then I would avoid Dr. Greenstein and his staff as he will not be too receptive to you knowing anything about yourself. He is not concerned with how you feel, only how he can help you in the way that he sees fit.
A good doctor is a listening doctor and if you are not able to help people then maybe you should not take their money. My co-​pay was never returned to me and my insurance company was billed for services never received. I think it is tacky to take payment from a customer when you argue and insult them and never help them out. I went to see him for basic bloodwork and a physical but I left with nothing but a debt of $ 15 plus what my insurance company agreed to pay. Dr. Greenstein, it is time to retire because your version of patient care is no longer useful to a population that has more opportunity and access to understanding human biology? Not all of us are stupid when it comes to knowing our body and you really need to be able to separate those who are aware from those who are not. In the meantime, you could at least buff up your walls a little bit so your patients can confide in you knowing that the patient in the next room cannot hear everything being said.

I just started seeing Dr. Greenstein, but I really find his no-​nonsense approach very refreshing. If you need to be coddled, maybe you should find another doctor.
I like Dr. Greenstein’s ability to quickly get to the problem and find a solution that many doctors may overlook.
The wait time is a little long in the office, but nothing I have not experienced before at Kaiser and with other doctors. I do not see a doctor on the premise that I am going to be in and out of the office in 10 minutes. I am pretty sure that the jiffy lube approach to your health is flawed.
** Update: OK so I now understand what everyone was speaking about, he is kind of a rude jerk.

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Greenstein for many years now (10+) and I must say some of these reviews are baffling to me. Everyone has a right to their opinion but in my experience Dr. G has never treated me wrong and has always be spot on with his diagnose of my aliments. He has never given me nothing but respect and only meds that where needed.

Dr greenstein and michelle cleary are the best as far as im concerned.

I was in Iraq and hadn’t seen the doctor for a year and a half.
He seemed disappointed that I was healthy and that my cholresterol level had gone down. He got very argumentative about the risk of taking anti chloresterol drugs which I didnt need anyway. He was offended when I asked ihow well he knew another doctor he was recomending for a different procedure.
He set up a second unnecessary appointment at additional cost to both me and the insurance company. He prescribed expensive pills for my «vitamin D deficiency » when just somce sunshine and over the counter pills did the trick as evidenced by my next exam a year later by another doctor.
Very unpleasant, hard to talk to, obnoxious. !!!

I’ve been seeing him for about 5 years. My prior doctor seemed like nothing more than a pill mill so I spent some time finding what I felt was the right doctor. I am glad that I am a patient of Dr. Greenstein, I had been battling a condition that turned my life upside down, after being misdiagnosed for close to 8 years, he finally nailed it. While the waiting room times can get crazy, I think its just a sign of the times living in the bay area. The care I have received has been excellent, he has always spent time with me even though I knew he was extremely busy. I guess that is what I’m most impressed with, I can put up with all the normal HMO type grief just please once I’m in the room with the doctor, make your focus ME, and Dr. Greenstein has always made me feel that he was there to be my physician. I don’t look forward to finding another doctor when he retires.

I agree with M.D. I come to see Dr. Greenstein’s office over 10 years. Granted I am relatively healthy so visit here only a few times a year. Dr. provides me and my family through diagnosis with professional attitude. He may not be overly friendly. But I come to doctor’s office to get diagnosed and right prescriptions not to make friends. Dr. always provided me right meds and I felt better soon after the visits. That’s all I ask for a doctor. I rather have not so sweet doctor who provides me care/​treatment than sweet talk doctor who does not give right meds but still charges a lot to insurance company and over test for everything. If Dr. G is booked and you still need to see someone on a same day, RN MIchelle is also good.

I think this doctor is okay.

Why did I pick this doctor as my primary care physician? I have no idea why now… I think I equated age with experience. Apparently, they did not teach tact or bedside manner 40 years ago.
I have had exactly three appointments with this doctor, and each time, no matter what the problem… he tells me it’s my weight. Want to hear the symptoms, doc? No, it’s just your weight. I’ve even gone in for a sore throat and somehow he has managed to bring up my weight as a factor. Right, it couldn’t be the my annual battle with tonsillitis, it must be my weight. Now don’t get me wrong, I could lose a few pounds, I get it, but not bothering to listen to the patient is ridiculous.
But the kicker: Last appointment I went in for stabbing stomach pain and worrisome bruises on my abdomen which I could not remember receiving. His comment, «Well, at least we know it’s not malnutrition, ’cause then you would weigh about a hundred pounds… you wish, right!» Um, you’re a dick and can’t believe I am supposed to go to you with my intimate health details.
Speaking of intimate health details, don’t expect patient privacy here. As I wait in the exam room, I can hear every conversation through the paper thin-​walls. I know now who has kidney problems, hemorrhoids, and a rash in each room.
Stay away from this guy… he is counting the days to retirement and couldn’t give a shit.
Obviously I am on the hunt for a new PCP.

I do like the doctor, very detailed. I don’t need to do a pre-​google search and post google search about the condition.
It was the first appointment after lunch but still it took 30 min for the nurse to take me from the reception. And for the doctor did not show up for the next 30 min in the room. Not sure whats going on but 1 hour is not acceptable. I went 10 min early, which makes it an hr and 10 min. I came back without meeting the doctor. Working on the change my PCP.

I just changed PCP and picked Dr. Greensteins office which was a HUGE mistake. For starters Dr. Greenstein was out of the office until February so I had to see he colleague Dr. Ting. I arrived early, filled out all my paper and gave my $ 20 co-​pay in cash. The receptionist said she would write me a receipt which she did not.
I meet with Dr. Ting… I have never felt so unimportant and more rushed in my life. She did not answer my questions and just prescribed me some meds without even telling my what she was prescribing. As I was being rushed out she asked where I wanted my prescription to be called into and I told her.
Then I preceded to the front desk to fill out some more paperwork and ask for my receipt. The receptionist gave me the receipt which said I paid only $ 10. I asked her to correct it and she tried to give me $ 10 back. My co-​pay was $ 20 and I paid $ 20 therefore I would expect my receipt to reflect that. This took about 20 more minutes.
When I arrived to pick up my prescription about 45 minutes after my office visit I was told they have not received it yet. So I waited another ½ hour. When I finally picked it up it was only one of the prescriptions I needed. I called the office and they said they would send it right over. 20 minutes later it was still not there so I called again. Spoke to yet another person and explained the situation. I asked if she could fax it over and she told me NO… it was a automatic system and I would just have to wait. WHAT???
My experience was Horrific and needless to say I am searching out a new doctor and office.