Kelly van den Heuvel, MD

I saw Dr. Van den huevel throughout my pregnancy and during the birth of my daughter. She was kind, caring and humorous at each visit and compassionate when my daughter had minor birth complications. I never felt rushed and always felt I was in good hands. My questions were answered fully and and I never left an appointment wondering about the health of my daughter or myself. The office staff at times can be a little slow, but never disrespectful. I will continue seeing her for obgyn care

Not sure why all the negative reviews, but after reading them, I felt compelled to add a more positive perspective. Had my first appointment — and I found the staff perfectly pleasant and the doctor, even more so. Compared to my last OB GYN, I did not feel rushed at all; I also felt my questions were answered thoughtfully. And she was just plain friendly, which for some reason I have difficulty finding in this specialty (I’ve been through many!). Makes all the difference to me!

Don’t let those reviews fool you!
Dr. Van de Heuvel was simply amazing! I was long overdue for a check-​up, something almost all of us dread doing. So I finally bit my tongue and after searching long and hard on the internet to find that «perfect» doctor, I decided to go to Kelly Van de Heuvel per my insurance coverage. It was my first time going to her and she made me feel so comfortable during my annual check-​up, a situation that is inherently deemed uncomfortable. I felt like I could talk to her about anything and she explained all the procedures she was performing step-​by-​step as well as describing all birth control options in full detail. I told her how I was unhappy with what my previous doctor had prescribed me, she listened to my symptoms, gave several alternatives to my problem bc, and before I knew it, the apptment was over!
She was so sweet and knowledgeable and I will definitely recommend all my friends to her!

Not only were my concerns dismissed with little to no explanation, I felt constant judgement from the rushed doctor. I had noticed an unusual amount of hair coming out in the shower or while brushing. I marked it on the form since there is a question asking this. On her way out the room she brought it up and quickly dismissed it. But things that I know as normal for my body seemed to concern her more than it should.
I called in to have my prescription changed and I was talked down to like a 2 yr old. I can read the damn label lady, you didn’t give me what I asked for.
Will not be going back. It’s a shame when you feel you can share more with the lady that does your bikini wax than your doctor.

WORST DOCTOR!!! She should loose her license. She does not care for her patients and bullies them in stressful times. I had a c section not because of an emergency but because she had to go on a trip. I stressed to her I did not want one unless it was an emergency. I got my medical records to only find out that she lied. There was no record of fetal heart failure. She is the worst physician. I will never go back to her ever. I hope others find another obgyn.

I just had my first appointment with Dr. Van den Hueval at the referral of a friend. I’ve had some nightmare experiences with Gynos in the past and am always nervous seeing a new doc for the first time. She was amazing! She has an excellent bedside manner. She really took the time to listen to and address all of my concerns. She explained everything thoroughly, gave me options, and did not push me towards anything in any way. Overall great experience so far! I would definitely recommend her and am happy to have found her.

I had Dr. Van den Heuvel for the birth of my daughter. During my prenatal care the office was fine. It took some time to get call backs with problems but usually would get a call within 3 hours. However during labor and after I was shocked with the lack of care I received. In my first appointment they mentioned there were two outside doctors that deliver for them, yet failed to mention those doctors again even though they made it a point for you to meet the other doctors at the practice. Unfortunately I had one of those doctor for labor who was trying rush my labor even though it was only 7 hours. In the room the doctor was cold, distracted, and rude to my doula. She even answered a personal phone call while I was pushing (only pushed a total of three times so not like it was a lengthy process). Then Dr. Van Den Hueval gave little to no postnatal care when I needed help the most. It took about 24 hours to receive a call back when I called to state I was in pain. Then another 24 hours to discuss a call about breastfeeding issues and even then provided no help. Having a newborn baby is hard enough without receiving any help from your medical professional who is supposed to help you. I recommend looking into different practitioners since the bad experience will continue to follow you.

I just want to say that Dr Van Den Heuvel has been my OBGYN from the beginning. She has delivered two of my babies and will be delivering my current. My labors are not easy and yet she is patient and goes by my birth plan. I had both babies vaginally and was never pushed or pressured into having a c section since I was very opposed. I have never had a problem with her staff I am called back in a timely fashion. I have met her associates and had appointments with both of them to get familiar. I am happy that I am able to have Dr Van Den Heuvel as my Dr for my third pregnancy and couldn’t imagine seeing anyone else. Its disappointing to read all the other reviews because i have personally never experienced anything like that and I have been seeing her since 2010.

She was my primary doctor for a while and I was fine with her until I got pregnant. During my visits she wasn’t giving enough information. they only thing she was asking is «do you have any questions? «well.I dont know. .tell me about my health. about what is normal during pregnancy. .She was always behind the schedule. .for example if some sort of test mist be done at 20 weeks. .she does it at 18. and when I got back to my next appointment at 20 weeks she offers the same test that already been done. Well. dont you see it on my history??? Cant you track my weeks and do tests ON TIME? ?
When I left a voice message. .she called me back after 2 days $!! With voice like dont bother me with calls… and yelled at me!!! Can you imagen that??? Your doctor is yelling at you because you have a question and you called het???
Im so glad that she didnt deliver my baby… I would never return to her and never recommend her!!!

This sucks that I have to be so publicly personal, but this has been the worst experience with a doctor I have ever had. This is a review based not only on Dr. Van den Heuvel, but the whole office at San Diego Ob Gyn Group. I was referred to Dr. Garg, but as he’s popular, I wasn’t able to get in to see him in a timely fashion so the receptionist referred me to Van den Heuvel. I also thought they were part of Scripps Clinic as Garg & Van den Heuvel are in their network, but didn’t find out that San Diego Ob Gyn Group is different until after I was having testing done.
I went in for a general checkup & to talk about reproductive health & my first experience was that Dr. Van den Huevel was very nice & easy to talk to. But she found a lump in my breast & everything after that spiraled.
I went to an imaging place that’s independent of the clinic & from when the imaging place told me they would have the results, it was another day before I got them. Results were inconclusive & I had to be re-​tested, and San Diego Ob Gyn Group couldn’t give me a reason why I needed to be re-​tested. When you’re having a $ 1,000+ procedure redone, it might be good to know why! After several calls, the imaging place let me know that it’s actually pretty routine to have it redone.
Then when I had the tests redone, I was told I would have them Friday. By Monday I still didn’t have my results, and on Tuesday I got a
VOICEMAIL WITH MY RESULTS.
First off, you can’t assume that I will actually receive the voicemail or who else might be listening. Dr. Van den Heuvel was using acronyms and jargon that I wasn’t familiar with, so I called the office, and the receptionist had a total attitude with me & actually asked in a snotty voice «Well, didn’t you understand the message»? NO! I don’t know what «Biarasds» is. I left a message for Dr Van den Heuvel to call me back.
I didn’t hear back from Dr. Van den Heuvel & looked up my results on the internet because the receptionist let me know she’s not authorized to discuss the results. I was able to decipher the «Bi-​RADS» acronym. Of course the internet always says you have cancer and your head is going to pop off and eyeballs will fall out.
So I called back that Friday (3 days, no returned call) & asked if Dr Van den Heuvel got my message. The receptionist said she did, but that SHE CHOSE TO IGNORE MY MESSAGE. I asked if she could call me & she let me know that Dr Van den Heuvel is ON VACATION FOR 5 WEEKS!
After much more phone tag, the nurse gave me a call back with disdain in her voice as if I were bothering her! I was trying to get my results as the internet told me to «monitor» the area. She also couldn’t answer my other questions about whether or not to hold off on trying to conceive because of having to have more mammograms in the near future & (hopefully not) potential treatments.
So I’d had it — I went back to Scripps, and found out that THE NURSE READ THE RESULTS WRONG! She told me the wrong breast when she was telling me which areas to monitor! I should have read the other Unilocal reviews before booking my appointment!

I started going to Dr. van den Heuvel for my pap tests and had really good experiences. When I got pregnant for the first time I started my prenatal care there and was less than impressed. I felt like at my prenatal appointments that she just waited for me to ask all the questions and I would leave feeling like I wish she would have seemed more interested and offered more information. If I wasn’t sure what else to ask about the appt. was over so quick. I ended up transferring my prenatal care to a Birth Center as I wanted a natural birth experience and not medical. It took me forever to get my patient information transferred and always had to keep calling back, it was painful.
Once my son was born I went back to Dr. van den Heuval for a pap and yearly check up and was shocked that the only thing she asked me about my pregnancy was to confirm that I actually had the baby. She didn’t ask what type of birth, if it was a boy or a girl, the type of labor, nothing! For an OBGYN I would think that would be relevant information for her to know, or even care to know. I was very disappointed and have decided to find another doctor for all future care.

Dr. Van den Heuval is incredible! She always takes her time with you. She makes any uncomfortable situation better by chatting with you and is so professional. She always gives amazing advice and makes you feel like you are chatting with a friend even if it’s your first time. The staff there is also amazing. We had some insurance confusion and they were really patent and helpful with the situation. I would stay with them forever if it weren’t for our move!

Dr. van den Heuvel is great. I have been going to her for at least 5 years. She has seen me through fibroids, breast cancer scare and now menopause. She is very responsive and always goes the extra mile to make sure you are comfortable, and well informed in all details. She takes time with you and does not make you feel crazy for asking a million questions. I would highly recommend her to anyone and plan on taking my daughter to her when the time comes.

This is the most unprofessional medical office I have ever been to, and I had that exact same distinct impression on both of the only two visits I had, which were separated by several years.
I was with Scripps about 4 years ago when I was first referred to this OBGYN for a pap. I recall the examination table was perched high in a 2^nd floor office with windows to the street and the blinds were ajar and bent anyway and lying on the table, I could clearly see the people on the street. This made me feel very exposed. I also recall my 4 year old daughter who came with me sat to wait for me in the only available chair, which was a stationary heavy padded one positioned at the foot of the exam table… front row center view!!! Until I asked the Dr. if there wasn’t any other chair she could sit in. Then after the exam, I recall being given a sheet of paper that instructed me to call in a week or so for results using a code. So I did and was truly surprised that the number went to an automated system that gave me my medical results! There wasn’t even an option to press in case I had questions about your results. Luckily, I switched primary care doctors at that time and began seeing another OBGYN who was in the Sharp network.
Fast-​forward to about 6 months ago… After switching back to Scripps to follow my primary care Dr who moved to Scripps, I was again referred to this OBGYN for a pap. I didn’t recognize the OBGYN’s name and I knew I’d never been to the address before, so I assumed I was a NEW patient. Later when the receptionist called to confirm my appointment, she said I could come in 30 minutes later because they «had my records». I didn’t think about this much and simply assumed this to mean that my primary care Dr had sent my records over (still rendering me a NEW patient in my mind). So when I arrived to my appointment, perfectly on time, the desk lady began our conversation by *LOUDLY SCOLDING* me for being «late» and for telling them I was a NEW patient when I was not, and said that I might have to reschedule if the OBGYN couldn’t see me. I informed her that the confirmation lady told me to come 30 minutes later because my records had arrived (still believing I was indeed a NEW patient) and that I’d never in my life set foot in this office and I most certainly was a NEW patient… So she comes back at me with a sarcastic remark holding my file to show me I was not new, basically accusing me of lying and before I know it we are both literally yelling. Completely out of character for me, particularly in the presence of my child, but I am not accustomed to being greeted by being loudly scolded, being told I am late and may be rescheduled as a result when I am not even late, or being called a liar by anyone — and in a professional medical setting no less! Then the other lady who works there comes over and informs her that this OBGYN moved offices a few years ago, looks in my file and then shows her the date on my file which shows I’d only been to the old office, and only once at that, and it was over 4 years ago, easily explaining all of the misunderstandings. The rude lady never makes any attempt to apologize to me and I would love to leave but I don’t want to wait for another referral so I wait. When I am finally in with the OBGYN I mention how unprofessional the lady was and let her know that is the reason I will be requesting a new OBGYN referral. And am surprised to realize the OBGYN was previously «fully apprised» of the misunderstanding before seeing me and has quite clearly sided with the desk lady. The OBGYN doesn’t say anything to remotely apologize on behalf of the desk lady but rather says to me «I really don’t think you are going to have many options as far as other OBGYNs, given your insurance.» I was horrified!!! I do have HMO (which I pay $ 13,000 a year for so it’s hardly like I’m on welfare!) but for her to basically tell me I should take what I can get because I don’t pay the $ 23,000 that PPO costs through my company! This is the most unprofessional MD I have ever spoken with and it is no accident that her support staff now and business practices 4 years ago make the patient feel uncared for. She simply doesn’t have any idea how to care for her patients beyond the medical techniques she has acquired in school.

I saw Dr. Van Den Heuvel for pap smears and thought she and her office were great. As soon as I started seeing her because of my pregnancy, everything just went downhill. The office staff rarely calls you back when they say they will, I always end up seeing Dr. Garg even though I am not his patient, everyone in the waiting room looks like they came from a crazy house, and the answering service is not responsive. I could go on and on with many different situations in which they have failed. I don’t trust them at all since they couldn’t help me with the small things, so I am definitely not letting them deliver my baby.
I also forgot to mention that she personally called me twice to «make sure» I really did not want to do the defect testing as I was nearing my 20^th week I believe – I don’t remember the exact week and I don’t remember the name of the test as it has been a while. I just found it ironic that I couldn’t get anyone to call me back when I was bleeding in urgent care after hours or when I had headaches that wouldn’t allow me to get out of bed… but she personally called me to discuss this test. Hmm.