I have never had a worse experience at a doctor's office and Dr. Heffernan should no longer be practicing medicine. Besides the administration being completely incompetent and making me wait an hour and 30 minutes for what was a morning appointment, this was only the beginning of the worst OBGYN appointment of my life. When I walked in she guilt tripped me for not being on birth control. I have been with my partner for over 5 years and when I said I would gladly welcome a child with this person, she looked at me like I had 10 heads. She then told me that I was going to get pregnant and that abortions are extremely damaging to a women's mental health. Unsure how that's relevant considering I just said I would gladly welcome a child with my partner.

She then started the exam. I mentioned earlier in the appointment that I was experiencing some pain during my periods in my rectum. She said that its normal and I could go on birth control. As she was performing the pap smear, SHE SHOVED HER FINGERS IN MY ANUS WITHOUT WARNING OR CONSENT. There was no explanation for what she was doing, why she was doing it, and zero communication. I was too shocked to even speak and I was completely vulnerable. I left that appointment feeling like I had been assaulted. I will never return to this doctor and please be warned when considering her as your OBGYN. Genuinely the worst doctor I've ever been to in my entire life.

Submitted Nov. 22, 2023

I'm writing this as my wife is still too upset after her visit with this doctor. First she moralized about a piercing she's had without incident for 20+ years. Then she started a procedure with no pain management that had to be stopped due to my wife's pain. Note that she's had this procedure done twice before and both doctors had used Lidocaine injections which allowed a pain-free procedure.

Submitted June 6, 2023

Dr. Heffernan made me feel very much at ease. She spent quality time and answered all my questions.

Submitted June 2, 2021

Waited almost an hour. Dr. Heffernan was very nice but I felt rushed. I was in and out in 12 minutes for an annual checkup.

Submitted May 12, 2021

Dr Kathleen Heffernan gives me the feeling to be very knowledgeable; she takes the time to explain things; seems very pragmatic and up to date with the latest science. I feel to be in good hands with her and her staff.

Submitted June 9, 2017

Dr. Heffernan delivered my first baby via a scheduled C-section in Feb 2015. From beginning to end, the procedure was FLAWLESS!! I recovered beautifully and quickly and only sustained a subtle scar on my abdomen. The surgery took just a few minutes, and before I knew it, she was sewing me back up nonchalantly. Not only was the surgery and recovery absolutely perfect, but the prenatal visits leading up to the big day were excellent. Dr. Heffernan understood that I was exceptionally tired during pregnancy as a mom working a high-powered full-time job at a Fortune 20 company. Dr. Heffernan took the time to discuss my struggles to keep up (with everything, at work and at home) and how to achieve a good balance. Dr. Heffernan listened to my deepest concerns and was very understanding of my anxiety about attempting a vaginal birth for my first pregnancy, at my advanced age (and the fact that my baby hadn't dropped, and she was a nice sized baby (7 lbs 15 oz at birth). Other doctors I had dealt with kept disregarding my concerns and telling me that C-sections are very risky, etc. But from all the research I've done on sections, it's the emergency ones that carry the most risk. You hear about babies getting stuck in the canal and the mom requiring an emergency section. (Not for me, thanks.) My scheduled C-section with Dr. Heffernan was the absolute best thing my husband and I could have decided to do! It was on the first day of my 40th week, so baby was completely full term, and I was very relaxed during the whole procedure. I did not need to be induced, nor be in agonizing labor for extended periods of time. My baby was carefully lifted out at the perfect time. I breastfed her for 10 months, and she is a perfect specimen of health today!
Leading up to the surgery, I was scared about the catheter they would be inserting to let urine pass through. I knew, from experience, that inserting a catheter is painful and I would most likely end up with a UTI afterwards. But to my surprise, that, too, turned out to be flawless and painless!!! I am so grateful to Dr. Heffernan for being such an awesome OB and PERFECTLY performing my C-section. I had zero complications during and after the section, and here I am, 2.5 years later, having my second baby under the supervision of Dr. Heffernan. Why mess with perfection? Besides, my husband and I would not have it any other way!!

only thing that she doesn't rate 100% at is a couple times, I did have to sit in the waiting room past my appointment time. But what doctors office doesn't make you wait?
As a working mom, Dr. Heffernan understood how tired I was getting

Submitted May 31, 2017

Administration is terrible. Lots of mistakes with pill refills and difficult to make appointments.

Submitted May 27, 2017

I ***was*** a patient of Dr. Kathleen Heffernan's for over 10 years until 2012, when during a routine Pap smear, she spontaneously decided to perform a cervical biopsy for some unknown reason. While I was on the table protesting, and questioning the necessity of this in-office operation, it was too late. The procedure was completed without my consent. Over the course of the next few days I started to hemorrhage badly. Part of this frightening, and highly unpleasant experience occurred over the weekend, and I subsequently called the attending SMG "on call" OBGYN - Laura Dr. S. Zimmerman, who is also a Summit Medical Board member. Despite my complete and concise articulation indicating the severity of the bleeding, she discouraged me from seeking treatment at the hospital, and said I should, quote, "lay with my feet up" and contact the office on the following Monday instead. It doesn't take a medical degree to know that this "advice" was nonsensical and ***nearly cost me my life***. Five (5) days later, following this completely unnecessary procedure, I nearly bled-out in Summit Medical's Warren Office and had to be rushed by ambulance to Overlook Hospital for an emergency D&C . Following this 2nd operation the excessive bleeding still did not completely subside, and it necessitated me to pay $500.00 out-of-pocket for an intrauterine implant (IUD), that insurance does not cover, as it classified as "birth control", and non-essential, to try to stem / regulate the bleeding. My hemorrhaging was directly , and solely attributable to a ***rushed*** negligent doctor who's license to
Practice medicine should be suspended. Furthermore, to literally add insult-to-injury, three weeks following the operation I received a combined hospital / surgery bill of over $8,000.00 from Summit Medical and Overlook Hospital., where they charged off their negligence onto me, the patient.
I can simply state, if you value your health you should look elsewhere, than Summit Medical Group., as a medical
practice. They are an incompetent bunch, on so many levels, and in so many varied disciplines, who do not take responsibility for their actions, and pass their negligence onto the patient in the form of billing for ***unnecessary*** and ***deadly*** services rendered. Moreover, they neither respect nor regard the Hippocratic oaths they have taken: "Practice two things in your dealings with disease: either help or do not harm the patient". My good advice to all who should read this, predicated on vast experience, is - stay away from Dr. Heffernan, and Summit Medical Group as a whole, if you value your good health and your life.

Submitted Feb. 28, 2016

Saw her in the Warren office. Waited over an hour to see her while the waiting area was empty. Didn't remember me from a couple of visits ago. Came in for pre-conception counseling and pregnancy test. Told me that I was infertile (without doing tests, or even examining me) because I am overweight. She didn't listen to any of the possible symptoms of pregnancy that I had. Told me that since the at home pregnancy test that I took a couple of days ago was negative then I'm not pregnant. Didn't wait an hour to see the doctor for less than 5 minutes to be told that I am overweight, and infertile.

Submitted Aug. 21, 2014

Dr Heffernan is extremely sensitive/knowledgeable physician.She is very professional, stays educated, and I would place my health and life in her hands. Her staff are friendly. I find Dr. Heffernan to be very knowledge, caring and an asset to the team.

Submitted May 6, 2013