Dr Barnes did not contact me with important lab and test results. He failed to notify me after a positive diagnosis - only when I contacted him a month later did I learn results of a test that I should have been notified of right away. During my office visit I specifically asked Dr Barnes to phone me with the results from my blood test and he did not. He responded back to my request to speak with him after I contacted a supervisor about his failure to notify me of lab results. I will be finding another doctor. Optum health care on 34th street in NYC has an online patient portal that does not function. I suggest you do not trust them with your healthcare as their communication with patients is substandard.

Submitted Dec. 22, 2022

Examines carefully, but make sure you mention all your symptoms, because he doesn't always ask about other possibly related issues. He doesn't volunteer a lot of information, but he'll answer questions when asked. He responds quickly to phone messages and messages sent through the portal, though the practice's portal is frankly awful.

Submitted April 19, 2021

Dr Barnes is one of the best physicians I know. An excellent diagnostician, caring person, and very professional. Thorough physical exam (rare today), patiently answers questions, returns calls. TOPS!
CS, MD

Submitted Jan. 12, 2018

as a new patient the staff does not return calls even when i said there was an emergency the answering machine said it was common for the staff not to answer even during regular business hours..

Submitted Dec. 11, 2014

I've known Dr. Barnes for more than 10 years now. He seems to be rather distant and cold during visits but that does not bother me much. He is not a talker. He is punctual and quick at what he does. He returns phone calls. Negatives: minimal patient teaching, EKG nurse was pretty unpleasant. What bothered me the most though was that NOBODY WASHED THEIR HANDS!!! I have never seen anybody at this office wash hands!

Submitted July 16, 2014

I've been using Dr Barnes a long time. Fortunately I've never had a serious issue, but he's always taken my concerns seriously even when they would have been easy to dismiss. He's always been compassionate, respectful, and thorough in investigating the problem. I've never had any difficulty with his office staff; calls have been returned and billing errors have been corrected. His personality is somewhat remote and distant, but his competence makes up for the lack of warmth.

Submitted May 25, 2012

Dr. Barnes is highly knowledgeable. He is always right in his diagnoses. Our family has been with Dr. Barnes for many years. He is kind, patient, thorough, and up-to-date. We highly recommend him.

Submitted Aug. 15, 2011

Dr. Barnes and the entire staff at MMH on 34th street are by far THE WORST group I have ever encountered. This may sound biased but I do not go to the Doctors office very often. Barnes was referred to me by my sister who is also a Doctor and said he was great. When Barnes told me I would only be paying $185 for the visit I said ok. He said we would take some blood threw me in the bathroom, never spoke to me after...BUT also never informed me that I would get a bill from Quest Diagnostics for $608!! Now, no one in the office will return my phone calls since Nov 2010! So unprofessional. Even if you have health insurance you should be careful with them. This medical group are the worst in my opinion...THEY are the people that are ruining this great country! :(

Submitted May 16, 2011

I have been with Dr. Edward Seaward Barnes 11 years and he has played an enormous role in my overall health/well being and seen me through some rocky times. He has never been less than professional, kind and compassionate. I head up HR for a large corporation in NYC and when folks ask me if I can recommend a great internist, Dr. Barnes is the doctor I unfailingly recommend. Alas, I have found the support staff at the Murray Hill Medical Group to be overall unhelpful, disinterested in their job and at times their attitude has bordered on rudeness. If it where not for Dr. Barnes I would have sought out another internist - after all who needs attitude and brusqueness from the reception desk when you are ill.

Submitted March 5, 2009

Excellent doctor, best I've had. Unfortunately he doesn't take Blue cross so I had to leave after 8 years with him.

Submitted Jan. 14, 2009