1 /5 Heather Romero: I went to her to deliver my daughter in 2012/2013. I had had my third son VBAC at home and wanted to have another VBAC, but in a hospital setting. Initially, I was private pay and she seemed awesome. She told me she was all for VBACs, assuming no problems arose. However, as time went on, she became the worst OB/GYN and I strongly feel this woman should be stripped of her profession. The first warning sign was when she told me that I needed an ultrasound which was outside of the standard of 12 and 20 weeks. I had had 3 children already and knew right away something was amiss. She told me it was necessary because the baby was already showing larger than normal. During the ultrasound, the tech questioned why I was doing this extra ultrasound. I told her what the Doctor had told me and she said seemed perplexed. She stated that the baby had shown average growth on that ultrasound and the prior one. Of course, I was billed full price for the ultrasound as I was a cash patient and was told I could make payments on it. Shortly thereafter my husband lost his client and was unemployed. We recieved state assistance for our healthcare. The state had backdated what they would cover and they too questioned the necessity of the extra ultrasound. They did not find that there was a medical necessity for it and refused to cover it, which upset Kowalik. In one of my appointments, she complained profusely about their resistance to reimburse her for this charge. What struck me as absolutely disgusting about this visit was not only that the entire appointment was centered around her discontent with the insurance, but that I was sitting next to a used pap smear specimen that wasnt mine! I continued care with her even though she was not a good provider because she promised I could try for another VBAC and I was so far into my pregnancy. The last appointment that I had with her she told me that the insurance had contacted her and told her she would not receive any payment for my delivery if I went one day past my 40th day and that the only way she would consider delivering me vaginally was if I paid her as a cash patient. I called the insurance enraged and was told that they received documentation stating that I had requested a c-section! The situation became more clearer. She was after the $$. Luckily, I went into labor right after that, before my 40th week and by the time I had got to the hospital, I was nearly complete. I had my daughter 30 minutes after arriving and she got there in the last 5 minutes. I remember pushing, but was in so much pain, I uttered, "Just cut her out." Kowlaik told the nurse to prepare to take me to the OR. The nurse said that we would not make it. Kowalik snidely told her, "When a VBAC mom asks for c-section, you give her one!" Luckily, a contraction hit me and this time I felt her reach into me and literally flip my daughter by her head in the roughest, fastest fashion possible. I can still remember her body as it did a complete turn. I pushed harder and my baby flopped out on the bed. Kowalik didnt even catch her. It was as if she didnt know if she had twisted the babies neck too hard and didnt want liability had she broke it. Kowalik walked out without a word and the nurses did everything else.
It has been 5.5 years since I had my daughter and this woman still brings up awful memories. She is awful. Not just in bedside manner, but a rotten physician who looks after profit before the patient. If I remember correctly, she had just started practicing pediatrics as well. I found this strange that pregnant women were put in the same waiting room with coughing, sickly children, but follows the lines of her greed. My experience was so scarring with her, that I have said for years that I would file a medical complaint about her. I dont know what compelled me to write a review tonight, but maybe it is to save the person that is reading this for an unfortunate situation with this woman. After reading the reviews, I would love to contact the board collectively and insist on an investigation into her practice.
