Nancy Blumstein, MD

My daughter has been a patient of Dr. Nancy’s for 11 years. I will have to beg Dr. Nancy to please keep her on as an adult because quite honestly I have not found a more caring and dedicated physician. As a first time parent there is a chance, like me, that you will freak out when your child gets their first fever. Some advice, it will not be their first and you’ll start to learn the ebbs and flows of viruses. Call Dr. Nancy’s office, be patient with the staff at the desk as they are dealing with 10 other anxious parents at the same time. I am always polite to them, if you are too, it will get you a long way.
I want to clarify something for the people who like to write negative reviews behind the safety of their computers — Dr. Nancy IS taking new clients. Her fees are completely reasonable and under her care you’ll find her advice will actually save you money!
I write this review because my daughter has had a fever for 2 days and I got a call back from Dr. Nancy within about an hour to give me advice. Stellar person!!!

Don’t bother calling if you are a new patient they don’t take new patients until next year! The way they manage their appointments could explain why they are too busy to consider taking new patients on board, having misunderstood I was not a patient yet, they wanted me to make 2 appointments: 1 for the yearly check-​up and another one for a particular issue… You said abusing the insurance system by charging 2 appointments when one would have been enough? I say «agree!».

Dr. Blumstein is such a find!!! Believe the reviews here — she’s seriously fantastic. Holistic, calls with the kid’s lab results ASAP, spends literally hours with you if you want to pick her brain, and doesn’t push Pharma on you. I recommend her to anyone looking for a more homeopathic pediatric practice.

We love Dr. Nancy. She is so patient and understanding of my daughter who, due to sensory issues, is a challenging and time-​consuming patient. My daughter is also highly intelligent, and Dr. Nancy speaks to her on her level, not talking down to her or only talking to me. I love that though she is licensed in typical western medicine, she incorporates knowledge of homeopathy into her practice. Not quick to jump on medicating every sniffle, and very reassuring. She is also very patient with respectful of me, which is lovely. TAKES TRICARE!

Dr B loves children sincerely. She’s not just in this for the money or the status – to me, that’s first and foremost! My daughter loves her to pieces. Second, she is extremely knowledgable and experienced so she has been right every time. Third, she understands that much of the medical industry is profit– or fear-​driven so she doesn’t allow that to influence her decisions about drugs or anything else. She knows when pharma is needed or when natural remedies are more effective. It’s such a joy to have an MD know so much about homeopathy and offer it in her office. She even came to the hospital on her Shabbat and took the time to care about my health as a mom, too — unheard of. Recommend her with our highest regards!

Dr. Blumstein is a super great doctor. She’s a conventional M.D. with a homeopathic background too. I liked that because she didn’t immediately prescribe antibiotics, pain killers or medication for every little thing. She offered reasonable solutions using holistic remedies and if the time called for it, more conventional routes. She also took on a neutral stance when vaccines were concerned. Advised me of the pros and cons and allowed me to make the decisions right for me and my children. That too was very important to me. Unfortunately we moved and had to find someone closer to where we live now but really appreciate all she did for my kids. Also, on a last note, I had several issues with both my kids making it hard for me to breastfeed successfully. I felt awful about it and guilty and felt like I was failing my kids — she really comforted me during this time and made me feel that my choice to stop wasn’t a crazy one, but again, the right decision for me and my child at that moment in time. She told me she doesn’t allow organizations to put up breastfeeding posters in her office, not because she doesn’t support it, but because it makes those parents who can’t sustain it feel worse about themselves and she didn’t feel it was helpful to anybody. I really appreciated that.

Dr Blumstein is the best!!! She has been my son’s doctor since he was born at St. John’s (not sure if she still goes there). She is a mom first and her patient care shows that. She always first offered a homeopathic remedy to treat upset stomach or reflux, fussiness or teething. We did food elimination later for mucus and allergies. Always a natural solution before medicine, which was my first choice. She spaced vaccinations out as requested and together we decided my son’s immunization schedule. My son is now 7 years old and we moved offices with Dr. B and would follow her if she moved again.

I came across Dr. B when I was taking natural birthing classes when I was pregnant with my first child and she was recommended as a top-​choice pediatrician. That referral was about the best thing to come out of my natural birthing experience, well, that, and my daughter.
My daughter is now 7 yrs old and I have 5 yr old as well — both are patients of Dr. Nancy. Both have been treated with a conservative approach to most all of their seasonal illnesses. I am blessed in that my children don’t suffer from any chronic ailments and are exceptionally healthy. During the occasional flu or cold, she will typically recommend a homeopathic remedy, which very often does the trick. There have been very few cases where an antibiotic is required but when it is, she is not hesitant to prescribe an effective schedule of antibiotics and immune boosting vitamins.
I have delayed my children’s vaccine schedule, which she supports, but they are fully immunized and it’s a very easy process. One does not need an appointment for a vaccine. I call in, Toni (her nurse) asks Dr. Nancy which vaccine is most needed, I pop in, Toni administers the shot and we’re out in record time.
I am proud to say that during my 7 yr old’s Kindergarten year, there were 2 students, who did not fall ill during flu season and my daughter was one; the other student was taking the same immune boosting supplement that Dr. Nancy recommends — Sambucus. We were diligent about giving our daughter the supplement every morning and I crossed my fingers sending her off to school. Luckily, she escaped whatever strain of the flu was going around the class. She will occasionally get sick but it’s a quick turnaround.
When my 5 yr old suffered a febrile seizure during a President’s day Monday, we called Dr. Nancy from our Emergency room and alerted her to our visit to the ER and while the hospital suggested to keep my daughter for further testing, Dr. Nancy quickly faxed over a form which released my daughter to her care. We headed straight to her office from the ER and she treated my 5 yr old effectively. She calmed my panic with an explanation of what it was that my daughter suffered — I had ZERO experience with seizures. She explained it is very often something children under 3 suffer and grow out of — and thankfully she was right.
There have been times I felt that a more aggressive approach than a homeopathic remedy was needed, but I just had to ask for a written prescription for an antibiotic and she would write one. If my child did not respond to the natural remedy, I would fill the prescription and have a follow-​up visit, if I felt one was needed.
Her office is clean and her staff is friendly. They try their best to accommodate last-​minute appointments and I have never had a problem getting an appointment on the spot. She moved offices and is now totally out of my way but I continue taking my children to her because she’s worth my time fighting traffic and parking — both of which are difficult to reconcile but believe me, after I leave her office, I’m reassured that she is just the right doctor for my girls.

This is a review of the appointment setting process/​reception/​ridiculous cash only consultation fee as I just called to make an appointment based on all of the rave reviews below, but based on the tone of the call, and the following information, I will NOT be keeping the appointment to see this doctor… Here goes:
I call to schedule an appointment, explain it will be our first time and ask for an appointment for the baby, the woman on the other line is curt, speaking low monotone, no personality (read. lacking customer service/​repor, but whatever), she then gives me an appointment almost a month from now. huh??? No explanation (read:no customer service) as in «i’m so sorry, we just have x date available, but I’ll put you on the cancellation list, etc», just a sort of ‘this is the date, take it or leave it’…oh…kay. So, trying not to be dissuaded by the ‘tude, I ask if the doctor has a «consultation» appointment available which could possibly be sooner than a well baby visit. so she gives me a date 3 weeks away, instead of the 4 weeks (ok, i’m thinking, that’s a lot better… the baby won’t be «seen» per sae, but at least I’ll get to talk to the doctor and ask questions)…then the receptioninst proceeds to flatly tell me «the consultation is $ 180 payable by cash or credit card, not covered by insurance. Is that okay with you?»…HUH??? $ 180 dollars?! Are these people smoking butt crack cause it must be some really good stuff, thinking they can charge this kind of money, when plenty of other physicians/​private practices and holistic peds are more than happy to give you a FREE consultation. I mean listen, the chick on the phone didn’t even tell me what I was getting for my $ 180.I mean, will the doctor and I talk for an hour?, will she review my records and give me a treatment plan at that time? Seriously, I’m just suppose to pay $ 180 to «talk» about potentially becoming a regular client/​patient? Big big TURN off, and even IF I got to sit and talk for an hour, I would NEVER pay that kind of money to sit and «chat». Smells like a money hungry shark to me… and if they are trying to dissuade people from making consulation appointments, then why even offer them? Ridiculous.
so, i tell the receptionist «$ 180 for a consult AND the baby is NOT seen, or I can wait an additional week for a well baby visit and the insurance will cover that… seems like it makes more sense to come in for the well baby visit and NOT a consult huh?» DUH!!! Again, no personality on the other end of the line, just a «so which appointment would you like» attitude. Although she was ready to get me off the phone once i scheduled my appointment, I did my best to ask as many questions as I could:
1. there is street parking (if you can find it) or you can park in their lot for under $ 15, NO VALIDATION (smoking crack again!)
2. as for the holistic/​alternative vaccinne approach (which was the whole point I was interested in going here), I was told that the doctor does NOT offer alternative vaccinnes BUT she doesn’t «force you to get vaccinnes». I went on to ask if the doctor offers the mercury free vaccinnes or at least where to get them done, I was told N-O…no mercury free vaccinnes offered, just the good olé regular vaccinnes and no alternative options (so if you ask me, what’s the point of coming here then? I thought she’d AT LEAST have something better to offer in terms of safety, being that she’s coming from a holistic approach.).
The ridiculous consultation fee left a bad taste in my mouth, not including the horrible customer service over the phone. Funny thing is, as soon as I got off the phone, I called another doctor for the first time, very qualified and rave reviews– and not only were they VERY pleasant on the phone, they ALSO got me in for an appointment NEXT WEEK to see the baby!!! wow! The difference between both exchanges was like NIGHT and DAY!
Anyway, I recommend Wholistic Kids in Santa Monica– although we’re not current patients since he’s far for us, the Doctor there does offer the best vaccinnes available, a completely holistic natural approach AND medicine AS needed, AND he will patiently talk to you & answer ALL your questions during a FREE consultation in his office. Check him out as an alternative. We would totally go there if we lived closer. Good luck!
Good luck!

I feel so lucky that Dr. B is our pediatrician and don’t even mind driving from Santa Monica in order to see her. She is so wise, down to earth, knowledgeable, kind and super-​responsive. She truly cares. I love that she is a perfect balance of Western and alternative medicine and homeopathics. She doesn’t get caught up in one treatment philosophy but assesses each situation and offers solutions from both disciplines. She is a rare person and physician.

My 1.5 year old had a 102.5 degree fever all day and I called the 24 hour answering service for the Doctor on Duty at 4 AM as her body continued to overheat. To my surprise, when Dr. Blumstein returned my message and I advised her of my concern her first words were to question why I called at 4 AM, rather than waiting until 8 AM. Now, I may be an over-​cautious father, but this response is shocking to me from someone in any medical profession, especially one that deals with children. I hope this was an anomaly but this experience is one I simply cannot understand.

Dr. Blumstein is a rare find! She combines western medicine with homeopathy, returns phone calls, and even gives out her cell phone number! She gives medication when absolutely necessary and also explains the options when options exist. I am so happy we found her and are now able to space out vaccines with my daughter (while my son would get as many as 5 at once at another dr’s office). Cecilia is the best nurse ever, and the staff is always accommodating with our schedule. We’ve been able to get same-​day appointments when the kids were sick. The location is very convenient, parking is usually not a problem, and the kids love the fountains in the courtyard.

I agree 100% with the post above. I love Dr. B’s attitude during the exam (my daughter now wants me to look for butterflies in her ears) and on the phone. Celia is also a dream come true. She, somehow, remembers everyone’s names and family affiliation.
Only 4 stars only because she shares an office with another practice and there isn’t a separate well room. BUT new babies are sent to sit in her office so they don’t have to sit with everyone else.
I would be crushed if she closed up shop.

dr. b is awesome — she offers a great balance between traditional and alternative medicine, and is a mom herself, so i really trust her advice. i agree that cecilia is THE BEST, so friendly. the office itself leaves a lot to be desired, but you’re not really there for the ambience, right? you’re there to get good quality care for your child.

I love Dr. Blumstein so much that I almost wish my daughter got sick more often.
Ok…not really, but I do adore Dr. Blumstein, and any parent knows how awesome it is to feel really good about your child’s pediatrician. We live like 40 miles away, but it’s worth the drive. Dr. Blumstein is kind, thorough, and incredibly knowledgeable. She inspires confidence. What I LOVE about her is that she makes ample use of non-​traditional and homeopathic remedies and saves medication for when it’s truly warranted. She’s also very conservative when it comes to giving vaccines – she’s not anti-​vaccine, but she doesn’t push the traditional full-​set of a gazillion vaccines, and she’s very honest about which ones she feels are important vs. which are not. She’s also very open about her own experiences as a mother and willing to give advice from that perspective.
My panicky phone calls to her are always returned right away, and she’s always beyond gracious. Sometimes pediatricians are less-​than-​friendly on the phone, or can make you feel like you’re imposing on their time. Not Dr. Blumstein.
Best part for last: Dr. Blumstein’s nurse, Cecilia, ROCKS. She is the sweetest, friendliest, most adorable human being on the planet and she makes office visits so much fun. She’s like your coolest girlfriend. She’s also amazing with kids and really helps keep everyone calm and happy.
The office is small and often crowded (they share it with another practice) and there isn’t a separate waiting area for sick kids, but other than that, it’s about as perfect as can be.