Robert B Litman, MD

I have been seeing Dr. Litman for 20 years, ever since we moved to the area. His instincts were always spot-​on with difficult to diagnose problems. He is a man I grew to respect, trust and like. He was always there despite personal losses and, personal health issues. However, due to those health issues, he has just retired. From our family to yours, Dr. Litman, thank you for your tremendous care you have provided to us and our community for so long.

I grew up as a Kaiser baby — that’s all I know. I finally switched healthplans and have NO IDEA how to find a decent doctor. I was experiencing neck pains for the last few days that was getting progressively worse. I found Dr. Litman through the UnitedHealthcare directory and made an appt.
Based on my urgency of seeing someone sooner than later, my appt was scheduled the next morning. The staff is quite friendly, courteous, and, professional, so this review is ONLY based on my 1:1 with Dr. Litman.
An hour had passed till I finally got to see Dr. Litman. Dr. Litman looks like Smiegel from Lord of the Rings. Not trying to be mean; BUT THAT’S WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE. I didn’t realize how old he was — not to say there is anything wrong with that, but I was abit pessimisstic with his «modern» practices.
Dr. Litman sat in his chair and asked me a number of questions; NOTHING related to my neck. He asked me about my family’s health. He asked me about my health. He asked me why I like to use 2 digits in my birthdate rather than using one digit (ie.04/02 instead of ⁴⁄₂) — WHO FRIGGEN CARES! It went on and on on until I finally said, «Dr, Littman, I don’t mean to be rude, but what does any of this have to do with my neck? I’m pressed for time and need to go back to work. Are you even going to examine my neck?» He said he always asks these questions and will check my neck shortly. FINE. BUT I AM IN A LOT OF PAIN and my neck has been hurting for 5 days straight. So he proceeds to ask me if I was in a car accident? I said NO. Then he said, «when was the last time you were in a car accident?» HUH? LIKE 3 – 4 years ago???
He writes everything down and finally recommends that I get an xray done. Then he says he thinks I might have degenerative joint disease and explains that it’s similar to getting a whiplash… from a car accident. OK, everyone can have this disease — my question is how did I get it? If I even have it? Certainly NOT FROM A CAR ACCIDENT that i haven’t been in one for YEARS!
Look, he graduated from Yale, I’m sure he’s a smart man but his practice is OLD SKOOL and rather just talk and sit there, I was hoping to be examined and help alleviate the pain. He said to come back next week — I can’t bare to wait another week! Dr. Littman, I think it’s time for you to retire.
I left his office informing the nurse that I will not be coming back as I was dissatisfied with his service. She was pleasant about it. Thank you for not being offended.
Will never come back to this office.

A special practitioner… His examining rooms are furnished with antique medical furniture and the walls are lined with medical books instead of stashed with tons of germ-​laden magazines. The chair he sat in while talking with me looked like it came from the lecture hall of a medical school. The examining table was from the 1800’s.
I can only think that a physician who pays that much attention to the detail of his examining room will pay at least that much attention to his patients.
And he does…
Dr. Litman’s staff is fabulous and friendly! I’ll start with that.
The sheets I filled out before my first visit were… 9 pages of questions.
No sooner had I been settled into an examining room, temperature taken when Dr. Litman walked in. The nurse turned and said, «The doctor will be with you in a few minutes.» He was already seated with my file and preparing to review the 9 pages of questions in more detail.
He asked me WHY I was there and what I wanted to accomplish.
THANK You Dr. Litman for the ability to ask and listen!
He wasn’t chatty which is fine by me. I wasn’t on a social call. I wanted to find out why I was having a problem.
He checked my blood pressure… himself.
At the end we discussed which blood work he and I thought we should order, considerate of the fact that I don’t have medical insurance.
The entire time I was at Dr. Litman’s office I did not see one patient have to wait, not in the waiting room nor in an exam room.
This physician visit took me back (hate to date myself) many years to a point when a doctor actually treated you the person. Before insurance companies forced everything and everyone to become a process and a number. Before it gave or forced physicians into a stab and poke mentality rather than allowed them to utilize the skill, training and intuition that attracted them to the field of… HEALING…
This physician is one in a million…

I have been going to Dr. Litman since the late 80’s. He is outstanding, top notch. He is very caring, knowledgeable and professional.

My wife, daughter, and I have been seeing Dr Litman since 1997. He is our GP, allergist and I am happy to say friend. He has always been there for us and always treated us with respect. He will call us at home and will always listen to our concerns. He is a well respected doctor in the bay area. He has made phone calls to help us acquire treatment for our daughter at Children’s Hospital when another pediatric doctor could not get us an appointment after two years. Dr Litman and his family have always been very kind to us.
I know that some individuals have not been happy with his practice but I would like to note he had back surgery in 1997 and while he was out he had two other Doctors cover for him and he as well called patients. He then had a tragic mishap with his house burning down and the lost of his son. He came back and treated his patients with care. Just recently he lost his wife after a battle with cancer. All of these life changing moments and he has been there for his patients. We care about Dr. Litman and will continue to see him until he retires. We are very thankful for his care and knowledge. I am glad to say the nurses of today have improved and that is great, as it has been a few years since he had as great a nursing staff as he did from 1997 – 2008.

There is not a doctor I have been to who has been as knowledgeable or as thorough as Dr. Litman. He is a professional who genuinely loves his practice and cares for his patients. Every once in a while you find a doctor who is a brilliant mind. This is one of those doctors. He has my complete respect and trust.

Dr. Litman is AMAZING!!! I’ve been going to him for 10 years and he has helped me more than any other doctor was able to in the past. I’m very grateful I found him!!!

This review is based on my family’s experience as well as a few cousins’ of mine, who also go to Dr. Litmam: we have known him for a very long time, and when it comes knowledge and experience, Dr. Litman is probably as good as it gets. He’s very thorough, which is not common these days, and will order all the test needed, and will ask you all kinds of seemingly unrelated questions. he makes decisions based on YOU, and that’s important. He is a very kind man, with a quiet personality, but is very much in control of the office. t his is a family practice, most patients, you’ll see over and over for years. One of his specialties is allergies, pullen, etc. He’s always up to speed on the latest treatments and is a good resource. I wouldn’t trust my family to anyone else.

DISAPPOINTED!
I had not seen him since 2006. Luckily I did not need to.
last year in November I saw him for an annual check up, just a normal blood test to make sure everything’s fine.
he wrote my order, and after he got the result from the lab, I went to see him.
guess what! he looked at my results and said: «I don’t know why I ordered hepatitis test!!!
At that time, I had no idea about what a costly mistake he made.
I had a $ 1500 deductible and this unnecessary HEPATITIS test cost me $ 400.00.
I went back and forth with his office and my insurance, but he said I thought it is necessary for you. I even reminded them that doctor thinks he made a mistake because he told me himself. is $ 395 worth a big lie for a Doctor???
I was healthy, haven’t gotten sick in years, just wanted a check up and now he thinks I need this unusual test with what reason???
so now I have to pay for a test that I did not need, NEVER TRUST A DOCTOR WHO LIES.
O’BOY…I am upset and will never forgive this person.

Dr. Litman was my doctor for years. 16 years to be exact. Not sure what happened to his office of what used to me bedside manner, but this office has gone downhil, fast.
I have since changed doctors and will never go back there again.

Dr. Litman is everything I look for in a primary care physician, thorough and confidence inspiring. I am not very comfortable in doctor’s offices and it is very seldom that I find a physician I am comfortable with, so I haven’t gone as often as I should have.
When I met Dr. Litman he made me feel as though I was in good hands and ordered all the necessary tests and patiently listened to me and sent me to several specialists. Surprisingly, I was comfortable with every single doctor he referred me to (and that is something).
I saw the posting here saying he was condescending, and I didn’t get that feeling at all. And I too found him through my provider network, chose him randomly based on his proximity to my house and his education credentials, but I have the exact opposite experience.
I guess that when it comes to doctors, each individual has different criteria and when it comes down to it, choosing a doctor is an extremely personal choice. I can just say that I am happy to have Dr. Litman on my side for many years to come.

Back down to 1 star, permanently. Since the office employees still haven’t found my records (I visited this office one time!!!) my health care provider said they can’t process the claims, because there is no proof that it wasn’t a pre-​exsisting condition. The doctor wrote them a letter, basically saying «We lost the records», and gave no information from ‘memory’ as promised. I will be fully responsible for covering the outrageous charges until these people get their **** organized.

Great Doctor, and very nice. I have known him for a long time and have always been impressed with him. I started seeing him when I was a young boy and then stopped. I was never happy with the next doctor I had as teenager. Once I grew up I went back to him and still have been impressed.
Thanks Doc!