Looking for a Philly doctor

August 19, 2010 1:15 PM

Out-of-towner in Philly for the foreseeable future needs a GP, for general checkup as well as to look at a possible STD symptom.

I'm from Chicago, but in Philly for at least a few months for work, with no plans to go home any time soon enough to be useful. Recently discovered some bumps at the base of my penis, which obviously needs looking at ASAP. I need a doctor in Philly who's actually taking new patients and who'll examine/treat this without lecturing me. Trying to go through provider's website has given me a lot of "I could see you maybe in six months" results.

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield from Illinois, which I'm given to understand should mean that any local Blue Cross provider is also in-network for me, but I have minimal experience with insurance so not entirely sure how this works.

I'm still very new to the city, so something I can find easily from Center City would be best, though I'm sure I could make my way around Penn easily enough.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (8 answers total)

My dude, at Penn Family Care where they have a bunch of doctors all covered by BCBS. Ian's a young guy I think you'll feel comfortable talking to, very cool dude as well as good doc.
posted by The Straightener at 1:20 PM on August 19, 2010

Same idea, slightly different location. You'll see a resident, who tend to be younger, which I bet would make a difference.
posted by Pax at 1:27 PM on August 19, 2010

Jefferson Family Medicine (out of Jefferson Hospital @ 8th & Chestnut) takes Blue Cross, and they're usually pretty damned fantastic. The nice thing about a teaching hospital, too, is that if your desired dude/lady is not there, you will always be able to see SOMEONE from the team of doctors/practitioners swarming around. (As far as individual Family Med docs go: Dr. Chambers is delightful. Dr. Perkel is all-business, but also quite good. Dr. Valko made me cry, but perhaps he's not usually that way. YMMV.)
posted by julthumbscrew at 1:29 PM on August 19, 2010

This isn't your exact situation, but when I was using BCBS of Georgia in Texas, some places wouldn't take it because it was "of Georgia" instead of not specifying a state or being "of Texas." These were mostly walk-in clinics, though. Most "regular" doctors and even the hospital took it just fine.
posted by elpea at 1:38 PM on August 19, 2010

Dr Mark Watkins at 253 South 10th Street is very non-judgmental and has had a bunch of experience dealing with STIs as a primary care physician. He also took BCBS last I had it. If you're straight, he might be baffled by how you got there at first, but that's beside the point. Give him a call at (i think) [phone] and find out if he can see you quickly.
posted by tigrrrlily at 2:05 PM on August 19, 2010

My docs are in Mt.Airy -- about 25 minutes from CC but I'll include them in case you need more options. I find them very easy to deal with -- call around 8am and get an appointment the same day, night hours, refills are hassle-free, they'll communicate with you via email, bloodwork taken in the office . . .

Greenhouse Internists: ( greenhouseinternists.com )
posted by MeiraV at 2:11 PM on August 19, 2010

Oh, and I also have BCBS of Illinois, they take it.
posted by MeiraV at 2:12 PM on August 19, 2010

Mazzoni Center is in center city & quite good. 2ndarily, you can call the number on the back of your card & talk to them. i would suggest this b/c i was responsible for a charge that i wasn't aware of & had to contest it.
posted by UltraD at 12:44 PM on August 20, 2010