Recommendation for Primary Care Physician in San Francisco

January 16, 2012 7:31 PM

I am looking for recommendations for a primary care physician in San Francisco. Some special considerations inside.

1) I am currently being treated by an excellent psychiatrist with medication for anxiety and depression.
2) I am currently being treated by an excellent neurologist with medication for acephalgic migraines.
3) I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidsm by my current primary care physician, but although my numbers are now in the normal range, he is treating it with an unusual thyroid hormone and I am not sure it is the best standard of care.
4) My current primary care physician is extremely far on the holistic side of things and believes that my other medications are a problem rather than necessary medical care. For this reason, I am looking for a new primary care physician who is not holistic and believes in Western medicine and appropriate pharmaceutical treatment for illness.
5) I have Anthem Blue Cross insurance.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (7 answers total)

The One Medical Group (and the associated Noe Valley Clinic) is excellent. Their "boutique" model means that patients get a level of attention and responsiveness I have not experienced elsewhere - same day appointments, communication by web and email, on-time appointments, etc. Each doctor I've seen there has been excellent and completely up-to-date on best practices of Western medicine (though some of the doctors also have interests in complementary medical treatments where appropriate). I cannot recommend them highly enough.
posted by judith at 8:06 PM on January 16 [2 favorites]

Seconding One Medical without hesitation. You can browse their physicians here.
posted by eschatfische at 8:11 PM on January 16 [1 favorite]

Wow. Came in here to recommend One Medical because of how great they are about sharing your records with you and working with other physicians and history but see it's been said.

I have an OD there, but they have MDs as well. The same day appointments when it's really a big deal, within 48 if it's not and the fact that I get emails directly from my doctor when I ask questions at 8pm on a Sunday.

There is a $100 a year fee to be a member, but I've never hesitated paying it because of how much of a not-headache it's been since I've switched about 3 or 4 years ago.
posted by Gucky at 8:53 PM on January 16

Oh gosh, here's another data point -- I *loathed* One Medical. I was a patient there for about two years, and my doctor was useless. One Medical gets great Yelp reviews, and it's true that all the administrative stuff (bookings and so forth) is efficient and fast. They also have a beautiful waiting room with current magazines.

But the actual medical care I received was useless. I don't want to get into specifics because that stuff is so personal, but suffice to say that I found their care shallow, not very well informed, and utterly conventional. And yeah, my doctor there responded to my e-mails, but again: she was unable to help me with my (totally boring, normal, unsurprising) health issues.

I haven't bothered to get a new primary care physician since dumping One Medical -- I will be reading the comments here with interest. Thanks for asking this question.
posted by Susan PG at 9:43 PM on January 16

You don't say if you're looking for a male or female doctor, but I highly recommend mine: Dr. Benjamin Fong. I've mostly just seen him for routine stuff, other than one time when I fainted (first time in my life - he arranged to see me the same morning and was very reassuring after a thorough exam). He takes Anthem Blue Cross.
posted by autojack at 10:06 PM on January 16

I use One Medical for when I know exactly what is wrong with me. UTIs, infected wounds, impacted ear wax, that sort of thing. I would never go to them for diagnosis. All of the doctors I had there were seriously meh. For big, serious things, I go directly to Dr. Stephen Knox. He is at 44 Castro (Davies) and he is an amazing physician. He spends real, honest to goodness time with you. He asks questions - and listens to the answers. You never ever feel rushed. This means it can be tough to get an appointment and sometimes you have to wait but when it is your turn - you get his full attention. I know he is working less than full time these days and isn't taking any new HMO patients but if you have the right insurance - you can't do better in SF.
posted by Wolfie at 10:29 PM on January 16

+1 to One Medical if you don't mind paying the annual fee ($149).
posted by espertus at 10:33 AM on January 17