Dr. Peter Hamilton Stein, MD

I felt that this was the first visit to a Rheumatologist who really understood what I live with. Now that I've seen some negative reviews I understand why he really discussed fibromyalgia in detail with me. I've never had a Dr. do that before. I was impressed with his knowledge and felt that he communicates well. I'm actually excited to be under his care. He didn't push more serious medications on me and went over lifestyle changes that I am already working on but could use some encouragement. I have a check in scheduled with him after some testing needs to be done and I'm looking forward to it. I feel some of the negative reviews about him are baseless.

I am very pleased with the care I receive from Dr. Stein. I don’t have to wait long for an appointment with him, and I don’t have to wait long to see him when I come in for an appointment. Dr. Stein requires me to have blood tests on a regular basis. These blood tests let us know the status of my illness and whether any of my medications are adversely affecting me. He is very thorough and attentive.

I have been to Dr. Stein three times. He is horrible. He may be smart, but he has no bedside manner, does not seem to "care" at all about his patients, and doesn't even look you in the eye. I was made to fee that I just have to live with my disease and just deal with it. Would not recommend him to anyone, unless you want to leave the office feeling miserable and depressed. I have been to many doctors in my 48 years and have never felt the need to write a review. But if this will help someone else not receive the same cocky, uncaring attitude, then it's worth it. Find another doctor for sure!

Listened well, tried to find solution for my leg pains. Did not prescribe medication without evaluation. Did eventually find something that worked.

***I'm reposting this to correct my overall rating to five stars, as originally intended (this site won't allow me to amend current one).*** Dr. Stein is a thorough, intelligent doctor who listens and makes every effort to help improve my health issues relating to Sarcoidosis (and a few other conditions). I've been seeing him for six months since moving from Chicago back to California. Aside from my specialist in Chicago, he is the best doctor I've had when it comes to spending quality time with me and finding solutions to improve my condition. When I walk out of his office, I have a detailed write-up from him of the game plan to follow until my next visit -- this is great because I'm used to taking copious notes to ensure I'm maintaining/adjusting my regimen. I rarely write reviews but am compelled in this case because of the suspiciously negative posts on this and other sites where you can review physicians. Most of the critical reviews appear to be done by the same person who complains that Stein doesn't write scripts for pain medication. In the last four years, I've been through two surgeries, seen several specialists (including Stein) and live with chronic pain...I have never once had a doctor refuse to help me mitigate discomfort with prescriptions when it's reasonable and medically necessary. You can't blame him, or any doctor, for doing his ethical and legal responsibility to detour the drug-seeking behavior that is clearly illustrated in some of these posts. If you live in Marin and need a good rheumatologist who is local, I encourage you to see Dr. Stein. Yes, you may have to wait 20 minutes, but it's worth it because he never rushes his appointment with you (meaning if he's late, it's because he needed to additional time with the patient ahead of you) .

Dr. Stein is a thorough, intelligent doctor who listens and makes every effort to help improve my health-related issues relating to Sarcoidosis (and a few other conditions). I've been seeing him for six months since moving from Chicago back to California. Aside from my specialist in Chicago, he is the best doctor I've had when it comes to spending quality time with me and finding solutions. When I walk out of his office, I have a detailed write up from him of the game plan to follow until my next visit -- this is great because I don't have take my own notes or rely on my memory. I rarely write reviews but am compelled because of the suspiciously negative posts on this and other sites where you can review physicians. Most of the negative posts appear to be done by the same person who complains that Stein doesn't write scripts for pain medication. In the last four years, I've been through two surgeries, seen several specialists (including Stein) and live with chronic pain and have never once had a doctor refuse to help me mitigate discomfort with prescriptions when it's medically necessary. You can't blame him, or any doctor, for doing his ethical and legal responsibility to detour drug-seeking behavior, which is illustrated in some of these posts. If you live in Marin and need a good rheumatologist who is local, I encourage you to see Dr. Stein. Yes, you may have to wait 20 minutes, but it's worth it because he never rushes his time with you.

I give Dr. Stein and A+

I have been a patient of Dr P. Stein's for over 12 years. He really listens to what your concerns are and addresses them. He has a wonderful staff and appointment times rarely run late. A summary of your visit and any new tests, medications or instructions are provided in writing at the end of each visit.

I have never left a review for any of the many doctors that I have seen for my condition thus far. Dr. Stein however has compelled me to start today. After waiting for over an hour past my appointment time, I had the displeasure to meet with Dr Stein for no other reason that he had been recommended to me by another specialist. The goal was to run in depth blood analysis, muscle biopsy, etc. to rule out any other conditions that could worsen the primary one. All I heard from this man who wouldn't even look at me in the eyes, was a list of medications until I stopped him to ask him their purpose. He brought some obscure theory about my condition that I had never heard of before (and there are dozens of theories floating around), then he started making assertions about why this or that without asking me any history about myself. I interjected that his assertions were incorrect since the timeline was off by a mere 25 years. Didn't budge. Then he suggested meditation. Are you freaking kidding me? I don't sleep, I am in constant pain, I am chronically fatigued and... meditation is your magic wand. Please let me out of here!! then he bluntly asked me what I was expecting... let's see, bedside manners, promptness, a thorough consultation, opinions not pulled out of thin air, less attitude. That's just for the basics. I would never recommend this doctor to anyone.

Im in a situation where I'm being systematically being refused medical tx by all mds I attempt and do see. Dr stein also is not dong his job. I've filed a med board complaint against him to no avail. I'm trying to find another md to see. For the third time I've been refused tx at Marin community clinics. I'm having to take other peoples medications and steroids for what I think may be Addison's disease. An addisonian crisis can be fatal. After what I've experienced, I would say beware of mds. If a mistake is made you may be ganged up on and not be able to get tx as it would illuminate the md responsible for malpractice. Something like this is by definition life threatining. I've reported the situation everywhere and can't get tx. My advise unfortunately is to stock pile and save prescription meds ( yours and other peoples who have unwanted medication) as you may end up in a circumstance as I have described. I've had to take someone else's steroid because I couldn't get out of bed. Dr stein has done nothing. He also is sending me bills ( when I have insurance he takes) and did not fill out the write paper work so I had to pay 1700 dollars out of pocket for 46 perscriptions in the last year with Marin county cmsp insurance. Dr stein is incompetent.

Ive had problems in the bay area for over a year getting pain control medications for more than one problem, starting at kaiser and continuing in the private med. community. I've had continuous difficulty with dr. Stein with getting back pain and sciatica meds ( I've had back sx). He refused all pain meds for 4 months until I filed a complaint with the state. I was diagnosed in the ER with gallstones (acute amount) while being treated by dr. Stein and had gallstone surgery. The surgeon refused to give me post-op pain meds, saying I had to get them from dr. Stein who has refused. Buyer beware in this area. If you have problems with one md it may continue with many who will refuse to countermand or correct another meds mistake. Do you think it is ok to do gallbladder sx on someone without disclosing that you would not be getting post sx pain control medications. I don't, but this is the kind of treatment I've experienced since having to leave kaiser for being refused pain control for back injury.

Dr. Stein is very disappointing and infuriating to work with. That's the problem, he does not work with you, he acts like a dictator. I was forced to see him for lack of options after leaving kaiser and filing a complaint with the medical board for many reasons including refusal to control pain after back sx. I also had to file a complaint against dr. Stein because he also refused to give me pain medicine. Right after I filed the complaint he did give me something he refuses to refill. I'm done with dr. Stein, the med board did not fully sanction him so he behaves like a md should. Now I'm back to being an ER pt for primary care. That is better than being forced to seeing dr. Stein. He does not do his job as an md and evidently covers for previous mds mistakes in pt care. I went to the ER while seeing dr. Stein and was told I was"full of stones" (gall bladder). I had this undiagnosed problem while at kaiser. I guess dr. Stein would rather have someone die than correct kaiser for not treating and telling me about the problem. I believe kaiser did not want to pay for gall bladder sx. No attorney will help with this problem either, including walk-up and melodies ( Kevin domicus) in San Francisco. I think it is terrible to have to get primary care in an ER. Dr. Stein does not act like a md. I don't know what I can say about kaiser except not to join. They are medical fast food, not good for you. I guess it's back to the ER for primary care. I wonder what they will find next. Dr. Stein is awful, I would avoid him. You will feel sick after you see him.

I don't get dr. Stein philosophy of not controlling back pain and sciatica so a person can function, be as active as possible, make informed decisions about future back sx and sleep. For some pt who have debilitating pain there maybe only that chose or most probably sustain liver damage from having to self medicate. Is there an upside to liver damage I don't know about. Because this is how the situation looks for me. If there isn't an upside to having been afflicted with liver damage because of a refusal to give pain meds, md's who do this should be severely punished?

I have an autoimmune problem, sjogrens syndrome, with horrible muscle stiffness and fatigue. Dr. Stein would not give me pain meds or a muscle relaxer. He said Valium causes dementia and interferes with rem sleep. Isn't he suppose to relieve pain and increase a persons quality of life?? After my blood work came back, on my second visit he had a different demeanor. He did not give me a copy or discuss what the results were. I called and had a copy mailed to me. It was very abnormal and alarming, a low RBC count among other abnormal results. I was injured by being cut off 35mg of Valium per day on may of 2012 without a taper (I was on since 2004). I guess that's why he didn't want to go over my blood work. It's very disappointing when you can't find a doctor to stand up for another md's innapropriate treatment. What happened to the hypocratic outh?? Buyer beware!

i was referred to Dr Stein by my endocrinologist because I have severe joint pain and stiffness. Dr Stein made his "diagnosis" after 15 minutes of talking to me. The physical exam consisted of listening to my heart and testing my strength. No blood work was done, he never checked my joints. The "diagnosis" was Fibromyalgia. When I dared to question him, he became defensive.

First rate professional! I highly recommend him.

Dr. Stein spent very little time examining patient with severe joint pain and diagnosed fibromyalgia after about 10 minutes without so much as testing for the heightened pain in response to tactile pressure (allodynia) that is indicative of this condition. He dismissed existing deformation of joints as not troublesome.