I was recommended to Steve following the treatment for cancer at 20 years-old. I was dissatisfied with my long-time doctor, who was often unavailable and wouldn't return calls for several days following an urgent call, appointments generally took 3-4 weeks to get in to see him, he rarely took more than 10-15 minutes during appointments to discuss my concern without beginning to pressure me to wrap the appointment up, etc. Overall, I thought I could do better.\r
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Following treatment, I asked my Oncologist who seemed pretty well-known in the area and in my opinion a breath of fresh air with respect to overall quality, if he could recommend 5 primary care doctors/internists in the West Portland area that he felt were excellent based on his experience/their reputation. Steve was one of the doctors on the list. I contacted his office for the initial intake and he, in the scheduling of that one appointment and that in the course of that initial appointment, gave me an impression that he was something rare. He was a doctor that was a patient's doctor, not an insurance company's doctor, not a doctor that subscribed to the high-volume practices that my previous doctor and many doctors do to maximize income. I understand that this practice is generally exercised due to high practice costs, but feels as though it marginalizes the patient in nearly every way. Steve was and has proven himself to be much different.\r
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Over the years (10+) as a patient of Steve's, it has never taken more than 12 hours to hear back from his medical assistant. Jennifer is his current and long-time assistant and she is wonderful. She complements Steve's high-quality provision of medical services very well. I have in the past been able to be snuck into Steve's schedule the very same day to see him. Steve takes as long as is needed to hear my medical complaint, discuss it, diagnose it, help me understand its implications, and establish follow-up schedules, etc. I have never left his office following an appointment at all dissatisfied. Just the opposite, I look forward to his appointments, seeing him, knowing full well that he will consistently provide this high-quality service that is remarkably personal, individualized and caring. He is a friendly, highly technical, very competent professional who seems to believe in a philosophy that once defined the best doctors. A philosophy that, as mentioned, so many doctors have abandoned in the current medical system. This is one of patient care instead of the pandering to insurance companies and their bottom line. I maintain a sense of comfort knowing I have Steve as a resource in my health-related matters.\r
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I believe Steve has a patient profile that includes many people in later life stages, but certainly treats those in earlier life stages without a hitch. He is, quite simply, the best doctor I have ever had. I couldn't possibly ask for a better resource in matters of health. I have seen and experience many doctors in my life, in a broad array of practice specialties, and he has been far and away the best.\r
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I looked up Steve's name after joining Yelp today and as I didn't see any reviews, felt it important to share my experience. Steve will one day retire and I already wonder about this loss, how I will find someone like him to stand by me for all medical issues through the course of my life. There likely will be many yet, but I will always compare them to Steve as he will always stand as a benchmark of quality.
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