Laurie Schweitzer, MD

Excellent Dr. I highly recommend her.

Sorry Unilocal,usually I have really good luck via Unilocal.I’m really sorry to have to write this review because I think that Dr. Schweitzer is a very nice woman, and so was the woman at the front desk. But overall my experience under her care has left me questioning her medical and diagnostic competence, and out $ 2,000 unnecessarily. Following my experience with Dr. Schweitzer I found a different ENT who was able to diagnose the problem, and perform the procedure to confirm it within 30 minutes — putting me on a path to treatment.
I saw Dr. Schweitzer over a period of two months, at least 5 visits and several ‘procedures’, which cost a LOT of money and mostly entailed her saying ‘let’s wait and see how it is next week.’ At the end of the day, I think every single ‘strategy’ Dr. Schweitzer suggested either 1. I could have thought of myself (hold your nose and swallow upside down), or 2. my GP could have done for me (flush my ears for earwax). I think that she is really good at clearing out ear wax and giving speeches about not using Q-​tips or drinking caffeine, but that wasn’t my problem. I was having sudden hearing loss. She had me ‘try allergy pills and come back and see me in a week and then we’ll see.’ Even though I was paying this out of pocket and said I’d like to consolidate appointments if possible, she really didn’t seem to accommodate. I don’t think she is malicious at all, I really just think maybe she isn’t up on her diagnostics.
My main reason for the complaint is that in addition to being charged an arm and a leg for the appointments with Dr. Schweitzer, I finally went to another ENT who had my condition diagnosed and performed a very quick procedure to remove/​diagnose part of the problem conducted WITHIN 30 MINUTES! Since they were out of network for my insurance they also charged me the same amount as Dr. Schweitzer for one visit. Mine is not that strange of a problem; when I googled it, mine looked like a textbook case even amidst the weirdness that you find on google for medical stuff. It just really makes me doubt Dr. Schweitzer’s diagnostic competence. I hate to say it, because she is a very nice lady — but she cost me a lot of money and wasted my time when another doctor figured it out in 5 minutes and had me on my way to a CT scan within the next business day. They were so efficient and fast. (Theresa Kim, SF Otolaryngology.) Highly recommended.
When it became clear I needed surgery, Dr. Schweitzer was also quite lackadaisacal about making sure my referral to a surgeon was processed. She told me that it might take a couple extra weeks because she was going out of town, which was didn’t work for me at all since I had to leave the country for work for 3 months, so I had a month and a half to at least know what needed to happen. Fortunately I found Dr. Kim.
Additionally — Dr. Schweitzer’s office is repeatedly pestering about billing; their billing is very confusing and it seems like they are double billing for the same appointment. I’m not trying to avoid their bills at all– and I tried to pay many in the office same day — but their system is ambiguous and confusing and the bills are not labeled by the appointment dates, so when I paid in the office for an appointment it wasn’t clear if I was being double billed or not because there is apparently little communication between the billing and the front desk.
On the upshot — Dr. Theresa Kim is an awesome ENT — who, as I said, figured out my situation almost INSTANTLY — and her office got me in for a CT scan, authorized by my insurance at the soonest business day. They were completely awesome — super responsive, fast, efficient and effective. Dr. Kim’s physician assistant, Natalie was great — super knowledgeable and responsive. The complete opposite of Dr. Schweitzer’s office! I really hate to give a bad review, but given my experience there I really just feel the need to be honest and I can not recommend the experience I had there.

Dr Schweitzer is an excellent ENT. Visits are thorough with much opportunity for discussion, not rushed (not sure how she manages that in todays medical environment, but she does!). Very knowledgable, but equally important, she knows the limits of her knowledge. Strongly recommend.

I saw Laurie about a week or 2 ago and she was one of the most friendly and outgoing doctors I have ever seen. She did an awesome job checking out my awesome mouth and she assured me Im fine. Anyway, I will be sure to go back to Laurie if there are any new issues that come up.

I consider myself to be somewhat of a physician connoisseur. For four years, I had a chronic medical condition, which, not only while I was being treated, but also while I was searching for a diagnosis, required me to visit over a dozen different specialists. This means that, during that period alone, I probably had about five or six dozen medical appointments. My very first appointment with Dr. Schweitzer was, without a doubt, the very finest doctor’s appointment I’ve ever had. She is unbelievably kind and empathetic, but most importantly, she simply «gets it.» Whereas with other doctors I feel like I’ve had to work to make myself heard, or at least haven’t seen clear indications that they understand, Dr. Schweitzer took me in hand. I spent at _​least_​the first fifteen minutes of the appointment answering her very detailed questions about my medical history. Whereas after seeing other doctors I often leave the office feeling anxious that I’ve inadvertently left something out, or explained it incompletely, or that one of my questions went unanswered, I left Dr. Schweitzer’s office feeling that everything, everything, had been covered and understood.
Best of all, I left feeling markedly better, emotionally, than I did when I showed up. I can’t do anything but recommend Dr. Schweitzer, not just as a physician, but also as a human being.

Number goes directly to an answering machine to leave a message at all times. I left a message and it’s been 2 days, no call back.

She is like the Dr. House of ENTs, except nice. She *will* figure out whatever is wrong with what you come to her with (if it is inside of her purview). Very smart and doesn’t pretend to be a know-​it-​all. Instead she actually uses the scientific method to figure things out. Rare among doctors.
Do pay attention to the fiscal complaints that others have posted and be careful to make sure that your insurance covers everything you expect it to. I had a similar problem, but I think she is such an amazing doctor that she still gets 5 stars.

I would like to second all of the five star reviews on Unilocal!I found Dr. Schweitzer on Unilocal after a less than acceptable experience at my primary care physician. After coping with a medical issue for almost four months, I not only was less than confident about a resolution, I had in fact convinced myself I had something much more serious than the relatively minor problem diagnosed by Dr. Schweitzer. She is not only kind and empathetic, she is gentle and offered detailed instructions as to how I could resolve my problem. She is the epitome of the caring, competent physician one hopes to encounter when facing a medical problem. If you need an ENT, I highly recommend calling her.

As a health care professional myself, I can understand reasons that other patients would love her! She listens and wants to know who you are. She asked good probing questions when you told her your health issues. She made me feel like talking to a long time friend. She is an awesome doctor!!!

Dr. Schweitzer is a qualified doctor who knows her business. The staff answers the phone, and is helpful. The office is organized and I’ve never had to wait. Once you are with Dr. Schweitzer, you are greeted with a smile, and she is ready to work with you. I have had laser work done in the past and I am back for some face work and body hair removal work. She is a master on what she does, down to earth person. She listens, and give recomendations /​options, all common sense. She makes you feel comfortable throughout the process. This is why I have laser work done, and would highly recommend her.

I had an appointment with Dr. Schweitzer on last week. New patient, and got in within a week from calling.
When I got to the office, I barely completed the paperwork and they were ready for me! Dr. Schweitzer can in shortly after I was placed into an exam room, and I was really pleased with her manner. She took alot of time to ask about my problems, symptoms, activities, etc., medical history, family background. She really listened to everything I had to say.
Like many others have posted, she did not rush through my appointment, and made it all about me and my problems.
After a pretty thorough exam (with e scope in the nose and down the throat! — wee!) took extra time to explain to me what she saw and even drew a picture so I could visualize.
After discussing a number of potential causes, she gave me one prescription and several instructions for changing a few things that were probably contributing to my sore throat, and I have a follow up in 2 weeks. I’m finally starting to feel better and hope it continues.
I’d highly recommend Dr. Schweitzer as an ENT.

Great experience seeing, Dr. Schweitzer today. She has great patient «bedside manner». She came across very knowledgeable, but humble and witty. She was very personable, and I felt she genuinely wanted to get to know me. She gave me some very practical medication/​advice for me. Although I think she solved my problem, she closed our session by letting me know I could always see her again for help. I highly recommend her!

I’ve had more than my share of issues over the years so have seen more doctors than just about anyone. Some of the doctors make you feel as tho they wished they had a revolving door in the exam room if privacy wasn’t an issue. Then there are less than a handful of exceptional doctors, like Dr. Schweitzer, who genuinely seem glad to see you and to be able to help you and will take however long necessary to carefully analyze and properly diagnose your issue. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, the two sets of knocks I’ve heard several minutes apart during my exam were probably to let her know that she might be spending too much time with a me.
I wish I could say that’s because I’m such an awesome guy so it’s just me but I think it’s really because she wants to know all her patients on a personal level, which not only makes you feel comfortable but likely to help in the analysis. She’s very warm, engaging, laidback, funny, inquisitive, and intelligent. I think she’s the only doctor I actually look forward to seeing, tho I always go with a prayer and crossed fingers. I saw her today after a 2 year break but felt as though I had just seen her yesterday. Her method of analysis is very thorough and explanations easily understandable. Her hand writing and sketching could be cleaner tho. (j/​k doc!) I have no problem understanding what she’s written or drawn.
Since my diagnosis wasn’t as bad as my crazy, sometimes hypochondriatic mind imagined it to be — first visit I thought I had throat cancer, this time, brain tumor — both of which turned out to be just irritated sinus haha likely due to too much coffee and ‘possibly’ too much nose picking *ahem* — I am looking forward to seeing her at my follow up visit in 2 weeks.
I wish more physicians were like her. Actually, I wish she was my primary care physician. Sad to think that she might retire some day. Strangely glad that I’m a bit of a hypochondriac and love coffee.

I saw Dr. Schweitzer back in May, and I loved her.
I have very small ears and very small ear canals, so it’s hard for my ears to naturally «clean themselves» of earwax, as most ears do. Back in May, I got a terrible ear infection that gave me sharp pains in my left ear, and left me partially deaf. I was miserable, and decided to go see a general doctor at an office on Telegraph & Dwight.
They did NOTHING for me. Shot hot water into my ear for twenty minutes. I left with a $ 50 bill and a doctor telling me I needed to see a specialist. And that I had an infection.
When I went to see Dr. Schweitzer, she saw the problem in thirty seconds flat and had my ear cleared out within ten. She gently used a plug to shoot water in my ear, cleaning out the infection. The whole time, she was warm and friendly, and took the care to explain each step to me. She told me that I should stop using ear swabs to clean out my ears, and instead, rinse my ears thoroughly in the shower.
I haven’t had a problem since. If you want a doctor that really emphasizes patient care, see Dr. Schweitzer.

Got right in at my appointment time, Dr. Schweitzer diagnosed my problem in about 30 seconds, it was fixed in another five minutes, and we chatted for another five before I was out of there a new woman. She’s a great doctor, I will absolutely go back. In fact, everyone should go just to see the huge amount of wax she’s capable of taking out of a person’s ear (She told me I must be right-​handed because my right ear had so much more shoved against the ear drum — um, gross. And correct.)

I have come to see Laurie three times now and have been pleased on all accounts. The first time I went in, it was because of an ear infection that I have had for over a year now due to Kaiser’s doctors being unwilling to admit to me that they were actually infected even though I told them that they were infected. Dr. Laurie suggested that I switch shampoo and conditioner (which has helped the dry and irritated skin in my ears) and she proceeded to clean out my ears.
I have never seen so much wax exit my ears in my life. Oh my god. The second trip back was only a week later because she had prescribed medicine for the ear infections that I had (Duh, thanks again, Kaiser) and wanted to follow up on my ears and give my other ear another cleaning. One of my ears has a super small canal and the wax was rock solid trhe first time so the medicine she prescribed also softened the wax.
The third trip was just another week after that and again, just a follow up to make sure that everything was okay. She also suggested places for me to visit on my honeymoon! :D Who would have guessed it — she has amazing expertise in her job AND with places to visit!
Overall, she’s an amazing doctor. I’ve had no problems with her or her staff or the billing cycle as well. I recommend her in a heart beat.

Awesome doctor and excellent reception staff. Dr. Schweitzer totally took the time to be very thorough with me and took even more time to explain every detail of what was wrong with my ear. I can honestly say that she was probably the most considerate doctor I have ever seen and am blown away that any doctor would take this much time to make sure things were ok and that I left the office comfortable with things.
As for the other reviews here which seem to be bashing the price, well… I would much rather have a good doctor get it right the first time than pay less and get less. Very much worth the 450 bucks as a self pay and I really think that healthcare would be affordable if every doctor did their job the way Dr. Schweitzer did with me. I felt like I got my monies worth and then some.

only go if you have insurance. They charge $ 250 just to put your information in the computer system there as a new patient.

Just saw Dr. Schweitzer an hour ago. She has the best attitude and chair-​side manner. She made me feel comfortable and welcomed and was very passionate about her work. She was a very warm vibe and a friendly smile, and knows what she’s talking about. I’m sending all my friends to her. I feel like I have a new set of ears!

Dr Laurie Schweitzer is a great experienced medical doctor, but her office can not seem to obtain test results from their lab within a week even though it is located in the same building.
Specialty: Otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat, head, neck), among other skills.
Her medical advice was terrific, although we had to make several proactive phone calls to her and the Quest lab to get them to communicate and discuss results that were important to our medical condition.
Be prepared to complain and take independent action to have your needs met.
Dr Schweitzer and her office will go out of their way to help if it is warranted.