Dr. Tova Suzanne Steinhauser, MD

I have had hormone issues in past and recently I can't seem to lose weight and am having issues with thinning hair and energy. Boyfriend had similar issues his Dr suggested a blood panel while checking his hormones as well. He in fact had low hormones at 45 and he was offered his solutions. When I requested it she declined and when I offered to pay cash for the blood panel she still declined. This is exactly what happened. I I'm not misrepresenting anything. I was told by staff at the hospital that I should see a new Dr. When I asked staff whom they recommend everyone had the same name. They all recommended one particular gentleman none suggested her. There must be a reason. I obviously didn't preface when asking for referral to new Dr.

I have been a Pt of Dr. Steinhauser for years. She's been fine. I had other Drs that we also fine. It's pretty easy when nothing is wrong and you barely go. I've only had a few things happen to me in my adult life. I have had hormone issues and irregular periods. I didn't have a period for two years and began gaining a tremendous amount of weight. With the help of my very fit roommate I exercised and ate right while living in Pacific Beach. As I kept gaining she suggested something was going on. My Dr at the time refused to check into anything so I decided to get a different Dr and thought maybe I have crappy insurance. I paid for a premier plan which costs over five hundred a month closer to six. Anyway HE checked and found out it was thyroid and wham stopped gaining started losing. I'm much older now. I have gained and lost weight over the years but when I try to keep it off it stays. I kept it off for many years but never got to super thin but I'm healthy with no diabetes heart… disease etc or other main issues so I was satisfied. I'm now 48 and have since changed from that Dr to Dr Steinhauser. The last few years Dr Steinhauser has done basic things like paps etc. She will refer to weight management and provide well know healthy suggestions. Overall I found her pleasant and sweet and most importantly female for my pap smears. Which was the only reason I initially changed from the male Dr that found my hormone issue in the past. So why the one star? I have been much more tired recently. My hair is thinning and she and I have discussed I may be premenopausal in the past. So ok, I'm aging. My boyfriend whom is 45 and fit just had a annual physical and told me his Dr asked how his energy was and any complaints. He mentioned he was more tired and his hair is thinning. He assumed they would get a laugh about getting older etc etc but his Dr recommended a hormone panel to evaluate if he was in normal range. Turns out he wasn't and treatment options and side effects were discussed and he chose to seek treatment. I had this appointment set up and was excited to see if this may be why I am no longer able to lose even when trying. I asked Dr Steinhauser to take a hormone panel to see if perhaps that may give me answers regarding my simple energy, weight, and hair issues. She flat out refused. She explained in detail why she felt it wasn't necessary. She requested one hormone test on my thyroid and other normal blood work. I was confused and asked why. Sure didn't feel it was necessary and once again she offered a referral to weight management. It's an expensive weight loss center that may offer you bariatric surgery in the end so not interested in doing that. Anyway. I offered to pay cash for the test if my Insurance didn't deem it necessary I could understand her declining it. The financial woman at Kaiser said she could take a personal payment for lab work that the Dr didn't think insurance would cover. Great. I can get my baseline. She came back saying Dr Steinhauser refused to consent to the hormone panel. Why? All my other tests came back normal as I knew they would. They basically always have. The only conclusion is that she's on a Power Trip. A hormone panel is done by checking your blood. Not some crazy invasive procedure. I was having blood drawn anyway. I can purchase an estrogen test for under a hundred dollars. To get the whole panel about eight hundred. I was willing to pay for information purposes so I can evaluate MY options like my boyfriend did with his Dr. The only help I got from brokers to staff at the hospital was to change Drs. I don't feel I'm misrepresenting anything or that she missunderstood anything about me wanting more knowledge of my most likely age related issues. She reminds me of the first Dr I had that refused to even check my thyroid all those years ago. Dr Steinhauser checked that but refused to have a complete hormone panel checked even with mye paying out of pocket. I will be taking this further up the chain because after all Sharp may be interested in the fact that their Dr declined an approximately eight hundred dollar hormone panel from a cash patient. This is obviously routine for some Drs like my 45 year old boyfriends.

I have been a Pt of Dr. Steinhauser for years. She's been fine. I had other Drs that we also fine. It's pretty easy when nothing is wrong and you barely go. I've only had a few things happen to me in my adult life. I have had hormone issues and irregular periods. I didn't have a period for two years and began gaining a tremendous amount of weight. With the help of my very fit roommate I exercised and ate right while living in Pacific Beach. As I kept gaining she suggested something was going on. My Dr at the time refused to check into anything so I decided to get a different Dr and thought maybe I have crappy insurance. I paid for a premier plan which costs over five hundred a month closer to six. Anyway HE checked and found out it was thyroid and wham stopped gaining started losing. I'm much older now. I have gained and lost weight over the years but when I try to keep it off it stays. I kept it off for many years but never got to super thin but I'm healthy with no diabetes heart… disease etc or other main issues so I was satisfied. I'm now 48 and have since changed from that Dr to Dr Steinhauser. The last few years Dr Steinhauser has done basic things like paps etc. She will refer to weight management and provide well know healthy suggestions. Overall I found her pleasant and sweet and most importantly female for my pap smears. Which was the only reason I initially changed from the male Dr that found my hormone issue in the past. So why the one star? I have been much more tired recently. My hair is thinning and she and I have discussed I may be premenopausal in the past. So ok, I'm aging. My boyfriend whom is 45 and fit just had a annual physical and told me his Dr asked how his energy was and any complaints. He mentioned he was more tired and his hair is thinning. He assumed they would get a laugh about getting older etc etc but his Dr recommended a hormone panel to evaluate if he was in normal range. Turns out he wasn't and treatment options and side effects were discussed and he chose to seek treatment. I had this appointment set up and was excited to see if this may be why I am no longer able to lose even when trying. I asked Dr Steinhauser to take a hormone panel to see if perhaps that may give me answers regarding my simple energy, weight, and hair issues. She flat out refused. She explained in detail why she felt it wasn't necessary. She requested one hormone test on my thyroid and other normal blood work. I was confused and asked why. Sure didn't feel it was necessary and once again she offered a referral to weight management. It's an expensive weight loss center that may offer you bariatric surgery in the end so not interested in doing that. Anyway. I offered to pay cash for the test if my Insurance didn't deem it necessary I could understand her declining it. The financial woman at Kaiser said she could take a personal payment for lab work that the Dr didn't think insurance would cover. Great. I can get my baseline. She came back saying Dr Steinhauser refused to consent to the hormone panel. Why? All my other tests came back normal as I knew they would. They basically always have. The only conclusion is that she's on a Power Trip. A hormone panel is done by checking your blood. Not some crazy invasive procedure. I was having blood drawn anyway. I can purchase an estrogen test for under a hundred dollars. To get the whole panel about eight hundred. I was willing to pay for information purposes so I can evaluate MY options like my boyfriend did with his Dr. The only help I got from brokers to staff at the hospital was to change Drs. I don't feel I'm misrepresenting anything or that she missunderstood anything about me wanting more knowledge of my most likely age related issues. She reminds me of the first Dr I had that refused to even check my thyroid all those years ago. Dr Steinhauser checked that but refused to have a complete hormone panel checked even with mye paying out of pocket. I will be taking this further up the chain because after all Sharp may be interested in the fact that their Dr declined an approximately eight hundred dollar hormone panel from a cash patient. This is obviously routine for some Drs like my 45 year old boyfriends.

Communicate with clients. Easy to talk to, lots of patience. I will definitely recommend her to family and friends.

Excellent, thorough and caring doctor. I recommend her to all of my friends and family.

She is the worst physician I have ever seen. I would rather go to urgent care than have her as my primary physician.

She is an amazing, caring, and extremely thorough doctor! She takes her time when diagnosing and really listens to everything I have to say. I feel like she truly cares about my well-being. She seems very up to date on medical advances and medications. She and her staff always go the extra mile to take care of me and they always call me back with test results or answers to questions very promptly. I would highly recommend her.

Nice doctor, very caring and comprehensive.