Joseph T Spaulding, MD

I tried to book an appointment with Dr. Spaulding and the people who pickup the phone wanted a very specific reason I wanted to see the doctor. I told them I’m happy to talk with the doctor about that but they refused. After I insisted this to the second assistant who picked up the phone, she finally told me Dr. Spaulding is retiring in December and not seeing any new patients, right after the prior woman told me he was seeing new patients.
I don’t mind sharing my medical issues, but completely unprofessional to expect me to share private medical issues with somebody who has no medical training at all. Beyond that, why lie and tell me he’s accepting patients if he’s not? Then again, I feel like the second assistant told me that to get me off the phone.
Good luck in retirement doc! Glad your rude assistants stopped me from coming there.

I, personally, don’t understand all the rotten reviews. I get it, you have SOME type of unpleasant issue going on. I’m sure you feel as if YOURS’ is THE most important, and deserves the utmost attention. NO– I’m NOT minimalizing you plight!!! It’s just that having survived kidney cancer, believe me when I say I get it. I wanted him to be compassionate: HE WAS!!! He hugged me and re-​assured me. I was terrified! When I saw him again, in the O.R., I hugged him again and whispered– «Take good care of me.» In a FATHERLY, GODLY, RE-​ASSURING tone, he replied,“I will,” Don’t worry.” And off to dreamland I went. Post surgery, he, himself, was there EVERYDAY. HEY– I cold have had an intern!!! (heaven help me!!!) As far as I’m concerned, DR. Joseph T. Spaulding’s 43 Yrs. of experience really shows. #1 CLASS ACT. He made surgery a not so scary expierance, AND, took good care of me post surgery, never leaving my side. I had kidney cancer. NO MORE. I’m home, recovering. NOT easy– but whatever is?!! I’ll be referring Dr. Spaulding to anyone who needs a uralogic oncologist/​surgeon. Sincerely, Sabrina J. Reyes– San Francisco, Ca.

I was very impressed with Dr. Spaulding. I saw him the day before Independence Day and didn’t expect to hear from his office for at least three days. He called me himself at 8:30 AM on the holiday! He had already done research about my problem and had even located a pharmacy that would be open on the holiday.

I feel somewhat torn about Dr. Spaulding. He did a good job medically with my cancer, but from a personal/​emotional standpoint he was one of the worst doctors I’ve ever seen. After he diagnosed me (back in 2004), I was terrified. I asked him if I should get a second opinion. He said, with an exaggerated air, «Well, you can if you want to, but another doctor will tell you the same thing.» It made me feel trapped. If he said anything comforting or kind to me, I don’t remember it.
Later, after my surgery, I thought something was wrong and I went to him for a followup exam. I feared the cancer might be in a new location. I was upset and anxious and his exam was, from my point of view, cursory. He laid hands on me for literally 2 seconds, then withdrew and said, «You’re fine». I was stunned that he could say that after just a brief moment. I wasn’t sure he was right, but he seemed so arrogant and cocksure that I felt too intimidated to ask for a more thorough exam. I learned from the experience to not allow doctors to push me around like that again. At the time, I left his office feeling no better or safer than when I walked in.
As it turned out, he was right. So he seems to be a good doctor. But for years I’ve meant to write him a letter, telling him how his terrible personal manner added to the overall trauma of dealing with my cancer. Maybe he’ll read this and be kinder to future patients. I’ll never forget how I felt under his care.

I’ve gone to Dr. Spaulding since 1997. Good bedside manner, conservative treatment options and he doesn’t waste your time.
In 1999 he had to give me the bad news that I had kidney cancer. Now there’s no way to sugarcoat that kind of news, but he gave me the news and the treatment options in as compassionate and straigtforward way possible.
He said there was time to think about this, but that he did recommend I have surgery in the near future. I was so shocked, I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. He understood my fears and had his staff check 3 hospitals to find one that could do it the soonest. Five days later he did the surgery, recovered and every year I go to him for a checkup. It has been over 11 years now that I have been cancer free. I have since met 2 other people who had the same cancer surgery done by Dr. Spaulding, and all are doing well.
One thing I should add though, is that he is no longer in the preferred provider network of Blue Cross. He still takes their insurance, but as a out of network provider so the insurance reimbursement is less.

Wait time 15 minutes or less. Accurate and reasonable billing. Good listener, pragmatic. Personable but no bs.

Really unpleasant.
No doubt competent but that is not all I expect from a physician.
If he has to make me wait nearly an hour then it would be nice to have him acknowledge it — even if he doesn’t apologize. A «thanks for waiting» would usually do the trick. Anyway, nothing I couldn’t have got over if it weren’t for the following:
Next came the urine collection (on your back, in the stirrups just like at the gynecologists). Again, no issue with the fact that a tube stuck inside you might be the best way of doing it, but I would have welcomed some explanation as to why it was better to do it this way, and what was about to be done. «It won’t be excruciatingly painful» didn’t get me to that warm fuzzy place of confidence and trust.
When results came back and I asked a question as to why they might differ from previous lab results, Dr Spaulding’s response was to interrupt me before i had even finished and announce in a raised voice: «I don’t care what the other results said».
A lack of bedside manner sometimes comes with the territory of being a genius or even a highly skilled professional — you weigh the pros and cons…
However, Dr Spaulding was plain rude and came across as brutally impersonal and uncaring. I was upset for several hours following my visit.
Maybe he is disillusioned with his subject matter. God knows, I would be. But that is why I am not a urologist.
In summary, if you have an urgent issue and dont’ have time to shop around, no doubt he has the competence to resolve it. If you have the luxury of time (factoring in the one hour wait to see Dr. Spaulding), find somebody who will treat you with a minimum of the dignity and politeness we all deserve.

If you need to see a urologist see Dr. Spaulding. I went to see him about a kidney stone and he had it taken care of inside of a week, and i needed surgery. He is very personable and so is his staff. They are willing to help in any way they can.