What To Expect During Your Stone Clinic Appointment
Your first visit to The Stone Clinic is a comprehensive evaluation. Our team takes the time to fully understand your injury, review or obtain the necessary imaging, examine your joint, discuss your activities and recovery goals, and develop a plan for your treatment and recovery.
Please plan to spend 2–4 hours with us.
Depending on your needs, your visit may include imaging, treatment, a physical therapy evaluation, rehabilitation planning, or surgical coordination. Reserving this time allows us to complete a thorough evaluation and, whenever possible, establish your diagnosis and treatment plan in a single visit.
Before Your Appointment
A little preparation before your visit helps us make the most of your time at the clinic.
Complete your intake form.
We will send your form approximately three days before your appointment. Please complete it before you arrive.
Send us your existing MRI and X-ray images and reports.
Dr. Stone needs to see MRI and X-rays that have been taken within the past year. If you have had surgery in the past year, the MRI and X-rays must have been obtained after surgery. See instructions for sending your imaging.
Send or bring records from prior treatment.
This may include operative reports, photos or video from prior surgery, and physician reports pertaining to the problem we will be evaluating.
Bring your insurance card(s).
Although payment for Stone Clinic services is made directly to the clinic, your insurance information may be needed when we coordinate care with outside facilities, laboratories, or other physicians.
Don't have recent MRI or X-ray imaging? We can obtain the necessary MRI and digital diagnostic X-ray images at The Stone Clinic.
Plan Your Visit
The Stone Clinic
3727 Buchanan Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94123
Open The Stone Clinic in Google Maps →
Enter the building from Buchanan Street and take the elevator to the third floor.
Parking for Your Consultation
We recommend the large Fort Mason parking lot directly across the street. Parking is free and there is no two-hour time restriction, making it the most convenient option for longer evaluation appointments.
For Shorter Appointments
Two-hour street parking is available near our front door and is often convenient for physical therapy and other shorter visits.
Accessibility
The clinic is accessible by elevator and has private ADA-friendly restrooms.
Nearby Conveniences
There are two coffee shops nearby and a Safeway grocery store across the street if you would like to pick up coffee, food, or other necessities before your visit.
What to Wear and Bring
Because new-patient evaluations typically take 2–4 hours, you may also want to bring water, a snack, a book, or anything else that will make your time with us more comfortable.
What to Expect During Your Consultation
Every consultation is tailored to the patient and the injury, so the exact sequence of your visit may vary. In general, your evaluation will include:
01
Your Health and Injury History
You will begin with our nursing team, who will review your health history, the history of your injury, previous treatment, and the information you have provided before your appointment.
02
Imaging, if Needed
If additional imaging is necessary, we can obtain MRI and digital diagnostic X-ray images at the clinic. The images are available immediately, reducing the delay between examination and diagnosis.
03
Your Examination With Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone will perform a physical examination, review your MRI and X-ray images with you, learn about the sports and activities you want to return to, and discuss your treatment options and recovery goals.
04
Your Treatment and Recovery Plan
What happens next depends on Dr. Stone's recommendation.
If non-operative treatment such as physical therapy, injections, or shockwave therapy is recommended, treatment may be performed during your visit.
If surgery is recommended, you may also meet with our Rehabilitation Team to discuss your post-operative physical therapy plan and with our Surgical Coordinators to begin planning your procedure.
The objective is for you to leave The Stone Clinic with a clear diagnosis and a complete plan for your treatment and recovery.
Fees, Insurance and Payment
Payment in full is required at the time of service.
A comprehensive examination with Dr. Stone is typically $790, but the fee may vary based on the simplicity or complexity of the visit. X-rays, MRIs, injections, physical therapy, and other treatments and supplies incur separate charges from the physician's fee.
Using Insurance for Reimbursement
The Stone Clinic is an out-of-network practice. Many private insurance carriers will reimburse patients for out-of-network services, so we recommend contacting your insurance carrier directly for information about your benefits.
If you plan to request reimbursement, we can provide you with a Superbill receipt at checkout upon request.
For help submitting claims, Stone Clinic patients may also use Reimbursify as a complimentary service. Our reception team can assist you with registration at checkout.
Why We Ask for Your Insurance Card
We may need your insurance information when coordinating care with hospitals, laboratories, outside facilities, or other physicians that bill insurance directly. Having this information available helps us coordinate those services without unnecessary delays.
Questions Before Your Visit?
If you have questions about your appointment, required records, fees, or payment, please contact our Patient Coordinators.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give us 48 hours' notice so we may offer the appointment time to another patient.