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Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS

Accepting New Patients
(Amy D. Dobberfuhl, MD, MS)

(No ratings)

Specializes in: General Practice and Urology (Urinary Tract Disease)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Professional interests include: injections, urinary retention, transgender issues, and more.
420 Broadway Pavilion D Floor 2
Redwood City, CA 94063

Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS is a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA specializing in general practice and urology (urinary tract disease). She graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS is affiliated with Stanford Health Care.

View Doctor's Full Profile (650) 721-2700

Office Locations

1000 Welch Road Garden Level
Palo Alto, CA 94304
open_in_new

Unable to locate address.

Stanford Health Care

420 Broadway Pavilion D Floor 2
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 721-2700

Some issues Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS can help you with:

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged. BPH affects about half of men between the ages of 50 and 60, and approximately 80% of men over 80. As the prostate grows in size, it can press down on the tube where urine flows out of the body (the urethra) and cause urinary problems.

Medication can relieve mild to moderate symptoms of BPH, such as frequent urination, incomplete bladder emptying, a weak urine stream, and straining while urinating. However, other forms of treatment may be more appropriate if an individual has pain with urination, frequent urinary tract infections, or is unable to urinate. The size of the prostate and the severity of their symptoms will determine the type of treatment they need. If the prostate is not very large, doctors will likely recommend a transurethral procedure. This minimally invasive technique involves the insertion of a scope into the urethra. The most common transurethral procedures for BPH are:

  • Transurethral incision of the prostate or TUIP, where the surgeon uses the scope to make small cuts in the area of the prostate that meets the bladder. These cuts will open up the pathway for urine and allow it to flow with more ease.
  • Transurethral needle ablation or TUNA, where needles are inserted through the scope and into the prostate. The needles use radiofrequency waves to destroy excess prostate tissue.
  • Laser prostate ablation, where lasers pass through the scope to melt away the part of the prostate causing urine blockage.
  • Transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP, where the inside of the prostate is trimmed and removed one tiny piece at a time using the scope.

If the prostate is too big for a transurethral procedure, an individual may need a simple prostatectomy, which can be done in one of three ways: laparoscopic, robotic, or open. During a laparoscopic simple prostatectomy, a surgeon makes several small incisions on the belly. Then they insert a long tube with a camera into one of the cuts and surgical instruments into the others. Using the camera to see inside the belly, they carefully removes the enlarged part of the prostate. Robotic simple prostatectomy uses the same techniques as the laparoscopic method, but the surgery is done with the help of a robot. For men with very large prostates, open simple prostatectomy may be the best treatment option. This surgery differs from the other approaches in that it requires a much larger incision.

Most transurethral treatments for BPH, like TUIP, TUNA, and laser prostate ablation, are done in the doctor's office or outpatient surgery center. TURP and simple prostatectomy, however, need to be performed in the hospital and require an average stay of one to three days. Patients should wait a week before doing any strenuous activities after a TUIP, TUNA, or laser prostate ablation, and about four to six weeks after a TURP or simple prostatectomy. Although these treatments improve BPH symptoms for most patients, it is important to be aware of the risks involved, such as urine control issues, tightening of the urethra, and erectile dysfunction.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

  • Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
  • Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
  • Spinal infections
  • Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the body through the opening where urine is normally released. The bacteria infect the lining of the urethra and bladder, turning them red and inflamed. This causes pain in the abdomen or pelvic area, a burning sensation during urination, a sense of urgency about going to the bathroom, frequent urination, and urine that smells bad and looks cloudy, or even contains traces of blood. If the urinary tract infection is severe, it may travel all the way to the kidneys, a more serious kind of UTI called pyelonephritis. Patients with this kidney infection might have blood in their urine, feel back pain, and develop a fever.

Urinary tract infections are extremely common: 12% of all men and 40-50% of all women will have a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. They are more common in women because women have shorter urethras, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel from the outside of the body to the bladder and cause an infection. Some people also have urethras that are an unusual shape or have an obstruction in the urethra that makes getting a UTI more likely. Also, certain chronic illnesses like diabetes weaken the immune system, so any bacteria in the body are more likely to cause an infection.

A urinary tract infection can be diagnosed very quickly by a doctor. A sample of urine can be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells. There are also diagnostic strips that can be used to test a urine sample without the need for a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment is a course of oral antibiotics, and most patients feel better within just a few days. There are some things that patients can do themselves to help reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection in the future. Stay well hydrated, wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom, wear breathable cotton undergarments, and don't hold it in when patients feel the urge to go.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

cystometrogram
pressure flow study
urethral pressure profile

In 2013, Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS had a list price for cystometrogram, pressure flow study, and urethral pressure profile that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within California. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2017 were minimally invasive procedures and urologic procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 26
minimally invasive procedures 12
urologic procedures 12

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 19
Female 32
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 29
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 28
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2017

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2017 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 65
High Cholesterol 63
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 35
Depression 0
Chronic Kidney Disease 45
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 22
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 29
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2018 were urologic procedures, minimally invasive procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 24
catheterization 14
diagnostic procedures 24
doctor visit 140
hospital care 29
inpatient care 29
minimally invasive procedures 42
stent placement (stenting) 13
urologic procedures 144

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 68
Female 83
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 83
Black 0
Hispanic 29
Asian 25
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 64
From 75 to 84 45
85 and over 17
Less than 65 25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2018 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Hypertension 64
High Cholesterol 54
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 34
Depression 32
Chronic Kidney Disease 47
Asthma 15
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 13
Diabetes 39
Dementia 13
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2019 were urologic procedures, anorectal procedures, diagnostic procedures and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 32
catheterization 25
diagnostic procedures 32
doctor visit 136
minimally invasive procedures 27
urologic procedures 151

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 89
Female 94
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 117
Black 0
Hispanic 21
Asian 24
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 78
From 75 to 84 60
85 and over 16
Less than 65 29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2019 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 67
High Cholesterol 60
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 37
Depression 32
Chronic Kidney Disease 46
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 12
Heart Failure 22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 8
Diabetes 36
Dementia 12
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2020 were minimally invasive procedures and urologic procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 125
minimally invasive procedures 16
urologic procedures 16

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 72
Female 74
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 97
Black 0
Hispanic 17
Asian 21
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 51
From 75 to 84 46
85 and over 20
Less than 65 29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2020 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 62
High Cholesterol 56
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 38
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 44
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 29
Dementia 18
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2021 were urologic procedures, minimally invasive procedures, anorectal procedures and diagnostic procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 18
diagnostic procedures 18
doctor visit 163
minimally invasive procedures 24
urologic procedures 75

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 84
Female 88
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 123
Black 0
Hispanic 14
Asian 23
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 66
From 75 to 84 62
85 and over 21
Less than 65 23

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2021 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 63
High Cholesterol 56
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 38
Depression 31
Chronic Kidney Disease 44
Asthma 17
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 6
Diabetes 30
Dementia 17
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2022 were urologic procedures, minimally invasive procedures, anorectal procedures and diagnostic procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 16
diagnostic procedures 16
doctor visit 199
minimally invasive procedures 18
urologic procedures 66

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 88
Female 111
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 138
Black 0
Hispanic 22
Asian 25
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 81
From 75 to 84 72
85 and over 18
Less than 65 28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Hypertension 71
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 25
Depression 28
Chronic Kidney Disease 31
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 22
Atrial Fibrilation 17
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 10
Diabetes 29
Dementia 8
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA during 2023 were urologic procedures, minimally invasive procedures, anorectal procedures and diagnostic procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

anorectal procedures 18
diagnostic procedures 18
doctor visit 202
minimally invasive procedures 24
urologic procedures 77

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 100
Female 147
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 165
Black 0
Hispanic 29
Asian 37
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 94
From 75 to 84 96
85 and over 22
Less than 65 35

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated during 2023 were high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension 67
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 27
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 30
Asthma 17
Osteoperosis 25
Atrial Fibrilation 16
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 15
Diabetes 28
Dementia 7
Cancer 17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2017 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated as a general practitioner in Palo Alto, CA were urologic procedures, hospital care, inpatient care and minimally invasive procedures.

anorectal procedures 21
catheterization 19
diagnostic procedures 21
doctor visit 141
hospital care 29
inpatient care 29
minimally invasive procedures 23
stent placement (stenting) 13
urologic procedures 77

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2017 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS.

Gender
Male 74
Female 89
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 22
Non-Hispanic White 107
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 18
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 54
85 and over 16
Less than 65 24
65 to 74 66

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS From 2017 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 65
High Cholesterol 62
Stroke 6
Ischemic Heart Disease 33
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 41
Asthma 13
Osteoporosis 13
Heart Failure 16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 31
Atrial Fibrillation 14
Cancer 14
Dementia 10

Education & Training

Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She completed residency at Albany Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Urology, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Residency: Albany Medical Center

Board Certification: American Board of Urology, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Stanford Health Care

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Amy Diane Dobberfuhl, MD, MS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Medtronic USA, Inc. $1,136 INTERSTIM
$1,136
Allergan Inc. $807 BOTOX
$555 		BOTOX - UROLOGY
$143 		BOTOX COSMETIC
$109
Boston Scientific Corporation $211 AMS 700
$123 		ARTIFICIAL URINARY SPHINCTER
$88
KARLSTORZ Endoscopy-America $206 16 FR. FLEXIBLE VIDEO CYSTOSCOPE
$206
BLUEWIND MEDICAL $148 REVI
$148
Other $630 XTANDI
$188 		TITAN
$105 		Myrbetriq
$97 		Lupron
$88 		NOCDURNA
$67 		Other
$86
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $2,474
Travel and Lodging $664

Biography

Dr. Amy Dobberfuhl's areas of specialization are female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and urology (urinary tract disease). Dr. Dobberfuhl attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and then went on to complete her residency at Albany Medical Center. She has indicated that her clinical interests include pelvic reconstructive surgery. She is affiliated with Stanford Health Care.

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