Nathaniel A Ponstein, MD
Anesthesiology · Stanford
- Medicare standing
- Clear
- Enrolled, allowed to bill and order, not excluded
- Plans that list them
- 1
- 1 carrier
- Offices
- 4
Offices
4 locations · Sutter Bay Medical Foundation · 3,783 clinicians in this group
Looking this up.
Hospitals listed: Sequoia Hospital. That is not proof they admit you there this week.
Plans that list them
1 plan · 1 carrier
A missing listing does not mean out of network. Directories change, and a listing does not cover every office. Call Dr. Ponstein’s office to confirm they take your plan. Ask about the office you use, its medical group, referrals and appointments.
| DualConnect (HMO D-SNP) | Santa Clara Family Health Plan | Listed | Sep 1, 2026 |
California Medical Board record
Licence A108136 · Current
Licensed to practise in California · since 2009 · expires 2027-02-28 · Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
No disciplinary actions, convictions, malpractice judgments or citations in this record.
Hospitals they work in
1 hospital
These rate the hospital, not this clinician. Most measures at most hospitals are no different from the national rate.
- Sequoia HospitalRedwood City, CAAcute Care Hospital · Voluntary non-profit - Private · Has an emergency department · Birthing-friendlyPart of CommonSpirit Health, which runs 145 hospitals in 19 statesPatients rate it 4 of 5 · 81% would definitely recommend itOverall rating: 5 of 5 starsBetter than the national rate — Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications: 104.12 (51.8 to 156.44) · 56 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Better than the national rate — Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): 0, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
See every measure and the patient survey for Sequoia Hospital
Behind the star rating — Deaths: 2 better, 6 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Safety: 1 better, 4 the same, 0 worse of 5 measures. Readmissions: 3 better, 6 the same, 0 worse of 9 measures. The star rating is worked out from an earlier period than the measures below, so the two can disagree.
| Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsComplications and deaths | 104.12 (51.8 to 156.44) · 56 cases | Better | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections | 0 | Better | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths | 0.95 (0 to 1.98) · 472 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths | 0.91 (0.58 to 1.24) | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Death rate for CABG surgery patientsComplications and deaths | 1.8 · 68 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for heart attack patientsComplications and deaths | 12.5 · 72 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths | 9.1 · 258 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths | 15.5 · 171 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths | 9.3 · 81 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths | 3.2 · 1,231 cases | None | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 |
| Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths | 0.23 (0.01 to 0.44) · 3,018 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths | 0.23 (0.03 to 0.44) · 3,164 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths | 2.59 (0.47 to 4.71) · 1,402 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths | 1.47 (0.04 to 2.9) · 926 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths | 1.68 (0.21 to 3.16) · 1,310 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths | 9.54 (4.42 to 14.67) · 978 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths | 4.98 (1.61 to 8.36) · 924 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths | 1.69 (0.19 to 3.19) · 192 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths | 0.57 (0 to 1.43) · 2,501 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patientsComplications and deaths | 3.5 · 332 cases | None | Apr 2023 – Mar 2025 |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)Infections | 0.702 | No different | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| SSI - Colon SurgeryInfections | 0.853 | No different | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 14.2 · 67 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 22.3 · 295 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for heart attack patientsUnplanned return visits | -27.1 · 76 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits | -22.3 · 304 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits | -4.6 · 178 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 17.3 · 180 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementUnplanned return visits | 5.1 · 305 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of readmission for CABGUnplanned return visits | 10.9 · 41 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits | 19.7 · 29 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits | 13.1 (9.7 to 17.7) · 129 cases | No different | Jan 2022 – Dec 2024 |
| Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits | 0.9 (0.7 to 1.2) · 713 cases | No different | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
What patients said (631 patients answered, 27% of those asked)
| Cleanliness | 4 |
| Nurse communication | 4 |
| Doctor communication | 4 |
| Communication about medicines | 3 |
| Discharge information | 4 |
| Overall hospital rating | 4 |
| Quietness | 3 |
| Recommend hospital | 5 |
| Room was "always" clean | 78% |
| Nurses "always" communicated well | 80% |
| Doctors "always" communicated well | 82% |
| Staff "always" explained | 60% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients this information | 88% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge | 86% |
| Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand | 76% |
| Doctors "always" listened carefully | 81% |
| Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect | 89% |
| Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high) | 77% |
| Staff "always" explained new medications | 76% |
| Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand | 77% |
| Nurses "always" listened carefully | 77% |
| Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect | 88% |
| "Always" quiet at night | 55% |
| "YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital | 81% |
| Staff "always" explained possible side effects | 44% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms | 91% |
Original Medicare doctor bills
$67,409
Medicare paid this office $67,409 for 228 people.
This is what Medicare paid the clinician — not Medicare Advantage, and not the pharmacy.
| Anesthesia for procedure to assess heart electrical activity | 57 | $21,330 | $374 |
| Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin | 70 | $2,653 | $37 |
| Anesthesia for lens surgery | 16 | $1,707 | $107 |
| Anesthesia for procedure to correct abnormal heart rhythm | 13 | $1,339 | $103 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older) | 11 | $856 | $71 |
See all 8 services
| Anesthesia for procedure to assess heart electrical activity | 57 | $21,330 | $374 |
| Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin | 70 | $2,653 | $37 |
| Anesthesia for lens surgery | 16 | $1,707 | $107 |
| Anesthesia for procedure to correct abnormal heart rhythm | 13 | $1,339 | $103 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older) | 11 | $856 | $71 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement | 28 | $769 | $27 |
| Insertion of probe in esophagus for heart ultrasound | 59 | $561 | $10 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access | 39 | $463 | $12 |
Who their Medicare patients are
228 Original Medicare patients in 2024. Average age 75 · Women 44% · Also on Medicaid 7% · Health risk score 1.33. At or below the middle of the specialty; the typical anesthesiology clinician is at 1.54.
Conditions among them: High blood pressure 75% · Atrial fibrillation 57% · Coronary heart disease 37% · Diabetes 27% · Heart failure 26% · Chronic kidney disease 24% · Cancer 18% · Depression 17% · COPD 15% · Stroke 6%.
The office billed $541,968, Medicare allowed $84,449 and paid $67,409; for 457 services of 62 kinds.
Original Medicare patients only. A risk score of 1.0 is the average Medicare patient; higher means sicker. Any count under 11 is hidden.
Year by year
| 2024 | 228 | 457 | 75 | 1.33 | $541,968 | $67,409 |
| 2023 | 96 | 121 | 75 | 1.55 | $175,651 | $22,434 |
| 2022 | 77 | 104 | 76 | 1.29 | $134,889 | $17,004 |
| 2021 | 45 | 55 | 74 | 1.55 | $66,133 | $10,206 |
| 2020 | 75 | 90 | 73 | 1.54 | $91,274 | $15,286 |
| 2019 | 63 | 91 | 71 | 1.20 | $91,942 | $14,795 |
| 2018 | 90 | 141 | 74 | 1.36 | $154,416 | $26,598 |
| 2017 | 125 | 224 | 71 | 1.54 | $239,346 | $38,558 |
| 2016 | 101 | 180 | 71 | 1.29 | $191,148 | $32,146 |
| 2015 | 80 | 138 | 72 | 1.20 | $144,339 | $24,540 |
| 2014 | 98 | 192 | 74 | 1.53 | $202,841 | $34,092 |
| 2013 | 108 | 202 | 71 | 1.09 | $214,090 | $35,895 |
Original Medicare only. A service billed for fewer than 11 people in a year is hidden, so the lines can add up to less than the year's total.
See the services billed each year
2021: 1 service
| Anesthesia for procedure to correct abnormal heart rhythm | 11 | $1,265 | $115 |
2018: 1 service
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 18 | $5,889 | $327 |
2017: 3 services
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 27 | $8,736 | $324 |
| Subsequent hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day at least 25 minutes | 15 | $732 | $35 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement | 17 | $465 | $27 |
2016: 3 services
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 25 | $8,377 | $335 |
| Injections of substances into lower or sacral spine | 15 | $1,227 | $82 |
| Subsequent hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day at least 25 minutes | 16 | $550 | $34 |
2015: 3 services
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 15 | $5,773 | $340 |
| Injections of substances into lower or sacral spine | 12 | $1,070 | $82 |
| Subsequent hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day at least 25 minutes | 16 | $759 | $34 |
2014: 3 services
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 13 | $4,774 | $367 |
| Subsequent hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day at least 25 minutes | 12 | $732 | $35 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement | 15 | $451 | $30 |
2013: 2 services
| Anesthesia for total hip replacement | 16 | $5,340 | $334 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement | 20 | $580 | $29 |
Money from drug and device companies
$110 in 2021
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | None | $110 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | None | $18 |
Paid work is consulting, speaking, honoraria and royalties, as opposed to meals and travel.
A payment is not proof that care is biased.
| Acacia Pharma | Byfavo | $110 | 2 payments
|
See all 2 published payments
| Acacia Pharma | Meals · 2021-09-30 | Byfavo | $26 |
| Acacia Pharma | Meals · 2021-09-30 | Byfavo | $84 |
See earlier years (2019)
2019: $18
| Merck Sharp & Dohme | Bridion | $18 | 1 payment
|
Professional record
- NPI
- 1114123775
- Licence
- CA A108136, HI MDR-5244California A108136: Current · expires 2027-02-28
- Trained
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, 2000
- Gender
- Male
More record details
- Sole proprietor
- No
- Taxonomy
- Federal specialty code 207L00000X (207L00000X); Internal medicine (207R00000X)
- Mailing address
- 39 Fair Oaks St, Apartment 102, San Francisco, CA, 94110
- NPI first listed
- 2007-06-21
- NPI last updated
- 2011-06-08
This is when the NPI record was last certified, not a medical board exam.