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Sheela S Pai, MD

Anesthesiology · Stanford

NPI 1518987056

Medicare standing
Clear
Enrolled, allowed to bill and order, not excluded
Plans that list them
Not verified
Not the same as out of network.
Office
1

Offices

1 location · Stanford Health Care · 3,152 clinicians in this group

Looking this up.

Hospitals listed: Stanford Health Care. That is not proof they admit you there this week.

Plan participation

Not verified

We could not verify current plan participation for this doctor. This does not mean they are out of network. Call Dr. Pai’s office at (650) 723-4000 to ask if they take your plan before you enroll.

California Medical Board record

Licence C56213 · Current

Licensed to practise in California · since 2013 · expires 2027-06-30 · University of Mumbai, Grant Medical College.

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.

  • Stanford Health CareStanford, CAAcute Care Hospital · Voluntary non-profit - Private · Has an emergency departmentPart of Stanford Health Care, which runs 3 hospitalsHome of Stanford Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer centrePatients rate it 4 of 5 · 83% would definitely recommend it
    Overall rating: 5 of 5 starsWorse than the national rate — Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate: 5.31 (4.24 to 6.37) · 8,661 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Worse than the national rate — Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy: 14.1 (12.7 to 15.7) · 2,191 cases, Jan 2024 – Dec 2024Better than the national rate — Postoperative respiratory failure rate: 4.08 (1.95 to 6.21) · 5,296 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Better than the national rate — Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): 0.317, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): 0.446, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — SSI - Colon Surgery: 0.241, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery: 0.7 (0.6 to 0.9) · 3,348 cases, Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
See every measure and the patient survey for Stanford Health Care

Behind the star rating — Deaths: 5 better, 3 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Safety: 3 better, 5 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Readmissions: 2 better, 5 the same, 4 worse of 11 measures. The star rating is worked out from an earlier period than the measures below, so the two can disagree.

Every scored measure at Stanford Health Care
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths5.31 (4.24 to 6.37) · 8,661 casesWorseJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits14.1 (12.7 to 15.7) · 2,191 casesWorseJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths4.08 (1.95 to 6.21) · 5,296 casesBetterJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.317BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections0.446BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
SSI - Colon SurgeryInfections0.241BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits0.7 (0.6 to 0.9) · 3,348 casesBetterJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths1.06 (0.45 to 1.67) · 5,374 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths0.86 (0.72 to 1)No differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsComplications and deaths166.09 (137.88 to 194.3) · 470 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsComplications and deaths1.1 · 192 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for COPD patientsComplications and deaths6.4 · 146 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart attack patientsComplications and deaths9.7 · 253 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths6.3 · 880 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths10.3 · 935 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths8.7 · 501 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths2.1 · 7,730 casesNoneJul 2024 – Jun 2025
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths0.13 (0 to 0.27) · 20,799 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths0.28 (0.14 to 0.43) · 23,182 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths0.94 (0.2 to 1.68) · 5,694 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths2.36 (1.54 to 3.19) · 7,846 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths5.2 (3.76 to 6.64) · 5,603 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths1.38 (0.23 to 2.53) · 2,211 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths0.52 (0.21 to 0.83) · 19,915 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patientsComplications and deaths3.6 · 416 casesNoneApr 2023 – Mar 2025
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.869No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
MRSA BacteremiaInfections0.857No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyInfections0.368No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16.2 · 247 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits20.5 · 1,021 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart attack patientsUnplanned return visits47.8 · 258 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits-1.6 · 990 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits20.8 · 976 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16.5 · 959 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits5.2 (4.4 to 6.2) · 2,191 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementUnplanned return visits5.1 · 425 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for CABGUnplanned return visits9.6 · 158 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits19.6 · 183 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits12.7 (10.4 to 15.4) · 4,578 casesNo differentJan 2022 – Dec 2024

What patients said (6,810 patients answered, 25% of those asked)

Patient survey stars by topic at Stanford Health Care
Cleanliness4
Nurse communication4
Doctor communication4
Communication about medicines3
Discharge information4
Overall hospital rating4
Quietness2
Recommend hospital5
Share of patients giving the best answer at Stanford Health Care
Room was "always" clean75%
Nurses "always" communicated well82%
Doctors "always" communicated well81%
Staff "always" explained63%
Yes, staff "did" give patients this information89%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge89%
Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand76%
Doctors "always" listened carefully80%
Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect87%
Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high)79%
Staff "always" explained new medications76%
Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand77%
Nurses "always" listened carefully79%
Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect88%
"Always" quiet at night53%
"YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital83%
Staff "always" explained possible side effects50%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms90%

Original Medicare doctor bills

$80,602

Medicare paid this office $80,602 for 95 people.

This is what Medicare paid the clinician — not Medicare Advantage, and not the pharmacy.

Largest Original Medicare bills
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes78$57,917$186
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin11$411$37

Who their Medicare patients are

95 Original Medicare patients in 2024. Average age 69 · Women 39% · Also on Medicaid 38% · Health risk score 2.41. Sicker patients than 9 in 10 peers; the typical anesthesiology clinician is at 1.54.

Conditions among them: High blood pressure 75% · Heart failure 75% · Chronic kidney disease 75% · Atrial fibrillation 72% · Coronary heart disease 69% · Diabetes 55% · Stroke 34% · Depression 32% · COPD 27% · Dementia 22% · Cancer 20%.

The office billed $767,667, Medicare allowed $101,325 and paid $80,602; for 437 services of 22 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

Original Medicare by year
202495437692.41$767,667$80,602
202397375722.65$638,509$68,524
2022114386712.24$655,036$72,276
2021106425701.96$727,069$79,103
2020175583702.03$811,618$108,134
2019174572722.10$870,439$112,618
2018155576711.85$852,961$104,867
2017164607721.93$889,645$107,200
2016159546721.99$823,384$97,622
2015183661722.24$914,118$116,185
2014138391712.17$531,551$80,256
2013115251662.67$275,895$60,800

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

2023: 2 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2023
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes79$56,166$192
Critical care, each additional 30 minutes20$4,342$96

2022: 3 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2022
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes89$54,007$194
Critical care, each additional 30 minutes20$4,874$97
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin12$469$39

2021: 3 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2021
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes83$63,184$199
Critical care, each additional 30 minutes14$3,404$100
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin12$477$40

2020: 3 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2020
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes139$84,810$201
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes55$10,553$188
Critical care, each additional 30 minutes27$7,890$101

2019: 2 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2019
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes163$100,015$198
Critical care, each additional 30 minutes11$1,390$99

2018: 6 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2018
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes124$84,663$196
Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older)13$1,779$89
Ultrasound of heart with probe in esophagus, with report14$1,383$99
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin26$1,045$39
Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access15$282$13
Ultrasound of heart with color-depicted blood flow, rate and valve function13$38$3

2017: 9 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2017
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes118$71,279$196
Anesthesia for procedure on heart and large blood vessels using heart-lung machine (1 year or older)14$9,312$665
Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older)29$4,872$106
Ultrasound of heart with probe in esophagus, with report21$2,072$99
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin36$1,696$45
Insertion of tube in pulmonary artery for monitoring11$1,231$112
Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access26$487$13
Ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers, follow-up15$99$7
Ultrasound of heart with color-depicted blood flow, rate and valve function21$61$3

2016: 6 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2016
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes113$72,264$194
Anesthesia for procedure on heart and large blood vessels using heart-lung machine (1 year or older)15$9,641$643
Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older)18$3,080$106
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin31$1,383$45
Ultrasound of heart with probe in esophagus, with report11$1,198$109
Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access14$269$13

2015: 9 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2015
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes117$70,114$196
Anesthesia for procedure on heart and large blood vessels using heart-lung machine (1 year or older)13$8,928$687
Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older)36$5,846$106
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin55$2,500$45
Ultrasound of heart with probe in esophagus, with report19$2,074$109
Anesthesia for procedure to correct abnormal heart rhythm11$1,192$108
Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access35$659$13
Ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers, follow-up12$79$7
Ultrasound of heart with color-depicted blood flow, rate and valve function17$51$3

2014: 7 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2014
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes41$24,940$192
Anesthesia for procedure on heart and large blood vessels using heart-lung machine (1 year or older)18$17,041$897
Anesthesia for x-ray on artery of brain, heart, or chest11$6,225$566
Insertion of non-tunneled central venous tube for infusion (5 years or older)24$3,308$107
Anesthesia for procedure to correct abnormal heart rhythm21$2,619$119
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin50$2,313$44
Ultrasonic guidance for blood vessel access29$532$13

2013: 4 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2013
Critical care, first 30-74 minutes26$13,689$183
Anesthesia for procedure on heart and large blood vessels using heart-lung machine (1 year or older)15$12,990$866
Insertion of tube in pulmonary artery for monitoring23$2,480$108
Insertion of artery tube for blood sampling or infusion through skin38$1,611$42

Medicaid work

$4,193 in 2022

Medicaid paid $4,193 for 33 billed services this clinician did in 2022, up to 12 people in a month for one service.

Medicaid and CHIP claims where this clinician did the service, fee-for-service and managed care together. Any month with fewer than 11 patients is hidden, so small Medicaid practices undercount.

Largest Medicaid services in 2022
Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutes33$4,193
Medicaid work by year
202233112$4,193
202034114$4,699
See the largest Medicaid services in earlier years

2020

Largest Medicaid services in 2020
Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutes34$4,699

Money from drug and device companies

$122 in 2025

Industry payments by year
202511None$122
201911None$89

Paid work is consulting, speaking, honoraria and royalties, as opposed to meals and travel.

A payment is not proof that care is biased.

Payments by company
Vertex PharmaceuticalsJournavx$122
1 payment
  • Meals for Journavx · 2025-07-10 · $122
See the published payment
Every published payment
Vertex PharmaceuticalsMeals · 2025-07-10Journavx$122
See earlier years (2019)

2019: $89

Payments by company in 2019
Avanos MedicalOn-Q* Pump and Accessories$89
1 payment
  • Meals for On-Q* Pump and Accessories · 2019-01-22 · $89

Checkups this office reported

Medicare did not publish checkup rates for this clinician.

Medicare’s overall office score
76.5 / 100
Scores the office’s reporting and systems. It is not a grade for how the doctor treats you.

Professional record

NPI
1518987056
Licence
CA C56213California C56213: Current · expires 2027-06-30
Gender
Female
More record details
Sole proprietor
No
Taxonomy
Federal specialty code 207L00000X (207L00000X); Federal specialty code 207LC0200X (207LC0200X)
Mailing address
300 Pasteur Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94305
NPI first listed
2006-07-20
NPI last updated
2024-04-11
NPI record certified
2024-04-11

This is when the NPI record was last certified, not a medical board exam.