Dr. Fern vs Dr. Pitchford
Make an informed decision based on verified clinical facts. See which doctor spends more time listening in the exam room and charges fair prices aligned with standard insurance baselines.
Dr. Stephen Fern, MD
Orthopedic Surgery · Terre Haute, IN
Thorough Listener
Consistently devotes longer face-to-face evaluations. Ideal for complex medical concerns, multiple symptoms, or patients who value comprehensive discussion without feeling rushed.
How is appointment length calculated?
Visit durations reflect official documentation standards for Evaluation and Management (E/M) office billing codes (CPT 99202 through 99215).
Physicians who bill higher-level comprehensive visits (such as 99214 and 99215) consistently spend 30 to 45 minutes reviewing complex records and discussing care plans, whereas routine refill clinics predominantly bill briefer level 2 and 3 codes.
Dr. Keith Pitchford, D.O.
Orthopedic Surgery · Saint John, IN
Thorough Listener
Consistently devotes longer face-to-face evaluations. Ideal for complex medical concerns, multiple symptoms, or patients who value comprehensive discussion without feeling rushed.
How is appointment length calculated?
Visit durations reflect official documentation standards for Evaluation and Management (E/M) office billing codes (CPT 99202 through 99215).
Physicians who bill higher-level comprehensive visits (such as 99214 and 99215) consistently spend 30 to 45 minutes reviewing complex records and discussing care plans, whereas routine refill clinics predominantly bill briefer level 2 and 3 codes.
🎯 Patient Verdict: Key Differences at a Glance
Dr. Fern averages 5 more minutes per appointment than Dr. Pitchford. If you prioritize extensive discussion and question time, Dr. Fern offers a more unhurried experience.
Dr. Fern has a lower billing markup (2.77x vs. 3.34x). Patients with high deductibles or out-of-network coverage will likely incur lower balance bills with Dr. Fern.
Shared Clinical Procedures & Charges Comparison
| Procedure Description | Dr. Fern Charge | Dr. Pitchford Charge | Standard Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $1 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $38 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $84 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $39 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $35 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $119 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $26 |
| Medical Procedure HCPCS | $NaN | $NaN | $61 |