Fairfax Pediatric Assoc

I would not recommend this practice to anyone seeking a pediatrics practice. I have taken my children there for 20 years - but over the last few years I have had nothing but poor experiences with every office visit or problem. It takes me a lot to become frustrated and write a negative review - but I have had it with this practice, their rudeness, and the unapologetic manner in which they handle poor service complaints. One would be hard pressed to find ruder and more abrasive staff members than those at FFP in the customer service areas of front desk staff, telephone receptionists, and billing staff. These people have an abrasive "Tough if you don't like it" attitude. They will argue with you, ignore you, and don't expect a return call from them. More frustrating is the wait time when you do have an appointment. I am 100% honest in saying that in the past three years of appointments - and my child needs to go every three months - I have never once waited any less than an hour after my appointment time to be seen. Whether your child is sick or well - waiting an hour to well over an hour - is trying for everyone - especially when you are just stuck sitting in a barren exam room for that amount of time with nothing for you or your child to do but stare at the walls. Then when you are seen, if the issue of the lateness is addressed at all - it is a simple "Sorry, we're really busy today." I'm sorry - but I am busy too. There has to be a way to correct this problem - I don't find it on a consistent basis with other doctor's practices - but obviously they do not care enough to take steps to do so. My child has a condition that requires him to see the same doctor for most visits. Trying to get those appointments scheduled it a feat in it's self. I will say the the doctor is very competent and complete - but she pretty much has the personality and bedside manner of wallpaper paste. And I always get the impression that I am being cross examined. I'm finding a new practice. This one does doesn't care. more

Our child has been a patient to Fairfax Pediatrics for 5 years. While the wait times, and at times seemingly cold nature to the practice there are warm bodies at the practice, in all fairness the nurses are good. The issue with the practice is that its run like your local mechanic. You can go in for one thing but find out you either need to come back and back again, get this and that and be charged repeatedly. Our child was sick most recently and the initial time we visited we tested positive for the flu. We were told to come back 4 days later (high fever) and they wanted to swab again (Yes you read that correctly).....once the flu had finally retreated we were asked to come by to make sure she was 100% fine. We did so, our 3rd visit in 1.5 weeks. Our child was sick again, we called the help line, and were told to come in. This is just 2 weeks after the flu, they wanted to run another flu test (Yes there are different strains but our child exhibited no symptoms that match the flu) and then it was Strep test...all negative. The doctor could not figure out the issue and brushed it off as we were too early ( remember they asked us to come in) or just viral. Two days later, low and behold high fever and coughing.....we are back for another flu swab and strep...thats right our 5th flu test in 2.5 weeks. This time we finally found out an ear infection. My wife asked why we continiously have to pay for errant swab tests and what appears to be shotty service, the response " family comes first"...yes, it does for them when we come in 5 times , 5 co payments later. Does this sound competent or like your local mechanic? more

Dr. Byrnes may look impressive on paper, especially if one reviews her credentials, but I can assure you from the following experience that she is not the medical professional that I would advise you to select to care for your child. Dr. Byrnes was the attending pediatrician for our baby when our baby was born at Fair Oaks INOVA and saw our baby on occasion in the office for a well-baby check and other appointments until we recently moved to another area of Virginia and had to change pediatric practices. Having seen the new pediatrician only once without my spouse present, we returned to Fairfax Pediatrics (upon the advice of office personnel) to have a government form signed by Dr. Byrnes as the document required a signature by an official who knew our child, as well as the parents of the child. Not only did Dr. Byrnes refuse to sign the form, which I could have accepted especially if she felt uncomfortable doing so, we were informed by office personnel that she did not know our child. I was astounded and ranted briefly about how I could not understand how Dr. Byrnes could not know our child as she was our baby's attending pediatrician in the hospital and on further occasions in both the Centreville and Fairfax locations of FPA. So, if you want a doctor that provides such high level of quality care that she cannot even remember your child after attending to him/her (even though her name would have been all over the medical records), then I guess Dr. Byrnes is for you. more

First of all, Dr. Dubinsky is very difficult to hold a conversation with. She interrupts you and seems disinterested in answering questions, which is extremely frustrating when you are a new parent. She has a generic answer which always stems along the line of "you'll figure it out". She seems as if the many years of being a pediatrician have gotten to her head and it shows through her cold snooty non approachable, impersonal bedside manner. Would not see her again. As far as waiting time, she once made me wait 30 minutes ( I arrived on time) before being seen as she training a new doctor on their new EMR, while I had to deal with my baby who became increasingly impatient and fussy. Why should that come out of my schedule? However it is absolutely impossible to switch to the doctors I want to see (Dr. Dakin and Ohriner are amazing) as they are always booked 3 months out in advance. So many doctors, how can everyone be THAT busy? WIll be finding a new practice....PS-on the plus side, staff has always been very friendly. more

We have been going coming here for 2 years because it is a convenient location. But honestly, I'm very dissapointed with this practice. There are so many doctors that always seem rushed. Often they don't even read the patient's file prior to entering a room :o( I tried scheduling a flu shot and the wait is two months. That is nuts. Now that my kid are a bit older, we are finally moving to smaller, more personal practice. more

Great practice! I've been bringing my three kids here for 16 years and have always been really pleased with their service. A few years ago, my son got really sick and had to be hospitalized. The doctors really took amazing care of him and helped us when we really needed them. After we went home from the hospital, the nurses from the office called several times to see how he was doing. I really felt like I had someone to turn to if I had questions or was worried about something. My son fully recovered and is now an amazing athlete and student. I'm so grateful for these doctors for saving his life. more

We just moved to VA and have no idea about the clinic here. We have chosen this clinic as our first choice because of recommendations of a couple of friends. I agree with many comments here that they just care about money. The service is in a rush. The time for each appointment is unbelievable short. So, they will not have enough time to take care of your kids well. I might think they are o.k if I have never taken my kid to other clinics before. I will not recommend this clinic to anyone. more

I've been going there for 11+ years for my 2 kids and been thru a lot with them. Never disppointed. Great set of Drs. Very thorough. Great nurses. Never had a bad experience in last 11 years. I've recommended them to many friends over these years and they all are vey happy as well. Highly recommend them. more

I have a preemie little girl and she has been well taken care of by the doctors of this practice. They were highly recommended to me by the NICU doctors. They have a separate waiting area for her because her immune system is weaker than other babies. The advice nurses have been great and have helped me many times. The wait can be a little long sometimes, but I don't mind waiting for good care. more

I came to this practice because one of my neighbors recommended them. I'm so glad that I did! You can tell that the doctors care about your child. The advice nurses are a great resource and have helped me many times. Highly recommend them! more

as impersonal as it gets?? not the place to go if you care about your child. This is a classic conveyor belt practice that is designed to get you 1) to pay, 2) in 3) out in as little time as possible. Nurses are nice enough, but doctors spend minutes with you at best and on some visits not at all. This week it tooks us 3 visits to get them to diagnose my child with hayfever on first visit, strep on the second, and pneumonia on the third. they prescribed a different antibiotic and she still not doing better. Leaves me wondering is she still misdiagnosed. Ocassionally they will give you a semi-decent service. more

I love the doctors at this practice! We've been coming to this them for over 4 years now and have always been happy with service. Would recommend!! more

We have used this group for 4+ years. Usually can get same day appointment. But office waiting time is long. Drs are ok. Dr.Orhiner is great. but since they have so many drs, its hard to get the same one. Staff is average. It is ok for checkups and minor sickness if your child is pretty healthy. We use another office Pediatic@nite for after hours need. That office is great! more

We have used this group for 4+ years. Usually can get same day appointment. But office waiting time is long. Drs are ok. Dr.Orhiner is great. but since they have so many drs, its hard to get the same one. Staff is average. it is ok for checkups and minor sickness if your child is pretty healthy. We use another office Pediatic@nite for after hours need. That office is great! more

I changed my child’s pediatrician from Reston Pediatrics to Fairfax Pediatrics, huge mistake, my child got sick called for sick call twice never gave appointment same day, told us to take the baby to emergency, rude receptionists. I called back my old Reston Pediatrics they gave me appointment within one hour. I changed pediatrician in first place because I moved close to Fair Oaks Hospital, but I finally decided it is worth to travel to Reston for your children. Fairfax Pediatrics bad choice for me at least. more

Both of my daughters go to this doctor's office. They are excellent. They really care about their patients and if at all possible they do not want you to go to an emergency room. They will even come in on the weekends. Great personality and very clean and well organized. more