GW MFA

[Anonymous]

Thanks - I'm the previous poster who asked about a CVS. There are.a variety of reasons why I presume they will consider me high risk (though my first pregnancy turned out fine in the end), so I'll message and ask to be seen earlier.

[Anonymous]

I’m 20 weeks and had a CVS done in September at GW with Dr. Gallagher. I’ve had no trouble scheduling appointments (I go to the Bethesda office) and was told by the genetic counselor that time-sensitive procedures take precedence over other things. I wasn’t worried about not having an early ultrasound and just made sure to tell the nurse at my eight-week phone appointment that I wanted a CVS. They schedule a Zoom genetic consult at 10 weeks and that’s when I spoke directly to the genetic counselor, Lisa Freese, about scheduling a CVS. I had it done two weeks later. I was really worried about the timing of everything based off of this thread and some others but, knock on wood, I haven’t had any problems.

As for the CVS procedure with Dr. Gallagher, she was great. I was really nervous but she put me at ease and was very patient. This is my third baby with GW but the first time I’ve been exclusively with MFM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first OB appointment last week. My previous OB, who is now only working at the hospital, intervened with scheduling on my behalf to get me a first trimester appointment with the new OB I preferred to see (I have a very complicated history and severe anxiety that is triggered by my past experiences at GW, so I don't just bounce around between doctors). The OB I'm now going to see through pregnancy told me that she would make sure I can have my appointments with her going forward, even if scheduling says she doesn't have anything. I don't know if all the OBs are doing that now. I'm doing ultrasounds at an outside MFM, so I can't comment on what it's like to get an ultrasound appointment.
The Bethesda office has been completely remodeled. It's almost disorienting how different it is in the waiting area. It's basically like a ghost town there now...but that also means the limited number of staff are focused on fewer tasks because their patient load is so much smaller. It's only been 1 appointment for me so far, but I'm actually quite optimistic that I will have a much better experience now than in 2019 because it's smaller.

How does it work to get ultrasounds at an outside place while having GW be your principal hospital? I delivered at GW in 2020 during the pandemic and it was totally fine - bounced around between doctors for appointments, but otherwise fine. I just called them for a second pregnancy and learned about their new system where no one will see you in person until you are like 12 weeks pregnant, including no ultrasound or prenatal testing of any sort until then.

And does anyone have any recent experience scheduling a CVS with them? Since I can't even speak to a nurse via telephone until the 8 week mark, I don't want to be in a situation where it's then too late to get her to schedule a CVS between 10-13 weeks.

Hi. I'm the author of the post you quoted. I'm now 21 weeks, still seeing a GWMFA OB at the Bethesda office and MFM at Sibley. Sibley and GW both now use Epic for their EMR, so the ultrasound report from the MFM just appears in the system where my MFA OB can see it. Sibley MFMs do require a referral from the primary OB.

I'm sorry for the frustration you are enduring about GW not even scheduling a nurse call until 8 weeks. It was the same for me, but as I posted above during the summer, my GW OB who is now only working on Labor and Delivery was responsive to my messages and intervened to get my first appointment bumped up before 12 weeks.

I assume there's a specific reason you want a CVS, and that it is likely based on your past history. If that's the case, call the triage nurse line and tell them you are worried/have anxiety [whatever applies from your past pregnancy(ies) that is the reason you want a CVS]. That might be a way to be seen sooner or get your nurse call bumped to an earlier date. Or if you have an OB you have communicated with via the portal, especially since your last pregnancy, you could try sending them a message. Final option I can think of is to get a first trimester appointment at a different OB, get the referral to outside MFM from them to get ultrasound/CVS/NIPT/whatever applies to your situation, then flip over to GW once they'll actually let you have an appointment. It is truly ridiculous that this last option even has to be considered, but we have to do what we have to do to get the care we want.

I remember reading your posts - I am quite happy to hear you are at 21 weeks already! Time flies. I hope you are doing well. Do you plan to deliver at GW? All the best to you and baby. They are lucky to have a mom who is so conscientious and who will always look out for them.

What mfm did you see at Sibley? Was it hard to coordinate care between Sibley and gw? I saw Gallagher last pregnancy but mixed experience and there's no longer scans in bethesda anyway so wondering nd worth finding an alternative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first OB appointment last week. My previous OB, who is now only working at the hospital, intervened with scheduling on my behalf to get me a first trimester appointment with the new OB I preferred to see (I have a very complicated history and severe anxiety that is triggered by my past experiences at GW, so I don't just bounce around between doctors). The OB I'm now going to see through pregnancy told me that she would make sure I can have my appointments with her going forward, even if scheduling says she doesn't have anything. I don't know if all the OBs are doing that now. I'm doing ultrasounds at an outside MFM, so I can't comment on what it's like to get an ultrasound appointment.
The Bethesda office has been completely remodeled. It's almost disorienting how different it is in the waiting area. It's basically like a ghost town there now...but that also means the limited number of staff are focused on fewer tasks because their patient load is so much smaller. It's only been 1 appointment for me so far, but I'm actually quite optimistic that I will have a much better experience now than in 2019 because it's smaller.

How does it work to get ultrasounds at an outside place while having GW be your principal hospital? I delivered at GW in 2020 during the pandemic and it was totally fine - bounced around between doctors for appointments, but otherwise fine. I just called them for a second pregnancy and learned about their new system where no one will see you in person until you are like 12 weeks pregnant, including no ultrasound or prenatal testing of any sort until then.

And does anyone have any recent experience scheduling a CVS with them? Since I can't even speak to a nurse via telephone until the 8 week mark, I don't want to be in a situation where it's then too late to get her to schedule a CVS between 10-13 weeks.

Hi. I'm the author of the post you quoted. I'm now 21 weeks, still seeing a GWMFA OB at the Bethesda office and MFM at Sibley. Sibley and GW both now use Epic for their EMR, so the ultrasound report from the MFM just appears in the system where my MFA OB can see it. Sibley MFMs do require a referral from the primary OB.

I'm sorry for the frustration you are enduring about GW not even scheduling a nurse call until 8 weeks. It was the same for me, but as I posted above during the summer, my GW OB who is now only working on Labor and Delivery was responsive to my messages and intervened to get my first appointment bumped up before 12 weeks.

I assume there's a specific reason you want a CVS, and that it is likely based on your past history. If that's the case, call the triage nurse line and tell them you are worried/have anxiety [whatever applies from your past pregnancy(ies) that is the reason you want a CVS]. That might be a way to be seen sooner or get your nurse call bumped to an earlier date. Or if you have an OB you have communicated with via the portal, especially since your last pregnancy, you could try sending them a message. Final option I can think of is to get a first trimester appointment at a different OB, get the referral to outside MFM from them to get ultrasound/CVS/NIPT/whatever applies to your situation, then flip over to GW once they'll actually let you have an appointment. It is truly ridiculous that this last option even has to be considered, but we have to do what we have to do to get the care we want.

I remember reading your posts - I am quite happy to hear you are at 21 weeks already! Time flies. I hope you are doing well. Do you plan to deliver at GW? All the best to you and baby. They are lucky to have a mom who is so conscientious and who will always look out for them.

What mfm did you see at Sibley? Was it hard to coordinate care between Sibley and gw? I saw Gallagher last pregnancy but mixed experience and there's no longer scans in bethesda anyway so wondering nd worth finding an alternative

No issues here coordinating care between Timofeev who I saw at Sibley for MFM and DeSouza who is with MFA but mostly delivery with Sibley a few years ago, it was a non issue. Love Sibley, it’s such a nice hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first OB appointment last week. My previous OB, who is now only working at the hospital, intervened with scheduling on my behalf to get me a first trimester appointment with the new OB I preferred to see (I have a very complicated history and severe anxiety that is triggered by my past experiences at GW, so I don't just bounce around between doctors). The OB I'm now going to see through pregnancy told me that she would make sure I can have my appointments with her going forward, even if scheduling says she doesn't have anything. I don't know if all the OBs are doing that now. I'm doing ultrasounds at an outside MFM, so I can't comment on what it's like to get an ultrasound appointment.
The Bethesda office has been completely remodeled. It's almost disorienting how different it is in the waiting area. It's basically like a ghost town there now...but that also means the limited number of staff are focused on fewer tasks because their patient load is so much smaller. It's only been 1 appointment for me so far, but I'm actually quite optimistic that I will have a much better experience now than in 2019 because it's smaller.

How does it work to get ultrasounds at an outside place while having GW be your principal hospital? I delivered at GW in 2020 during the pandemic and it was totally fine - bounced around between doctors for appointments, but otherwise fine. I just called them for a second pregnancy and learned about their new system where no one will see you in person until you are like 12 weeks pregnant, including no ultrasound or prenatal testing of any sort until then.

And does anyone have any recent experience scheduling a CVS with them? Since I can't even speak to a nurse via telephone until the 8 week mark, I don't want to be in a situation where it's then too late to get her to schedule a CVS between 10-13 weeks.

Hi. I'm the author of the post you quoted. I'm now 21 weeks, still seeing a GWMFA OB at the Bethesda office and MFM at Sibley. Sibley and GW both now use Epic for their EMR, so the ultrasound report from the MFM just appears in the system where my MFA OB can see it. Sibley MFMs do require a referral from the primary OB.

I'm sorry for the frustration you are enduring about GW not even scheduling a nurse call until 8 weeks. It was the same for me, but as I posted above during the summer, my GW OB who is now only working on Labor and Delivery was responsive to my messages and intervened to get my first appointment bumped up before 12 weeks.

I assume there's a specific reason you want a CVS, and that it is likely based on your past history. If that's the case, call the triage nurse line and tell them you are worried/have anxiety [whatever applies from your past pregnancy(ies) that is the reason you want a CVS]. That might be a way to be seen sooner or get your nurse call bumped to an earlier date. Or if you have an OB you have communicated with via the portal, especially since your last pregnancy, you could try sending them a message. Final option I can think of is to get a first trimester appointment at a different OB, get the referral to outside MFM from them to get ultrasound/CVS/NIPT/whatever applies to your situation, then flip over to GW once they'll actually let you have an appointment. It is truly ridiculous that this last option even has to be considered, but we have to do what we have to do to get the care we want.

I remember reading your posts - I am quite happy to hear you are at 21 weeks already! Time flies. I hope you are doing well. Do you plan to deliver at GW? All the best to you and baby. They are lucky to have a mom who is so conscientious and who will always look out for them.

What mfm did you see at Sibley? Was it hard to coordinate care between Sibley and gw? I saw Gallagher last pregnancy but mixed experience and there's no longer scans in bethesda anyway so wondering nd worth finding an alternative

No issues here coordinating care between Timofeev who I saw at Sibley for MFM and DeSouza who is with MFA but mostly delivery with Sibley a few years ago, it was a non issue. Love Sibley, it’s such a nice hospital.

Thanks- desouza doesn't deliver at gw I believe. I'm hoping to deliver at gw again bc of their nicu but pp said she saw jamshidi plus Sibley mfm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first OB appointment last week. My previous OB, who is now only working at the hospital, intervened with scheduling on my behalf to get me a first trimester appointment with the new OB I preferred to see (I have a very complicated history and severe anxiety that is triggered by my past experiences at GW, so I don't just bounce around between doctors). The OB I'm now going to see through pregnancy told me that she would make sure I can have my appointments with her going forward, even if scheduling says she doesn't have anything. I don't know if all the OBs are doing that now. I'm doing ultrasounds at an outside MFM, so I can't comment on what it's like to get an ultrasound appointment.
The Bethesda office has been completely remodeled. It's almost disorienting how different it is in the waiting area. It's basically like a ghost town there now...but that also means the limited number of staff are focused on fewer tasks because their patient load is so much smaller. It's only been 1 appointment for me so far, but I'm actually quite optimistic that I will have a much better experience now than in 2019 because it's smaller.

How does it work to get ultrasounds at an outside place while having GW be your principal hospital? I delivered at GW in 2020 during the pandemic and it was totally fine - bounced around between doctors for appointments, but otherwise fine. I just called them for a second pregnancy and learned about their new system where no one will see you in person until you are like 12 weeks pregnant, including no ultrasound or prenatal testing of any sort until then.

And does anyone have any recent experience scheduling a CVS with them? Since I can't even speak to a nurse via telephone until the 8 week mark, I don't want to be in a situation where it's then too late to get her to schedule a CVS between 10-13 weeks.

Hi. I'm the author of the post you quoted. I'm now 21 weeks, still seeing a GWMFA OB at the Bethesda office and MFM at Sibley. Sibley and GW both now use Epic for their EMR, so the ultrasound report from the MFM just appears in the system where my MFA OB can see it. Sibley MFMs do require a referral from the primary OB.

I'm sorry for the frustration you are enduring about GW not even scheduling a nurse call until 8 weeks. It was the same for me, but as I posted above during the summer, my GW OB who is now only working on Labor and Delivery was responsive to my messages and intervened to get my first appointment bumped up before 12 weeks.

I assume there's a specific reason you want a CVS, and that it is likely based on your past history. If that's the case, call the triage nurse line and tell them you are worried/have anxiety [whatever applies from your past pregnancy(ies) that is the reason you want a CVS]. That might be a way to be seen sooner or get your nurse call bumped to an earlier date. Or if you have an OB you have communicated with via the portal, especially since your last pregnancy, you could try sending them a message. Final option I can think of is to get a first trimester appointment at a different OB, get the referral to outside MFM from them to get ultrasound/CVS/NIPT/whatever applies to your situation, then flip over to GW once they'll actually let you have an appointment. It is truly ridiculous that this last option even has to be considered, but we have to do what we have to do to get the care we want.

I remember reading your posts - I am quite happy to hear you are at 21 weeks already! Time flies. I hope you are doing well. Do you plan to deliver at GW? All the best to you and baby. They are lucky to have a mom who is so conscientious and who will always look out for them.

What mfm did you see at Sibley? Was it hard to coordinate care between Sibley and gw? I saw Gallagher last pregnancy but mixed experience and there's no longer scans in bethesda anyway so wondering nd worth finding an alternative

No issues here coordinating care between Timofeev who I saw at Sibley for MFM and DeSouza who is with MFA but mostly delivery with Sibley a few years ago, it was a non issue. Love Sibley, it’s such a nice hospital.

Thanks- desouza doesn't deliver at gw I believe. I'm hoping to deliver at gw again bc of their nicu but pp said she saw jamshidi plus Sibley mfm

It’s been a few years but he used to occasionally do high risk deliveries at GW. From a medical records perspective he’s part of MFA, like Jamshidi. It’s really a non issue to coordinate care for the MFMs. They just have to share results of testing and recs with your OB - which you can also help to faciliate by being engaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first OB appointment last week. My previous OB, who is now only working at the hospital, intervened with scheduling on my behalf to get me a first trimester appointment with the new OB I preferred to see (I have a very complicated history and severe anxiety that is triggered by my past experiences at GW, so I don't just bounce around between doctors). The OB I'm now going to see through pregnancy told me that she would make sure I can have my appointments with her going forward, even if scheduling says she doesn't have anything. I don't know if all the OBs are doing that now. I'm doing ultrasounds at an outside MFM, so I can't comment on what it's like to get an ultrasound appointment.
The Bethesda office has been completely remodeled. It's almost disorienting how different it is in the waiting area. It's basically like a ghost town there now...but that also means the limited number of staff are focused on fewer tasks because their patient load is so much smaller. It's only been 1 appointment for me so far, but I'm actually quite optimistic that I will have a much better experience now than in 2019 because it's smaller.

How does it work to get ultrasounds at an outside place while having GW be your principal hospital? I delivered at GW in 2020 during the pandemic and it was totally fine - bounced around between doctors for appointments, but otherwise fine. I just called them for a second pregnancy and learned about their new system where no one will see you in person until you are like 12 weeks pregnant, including no ultrasound or prenatal testing of any sort until then.

And does anyone have any recent experience scheduling a CVS with them? Since I can't even speak to a nurse via telephone until the 8 week mark, I don't want to be in a situation where it's then too late to get her to schedule a CVS between 10-13 weeks.

Hi. I'm the author of the post you quoted. I'm now 21 weeks, still seeing a GWMFA OB at the Bethesda office and MFM at Sibley. Sibley and GW both now use Epic for their EMR, so the ultrasound report from the MFM just appears in the system where my MFA OB can see it. Sibley MFMs do require a referral from the primary OB.

I'm sorry for the frustration you are enduring about GW not even scheduling a nurse call until 8 weeks. It was the same for me, but as I posted above during the summer, my GW OB who is now only working on Labor and Delivery was responsive to my messages and intervened to get my first appointment bumped up before 12 weeks.

I assume there's a specific reason you want a CVS, and that it is likely based on your past history. If that's the case, call the triage nurse line and tell them you are worried/have anxiety [whatever applies from your past pregnancy(ies) that is the reason you want a CVS]. That might be a way to be seen sooner or get your nurse call bumped to an earlier date. Or if you have an OB you have communicated with via the portal, especially since your last pregnancy, you could try sending them a message. Final option I can think of is to get a first trimester appointment at a different OB, get the referral to outside MFM from them to get ultrasound/CVS/NIPT/whatever applies to your situation, then flip over to GW once they'll actually let you have an appointment. It is truly ridiculous that this last option even has to be considered, but we have to do what we have to do to get the care we want.

I remember reading your posts - I am quite happy to hear you are at 21 weeks already! Time flies. I hope you are doing well. Do you plan to deliver at GW? All the best to you and baby. They are lucky to have a mom who is so conscientious and who will always look out for them.

What mfm did you see at Sibley? Was it hard to coordinate care between Sibley and gw? I saw Gallagher last pregnancy but mixed experience and there's no longer scans in bethesda anyway so wondering nd worth finding an alternative

No issues here coordinating care between Timofeev who I saw at Sibley for MFM and DeSouza who is with MFA but mostly delivery with Sibley a few years ago, it was a non issue. Love Sibley, it’s such a nice hospital.

Thanks- desouza doesn't deliver at gw I believe. I'm hoping to deliver at gw again bc of their nicu but pp said she saw jamshidi plus Sibley mfm

Hi, I'm the PP who saw Jamshidi and Sibley MFM. I hardly ever look at this board anymore, but happened to look tonight and saw this. I saw Dr. Timofeef at Sibley MFM. One of my appointments was with Dr. Driggers, who I didn't care for as much but she was still a thousand times better than my experiences with Dr. Gallagher. It was no issue what-so-ever to coordinate between Sibley and GW. They both use Epic, so the minute the Sibley MFM enters their report of your scan, GW can see it. I highly recommend going this route if you want to go to the GW Bethesda office/deliver at GW and aren't going to be seeing the GW MFMs.