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Which INOVA hospital is better for delivery- Fairfax or Fair Oaks
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Anonymous
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Fair Oaks is much nicer, but Fairfax has a better ability to deal with complications (baby and mom) and more doctors and nurses available more quickly. I delivered at Fairfax and had to wait about half an hour for an anesthesiologist -- it felt like a lifetime. I imagine I would've waited longer at Fair Oaks, but I could be wrong.
I'm contemplating going to Fair Oaks next time, just b/c it feels like a happier place. |
Anonymous
Delivered both at Fair Oaks. #1 - waited MAYBE 15 minutes... felt like a lifetime. #2 - even shorter, plus he had to come back and give me more drugs and he was there within minutes... either way, felt like a lifetime. When waiting for an epidural, it IS a lifetime. 
I've had many experiences at Fairfax... even spent a week there with DD#1 in the PICU when she was just two weeks old. I just hate everything about it. I know, to each his own, but that's my personal opinion based off of my experiences. Many things have tainted my view of that hospital, but that's just how it is. DH managed to somehow park in the wrong lot when coming back with a change of clothes for me during our stay with DD... which ended up with him not being able to get into a certain wing, being on the other side of the hospital, etc etc. Long story. I just like the smaller more intimate feel of Fair Oaks. |
Anonymous
Also, FWIW, I should add that I've been to the Fairfax ER twice, both HORRIBLE experiences, and I had a minor surgery in Fairfax and it was TERRIBLE. The maternity ward was much better, but the one thing both the maternity stay and the operation stay had in common was that NO ONE WOULD LET ME SLEEP!!!! During the maternity stay, they would wake me every 4 hours for one medication, every 6 hours for another, every 2 hours to feed the baby, every I-don-know-how-many-hours to check my vitals, and they could never get it coordinated, so I literally never slept more than 45 minutes in 2 days. I checked out early despite having a c-section because I just needed to SLEEP. During the operation it was similar, but they didn't have to check on me as often; mostly it was them checking on my room-mate (I had 2 different ones at different times) LOUDLY. She would ring the bell in the middle of the night and the nurse would turn on the lights and come running in, past my bed, SCREAMING her name -- "Mrs. _____, how are you? What's going on?" So inconsiderate. I also got out of there as soon as I possibly could, to get a little more sleep. The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards trying Fair Oaks. |
Anonymous
Fairfax has more doctors and nurses because they have way more people there. The nurses at fair oaks tell you to try and ask for the epidural before you need it to allow time for the doc to come, put it in, and for it to start working. Makes sense to me. And don't think because Fairfax has a higher level NICU that Fair Oaks can't deal with any complications. Most of the same doctors move between the two hospitals. As an aside, the parking at Fairfax costs and getting in and out of the garage and parking lot is a huge pain in the ass. They have a color coded elevator system that's confusing as hell. Regardless, both are great hospitals. Can't really go wrong with either. |
Anonymous
That was another PITA issue I had with Fairfax (PP with weeklong stay in Fairfax PICU). My child was in the PICU for seven days and between DH and I switching for work, going home for the dogs, grandparents visiting... they really raked in the money with the parking charges. Then, once we parked, I swear it took 20 minutes to walk from the car to my daughter's room. |
Anonymous
| I delivered at Fair Oaks and my epidural literally came 5 minutes after I asked for it. FWIW I did deliver during the day so maybe there was much more staff then. My experience there was fantastic and I will be delivering baby #2 there. |
Anonymous
| From and ex- Fairfax RN, I will be delivering at Fair Oaks. Though I did not work on L and D or postpartum, and I'm not trying to make judgements about those units, my experience working at Fairfax soured the entire hospital for me. Even though Fairfax is less than two miles from my house, I'll be braving the 66 traffic and heading to Fair Oaks. |
Anonymous
| I think how long it takes for the epidural to arrive depends upon how busy they are at night. I delivered at VA hospital center and had to wait close to 3 hours! Crazy right!? They were super busy that night. |
Anonymous
| I delivered at Fairfax in August and I had a really fantastic experience. We drove a really long way to deliver there and I'm really glad we did, given the experience. Our nurses (during the 5 day stay) were fantastic, caring and very knowledgeable. I even took my DD back at 10 weeks because they called to check on her and see how she was doing. |
Anonymous
For me it took about 10 minutes for epidural to arrive from the time I asked for it until the anaesthesiologist showed up - this at FFX, with both kids. I might have had to wait 15 minutes the second time, but still... And trust me, I was keeping a close eye on the clock
One was at around 5 AM, the other at 11 AM. |
Anonymous
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I have had positive experiences (neither of them giving birth) at both hospitals. I had a surgery at Fair Oaks about 6 years ago and there were no real problems. Last week I had my NT scan at Fairfax and had an extremely wonderful experience. The nurses were so nice and helpful and the U/S technician was wonderful (much better than a previous experience at Fairfax Radiology). They gave me a parking validation so we didn't have to pay a cent for parking ... I don't know if they also do this when you deliver.
My OB only delivers at Fairfax so having such an easy experience maes me very hopeful. Plus most people around me have highly recommended Fairfax. |