Paula McKenzie, MD, PC

Better hope you never have to leave a message or communicate anything beyond an initial appointment time.
I picked Dr. McKenzie based off proximity to my home. After 5 years I’ve had enough and will travel elsewhere. In September I returned a phone call to very generic message left by a nurse. Over the course of 2 weeks, I called back and left 6 messages (on average one every other business day) with zero response.
Most recently, in the last week, I have left 3 messages (2 with staff members and 1 with an answering service) regarding my prescription. I asked for them to confirm receipt of the message and I clearly repeated my information multiple times. Still nadda.
Staff will NOT RETURN phone calls or DELIVER messages. There is clearly zero accountability regarding messages, transfer of information, and basic office professionalism.
This many 1 – 2 star reviews cannot be wrong. Please save yourself some time/​dignity and look elsewhere.

I’m done. I have been coming for about 2 years and it has gotten so bad. I call and no one picks up, no one calls you back, no one seems to care. I was seen for my annual in November and we spoke about getting the birth control shot… I called back after I had not received a follow up call to schedule that appointment, this was the second week of December– they were closed and would be until January. Which the Office staff and doctor failed to mention during my appointment (i’ll get to that in a sec…). SO I have been calling back EVERY DAY leaving messages on EVERY extension (since no one picks up the phone) since the 4^th to try to CANCEL anything they may have run through my insurance so I can go to another doctor.
Now my appointment I had I picked the first one of the day so I didn’t have to take off too much time from work. NOT only did I have to wait 30 minutes past my time to be seen. I had to wait and ADDIOTONAL 45 minutes for the lab tech (who was now almost 2 hours late) to arrive. I was told she was ‘stuck in traffic’. right. I live here. unless you live in Fredericksburg and commuting up to Alexandria you should not be stuck in traffic for 2 hours. AND if you are supposed to be at the office at 730 and you are 2 hours late I HIGHLY doubt she had even left her house (when she got dropped off it was a metro van, and she told me the driver got the pick up time wrong… so was it traffic or pickup time?) I ended up being almost 2 hours late for work.
If anyone from the office even checks this page. please call so I can have my records transferred. lord know how long that’s going to take!

I got a referral to Dr. McKenzie many years ago from a coworker. Dr. McKenzie herself is awesome. Very friendly and likes a holistic approach and natural solutions. My issue is and will always be the office staff. While I’ve never had a problem scheduling an appointment and getting in and out, everything else and I mean EVERYTHING else is a disaster. I called and left a message for the advice nurse, never got a call back. I called and spoke to a office representative, they never faxed over my prescription. I think after many years of the office turnover and the inconsistencies I am going to move on.

I’ve made the mistake of coming to this office for almost 10 years and I’m finally done wasting my time. Doctor McKenzie is lovely and I’ll be sorry to not see her anymore, but the staff has been so consistently awful that it’s just not worth my health and sanity to stay with her.
To start with, wait times are inevitably interminable — upwards of an hour without exception.
Office staff is completely useless at resolving problems with prescriptions. In the latest manifestation of staff incompetency, I got a birth control prescription at my last visit (because it’s always a new prescription, never an approval to refill) and it was written incorrectly. My pharmacy contacted me to tell me they had called her office to talk to her because they could not fill the prescription without some clarification and no one ever called them back. It’s been almost four weeks of calls and emails from both me and my pharmacy and ZERO response from her office. These supposed medical professionals seem to treat birth control like it’s a convenience, not a medication.
A year ago, staff called me in for a follow-​up visit after an annual exam. I found out when I arrived that I’d had an abnormal lab result (which they’d never called about — turns out they never do. And don’t bother signing the permission form to get lab results via email. They won’t email them either.) and that I was in the office so the doctor could perform a biopsy. No heads up about that over the phone, eh? The next time they called me back in, I asked what the visit was for and the woman on the phone said she couldn’t tell me – I needed to talk to the doctor. After almost 10 minutes of arguing with her, I found out it was just another follow-​up test after the biopsy. She couldn’t tell me that? Did she think HIPAA laws prevent her from disclosing my own medical information to me? Was she just completely unaware of the reason I needed to come back in? Or is she just so obtuse that she thinks only the doctor can tell me the reason for my visit?
Poorly kept paper records mean that you, as a patient, are responsible to ensure the consistency of of your own care. I am the one who has to remind the doctor of my medical history. I have to remind her that I need follow-​up bloodwork to check whether my vitamin D levels have improved. Every time I go in, I have to remind her that I’m taking birth control on a modified schedule, which means four pill packs every three months instead of three. I have to remind her about ultrasounds and biopsies and not-​insignificant medical procedures that, frankly, should be clearly recorded and easily accessible in my medical record.
I’m writing this as a warning to others, not because I think the business cares at all what patients think. They’ve spent the last decade proving to me that they don’t.

Wow — I read some of these reviews and while I do not ever recall posting a comment — in this case I must. I have been seeing Dr. Mckenzie for 17 years and she is a great doctor who takes the time to speak with you helping to make the yearly exam less stressful for people like me. While over these 17 years the office processes and staff had some ups and downs this practice has been in synch across the board for years now. While I wish i could say i got in and out in under an hour but that was not the case and i am okay with that. If people are in a rush they should plan better. As I left my appointment this Wedensday I realized it was longer than planned but was also thankful that Dr. Mckenzie took the time to make sure my records were up to date, how everything was going personally, etc — which most doctors do not do. I will take the wait everytime for a caring and compassionate professional.
For folks reading these reviews — thinking about going to her office — I would highly recommend.

I saw Dr Watlington here and liked her very much, but the office is awful! I tried for a month to get a prescription changed to mail order. Both the pharmacy and I called, faxed, sent messages online. Whenever I did get to speak with someone, rarely, I was assured it was in the process of being done. Usually, I left a message which was never returned. Eventually gave up. Goes without saying, I will not be returning there.

This office is unbelievable. I haven’t been seen there in 2 years. I told them last year when they called never to contact me again.
They called two weeks ago and I explained I was no longer a patient still and I had told them last year never to contact me again. I told them to destroy my records and never contact me again. They agreed.
I just got ANOTHER phone call to schedule an annual!
What do they not understand about never call me again?
What do they not understand about destroy my records?
AVOID THIS DOCTOR IF YOU VALUE YOUR HEALTH AT ALL. They do not care about you, your health, or anything beyond their own agenda, such as pushing care, treatment, and beliefs that mirror their own. They do not value your requests, needs, or time.

I have been a patient of Dr. M for almost 8 years. She is very pleasant when in her company. Her receptionist needs some training and how to express empathy. I was very hurt and upset that because I left my 25.00 copay that Dr. M refused to see me. I would not recommend anyone to this place because you are supposed to care about your patients and today I didn’t get that I only got the money is more important than the well being of the patient. I will just pray that The Lord will show this practice that people have feelings and do not always need to speak with a receptionist after all a doctor is supposed to be compassionate. I’m looking fir another doctor now.

I feel like I go to a different practice than most of you. I’ve been seeing Dr. McKenzie since my first pregnancy over 8 years ago and I adore her and the practice. I had difficult pregnancies and she and the staff were really there for me, and were as accomodating and last minute as they needed to be. Dr. McKenzie was reassuring at every turn. After my second pregnancy, she diagnosed a serious thyroid condition that my primary totally missed and could have been life-​threatening. She may have quite literally saved my life. When I had fybroids, she suggested and administered an endometrial ablation that’s been a blessing in more ways that one. And I’ve never found her to push anything unnecessary on me, nor ignore anything that needed treatment. Yes, her staff is usually multi-​cultural, but that’s an important characteristic so that she can have a diverse patient-​base. They’ve all been wonderful and helpful. And the only time I’ve ever had to wait for an appointment beyond the normal was when she was out delivering a baby, an occupational hazard of a small OB practice. You shouldn’t be scared away by what you’re reading. Dr. McKenzie runs and small and very personal practice — if you want utter automation of everything, then you should go to a large practice where you canbe seen by any of a dozen or more doctors and won’t know who will be delivering your baby, or caring for you next. IF you want someone who will get to know you and your needs, Dr. Mc K is the one.

This is the most poorly managed and operated doctor office I have EVER been in. I’m talking across every specialty, here. And I’ve lived in over six states. It doesn’t get worse than Dr. McKenzie’s office.
I am here now waiting on a prescription and everyone has gone to lunch. The Doctor herself walked by. I had to stop her. She told me her staff was at lunch until 1 pm and kept walking.
I’m only here because I’ve been trying for TWO WEEKS to get a birth control prescription from her. During my annual visit a few weeks ago, I asked for a prescription for the Ortho Evra patch. The Doctor tried talking me into the IUD or the Nexplanon implant. After talking through both options, I elected on the Nexplanon implant. It was explained to me that they would need to submit paperwork, it would need to be «approved» and since sometime there’s a lag time in the approval process, it would be good if I could follow up with «them.» Who «them» was, I didn’t know even after I asked. I was told to check in a few days later. So, I did that.
After some back and forth with the doctor’s office and this entity that required this approval, I got frustrated and started asking more direct questions like «Who is this company?» «Why do I need to go through them?» After an hour or two of research on the phone, I learned the company they needed the approval from was Curascript, a pharmacy. My insurance company explained the «approval» they were trying to get was from them to fill and cover the prescription. They also explained the reason they were getting rejected. It was because they were outside of their network. My insurance company explained an approval wasn’t needed because the implant was covered 100% but only with an in-​network pharmacy. So, why did Dr. McKenzie have me going to a pharmacy outside of my network?
When I found out I could get the implant filled by a host of pharmacies in my neighborhood, I began calling them all and realized this implant wasn’t something most pharmacies carried. It was a special order item. I phoned the doctor’s office to signal I was beginning to think I should wave my little flag on the implant and was ready to divert to my original request. The doctor’s nurse argued that I needed to get her paperwork from the insurance company. What «paperwork» I asked. She couldn’t specify. So I went around the rodeo once more in an effort to secure the paperwork she referred to. The insurance company had no idea what she was referring to. Up until my drive by today, I had no idea what she was referring to. I did a google search online and found a request form for the implant, which I naturally assumed it was the paperwork she was referencing. I called back to the doctors office to get an email address to send them the form.
Here’s where I must note that both the nurse and receptionist are from another country. English is their second language. And their English is BAD! It’s a full time job trying to communicate with them both. So I ask the receptionist for their email address, explaining what I needed it for. She said they didn’t have one. She must have been confused, I thought. It’s 2014. Of course, Dr. McKenzie has an email address. Nope! The nurse confirmed during my drive by today that what she said was true. Their system is DOS based, very archaic. So they don’t have email or access to the Internet. What the what?!?
So after getting really frustrated over a form of birth control the doctor talked me into but LACKED the basic resources to support me in getting it, I decided the back and forth calls with the two non-​English speaking staffers was only going to give me more migraines. Some time the best form of communication is in person. So I drove all the way back to Dr. McKenzie’s office today to talk one on one with the nurse to tell her I was no longer interested in the implant. Just give me the patch! Preferably the generic version since the Affordable Care Act covers generic forms of birth control.
Can I just add that I’m going out of town soon? And I needed my birth control BEFORE I left? All of which the Doctor knew.
Never again. So that’s not it, ladies.
So I drive here just as the nurse is returning my call from 2 days ago. I told her I was in the parking lot and would be inside in less than 2 minutes. I get inside and I’m told she went to lunch. Are you kidding me? A few minutes later, I see Dr. McKenzie walk by. I ask her about the nurse. She reiterates they’re at lunch and keeps walking like she had better things to do than help a patient. I sat there and waited the 30 minutes the nurse was going to be at lunch because I needed this matter resolved today!
This doctor has NO respect for your time. She neither has the manpower resources or basic technical, office resources to meet the needs of the 21^st century patient. Do yourself a huge favor and run the other way. I know I am. I will not be back.

I’m sorry but I can not relate to most of these reviews. I have been seeing Dr. McKenzie for 5 years now. I have NEVER had to wait for more than 15 minutes for my appointment. The doctor and her staff are friendly and professional and the nurse who draws blood is wonderful as I hate needles and have never felt so much as a pinch. Now granted, I go for routine annual check-​ups and my children were all born many years ago when I lived in NYC so I can’t speak for any pregnancy-​related matters in Dr. McKenzie’s office. However, I can say that as annual check-​up go, Dr. McKenzie’s is nice, clean, the check-​ups are painless, and I’m in and out in under 50 minutes – exactly what I need from my GYN.

Well, even though with the awful reviews I had to go to her first, because my previous OB GYN dropped me to leave to another practice and second, after looking thru the Aetna network and calling 13 offices, she was the 14^th one that said I could come to the office as a new patient.
I’m 33 weeks pregnant already and I honestly just need someone to help me deliver my baby– I don’t have any time to waste or for nonsense.
I haven’t been seen by Dr. Mckenzie but, a very sweet Dr. Khan took care of me on my first visit and I believe she is the one that will stay with me til the end. I don’t want a lot of hands on me and different opinions. She was very thorough, asked me a lot of questions and seemed interested in caring for me. She is also very funny.
As far as the office personnel, on my first phone call, both ladies (sorry I didn’t get your names) that spoke to me were very professional and very nice and they followed up with me for 2 consecutive days before finally admitting me. The RN’s in the office are very nice as well and one of them speaks Spanish so I was very pleased by this.
The office is very clean, light, it can get a little warm but I noticed regardless of what people might say, there is A LOT of patient traffic for a practice with such bad reviews…
That’s why I decided to read the reviews AFTER my first visit– I don’t like to be biased by what other people say, I just wanted to see it and experience it for myself. I can always go some place else even though I don’t have that much time left to go on delivery.
I hope my experience with Dr. McKenzie’s practice continues to be like this and that I can stay with Dr. Khan because by the way she treated me on my first visit, I really want her to deliver my baby. I didn’t give 5 stars because of a bad experience– which was the total opposite– I gave it 3 stars because I still have to see what will happen in the following weeks to come and then I will update. That’s why first impressions are so important.

I have tried to be patient with Dr M and her staff for many years. However, I have decided to leave because of the ever revolving incompetent office staff. Also, I have found that Dr M does not listen but has her agenda of useless procedures that don’t work.
After suffering for 2 years with painful fibroids and useless procedures and being told to «just take more ibuprofen» I sought out another doctor. I left in January 2014 and have since had the procedure that I really needed done and recovered. Now pain free.

Dr. McKenzie is nice enough, I suppose. Unfortunately, the office is not well managed. They do not provide follow-​up to test results. I’ve waited over 2 months for results and multiple phone calls requesting the results have generated NO response. This didn’t happen once. It’s happened the last 2 times I’ve had to have tests. It is completely unprofessional. I would not recommend this office to anyone!

Shocked by these overly negative reviews. Disgruntled former employees and their friends? Anyway, I was a patient a couple years ago before I moved to Colorado, and I thought everything was pretty good. Yes, I waited for 15 minutes in the waiting room, and 15 minutes in the treatment area, pretty normal from every doctor I’ve ever been to – even on the quick side. There were no bugs, everything was clean and nice looking. Dr. McKenzie was kind, patient, and very capable. She has admitting privileges to a local hospital I liked, which was important to me.

I wish there were negative ratings for this horrible office. The office had bugs all over it and Dr. Mckenzie and her staff were a disgrace to the medical profession. She is judgmental, rude and her staff clearly do not know what they are doing. I’m not sure if the equipment she uses are even sanitary. I will never return to this office and strongly advise others to search elsewhere for proper medical care.

My daughter just went there and was so disappointed by the customer services starting with the office staff and ending with the doctor herself. After reading the reviews all I can ask is why is this doctor allowed to keep practicing medical services.

I agree with many of the other reviews here. Dr MacKenzie has been my doctor for at least 5 yrs. She herself is very pleasant, but the office staff lacks customer service and the wait times can be excessive. They will let you wait in the waiting area for a while, then put you in a room and leave you sitting there for even longer. What has really been irritating is that whenever I’ve had a problem and called needing to see her, the staff replies with, «Oh, we can see you in 1 – 2 weeks». What good is a doctor if you can’t ever see them and have to go somewhere else anyway?

Here they don’t care about you or your time. Wait times are at least an hour at the very least. If your appointment time is 10am, you’d be lucky if the doctor sees you at 1130am. This didn’t happen once but multiple times. Doctor or staff doesn’t say anything, they just put you in a room and let you wait. Not sure if she overbooks appointments or what but it is just terrible.
If you want your anxiety levels to shoot up and endure the tortuous wait times, this is the place to go. One star is not low enough for rating this place.

I am incredibly frustrated with Dr. Mckenzie’s office as they have terrible customer service and have routinely used incorrect information for my file leading to billing mess-​ups and confusion with my prescription. Whenever I have an issue I have to call at least a dozen times, talking to many different people who never follow through with what they say they will do. Many other times, nobody picks up the phone, which is almost better than dealing with the staff. Dr. Mckenzie is fine though it is not worth it to deal with the office mess.