Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia

I have had a very bad experience with GANV. I needed a refill of my medication. This took six days to accomplish and even though I called them every day I could not get a return phone call from anyone. Not the nurses, not the doctor and not even the office manager. Hold times on the phone to talk to anyone were over 20 minutes. When finally after day six the head nurse called me back (Karen) she was rude and abrasive and proceeded to lecture me about being angry. When I finally started missing medications I went to a new doctor. I don’t know about everyone else out there, but I refuse to hand over that kind of money to a doctor who doesn’t return phone calls and who treats ill people this way. I ended up going to GW Medical Associates in DC and not only did I end up getting a good doctor that is a University professor but I got return phone calls and a courteous staff. Never again at GANV. I am having my records transferred now. I am also going to be filing a complaint with the state licensing authority for this doctor. I think that people like this should not be allowed to do what they are doing especially not to sick people. They pushed me too far over the edge.

I have had an absolutely atrocious experience at Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia. For my first visit, I arrived early for a 2 pm appointment with all my paperwork already filled out. The appointment should have been quick and painless as it was just a basic examination for Acid Reflux. I was brought back around 2:15 and then sat waiting and waiting and waiting.
I was notified at 3 pm that the doctor was held up and would be down in about 10 minutes. No one came in until nearly 4 pm. And it wasn’t even the doctor I was scheduled to see. It was a physicians assistant who actually was wonderful, but she couldn’t formally recommend anything. The doctor finally showed up just after 4. Over two hours later.
Once I was able to meet with the doctor things went smoothly… or at least I thought.
Dr. Khapra suggested that I get an Upper GI Endoscopy, so I scheduled one with one of the «procedure schedulers». I would need a ride for the procedure, so when I found out a few days later that my ride couldn’t make the date I picked I called back to reschedule.
I had to leave a message since «Karen» was out of town. Then I got a message back saying they were going to cancel the appointment and I should call «Karen» when I was ready to reschedule.
It’s been 4 days. I’ve called «Karen» probably 15 times with no response. I left a message twice (once on Tuesday and once today) despite her voicemail saying to only leave one. I’ve tried calling the main line and they are basically useless. «Only Karen can help you» is all I got, but yet I can never get a hold of «Karen». I’m beyond frustrated as I need to know in advance when I might need to take time off of work.
I’ll be looking for a new doctor’s office because I don’t want to put my health in the hands of someone who treats me with absolutely no respect.

I’m only giving this a 3 star because of the bad wait issues, not because of the doctors (they’re very good). I recently saw a new P.A. who seemed to be very knowledgeable but forgot to send my prescription to my pharmacy, was running 45 minutes late (yeah!!), and forgot to give me some information sheets (I had to call in to get them). This practice has top doctors but something is going wrong elsewhere in the practice.

Dr Adams is the best however the office management sucks. Like many others have posted they don’t call you back when you leave a message and you are on hold forever. If you just want to make a appointment with a PA to set up an appointment for a procedure be prepared to wait a few weeks. When I complained in person they said it was never a problem to get in. Well my experience has been different on a number of occasions. Dr. Adams is the best though so I am willing to put up with it since I only see her once a year.

We learned that my Husband had a tumor in his stomach on Friday, May 15^th. The staff at GANV were able to get us an appointmrnt on Tuesday the following week. We saw Dr. Felice Banson who arranged for Dr. Behzad kalaghci to perform an Endoscopic Ultrasound within a few days. Immediately upon completion of the endoscope, Dr. Kalagchi personally called, Dr. Lana Bijelic and arranged for her to see us that very day. Surgery was scheduled for early the following week. Dr. Kalagchi called us with the results of the biopsies he took and reassured us regarding the surgery. We could not ask for better care than we received from Gastroenterology Associates of NOVA. Drs. Scdura and Tan have treated us in the past and provided the same level of professional care.

UPDATE: When the nurses made me cry and beg for a timely refill one too many times I quit this practice. The nurses at my new practice are wonderful — they are the reason I stay. As people with medical issues we deserve a level of care and respect. Sally, in particular at Gastroenterology Associates made me cry on more than one occasion — for a prescription refill! And there is no one there to fight the insurance company and follow up for difficult scripts. I miss Dr. Khapra, but I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the practice any longer.

Dr. Khapra is the best! ! She is very sweet and has a great concern for her patients. She really takes the time to listens and is never pushy about medications. Her nurse Sophia is just as awesome. I highly recommend Dr. Khapra to all my family and friends.

No stars! Makes you wait 90 or more minutes!!! Never coming here AGAIN!!! Never saw doctor!

2^nd visit to the Williams Dr. office and second wait of over 30 minutes to be seen. First visit, the wait was more than an hour, which is completely unacceptable for a large GI practice. After reading the other reviews, I realize that it’s the norm, not the exception. Doctors are good at what they do – the practice itself (front office and administration) is simply mismanaged.
(I am writing this from a treatment room, where I’ve now been for only 25 minutes, so I guess that’s an improvement over the waiting room, which can look like Saigon ’75 most days).

So, unfortunately, I think everyone is pretty spot on. For me, Dr. Tan is great. After years of having to deal with an idiotic gastro in FL, it was great to talk with someone who took it as seriously as I did and get me started on the road to remission with my Crohn’s. Unfortunately, I think some of the other people and processes they have in place there are going to send me into flare! Lost test results? Check. Inability to return call to get prescription refilled? Check. So badly it made me have to skip a dose? Check. Get dumped half the time on call transfers? Check.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure everyone is competent, but it is either too many patients or something, but they simply don’t have the right systems in place, and I fear we are the ones who are paying the price.

5 stars for my first appointment! From making the appointment to checking in to checking out… it was a great experience.
I saw one of the physician assistants and then met the doctor, they both answered all of my questions and were very thorough in going over what my next step would be.
And as for waiting time, I didn’t wait at all. I was seen right on time.

I left work early and was also informed as new patient to arrive at least 20 – 30 minutes ahead of time early. I arrived early to find out my paperwork I had completed online had not appeared in their system. So I filled out the paperwork and handed it in. I waited around for a half hour after my appointment time and still hadn’t been called back. I had seen people who had came in after me already been taken back and checked out. WTF? I went up the receptionist and inquired about what was going on. After she checked back with the nurse it seems my doctor I was seeing was running 45 mins to and hour behind!!! They didn’t know this before? Couldn’t have mentioned this to me? I also told I could reschedule for another day but what good would this do me after I already wasted my time from work and waiting around already. After I finally get called back I wait in the smaller room for about 10 minutes before getting seen by the doctor. I explain my situation which was trying to get another opinion about my GI issues. Lets just say this to keep a long story short: I told her my medical history and what my current issues were. I wasn’t «heard» and was given some medication. The medication I received didn’t agree with me. No fault to no one. I called back to speak with the nurse and received a new prescription for another medication. This medication has dairy as a contradiction. I had told them at my first visit that I had a dairy sensitivity. Hmmm… it looks like someone didn’t bother to look at my chart when they prescribed that one did they? So right now I am in the process of waiting on a return call from the nurse on what is next. That is another thing, it takes about two days to get a call back from the nurse on questions.

My GI doc joined GANV from private practice 9 months ago. I concur with everyone complaining about communication and waiting times. They still have not added my doctor to the Secure Message list online. I have faxed, left detailed message with her nurse, and a secure message with office staff SIMPLY to discuss a new scrip for something not on the insurers’ formulary. Apparently, if I do not wish to take time off from work, pay for an office visit, I will never be able to discuss this, and will have to go off the only med that was working for me.
This is about as poor customer service as I have experienced in a medical practice, and I’ve had some doozies. GPs, I kind of get, they are swamped. But a large GI practice, heck, they are making money hand over fist and treating the patients as if their time is of zero value.
We patients should start voting with our feet. Send the practice a certified letter as to why you are leaving and find a place that actually is interested in the healing arts not the bank balance.

Our first experience so far is not headed in the right direction. Arrived early as requested, sitting here for over 1.5 hours reading bad reviews about GANV on the internet of which there are many. Wondering why my wife and I didn’t read ahead. I am due for my own colonoscopy now but will not be making my appt here.

On my first visit they made me wait over an hour before I saw the doctor. For my procedure they told me to come in 45 min early. Well I did what they asked and I’ve been waiting here for over an hour (again). Time is money and this place assumes you’re rich. Never again.

This is my first time going to a GI doctor but I have seen plenty of specialists to know this office is run poorly. When I went for my appointment, I thought everything went well. Everyone appeared to be nice and things appeared to run smoothly. However, if you are not in the office forget phone or email questions being answered or prompt calls regarding tests. They take forever. In fact, they asked me to wait for my tests to shedule my procedures. I was hoping to get this done within a month. The doctor said that would be a more than acceptable and realistic timeframe to figure everything out. This goal is not looking realistic by any means. I have left two messages with the nurse and sent the doctor an email and I received nothing in return. I am so disappointed. I am about to take all of my tests elsewhere so I can actually get a diagnosis and some recovery from my constant pain. I do not recommend making an appointment here. I am sure there are more attentive doctors then what you find in this office. In fact, I know it.

I have been going to GANV since 2006 and have been to all of the GA offices and never had a problem. I see Dr. Hegab and would recommend him to anyone looking for a caring, knowledgable GI doctor. I have crohn’s disease and he is always on top of the latest in drug information, takes the time to ask lots of questions everytime I see him, orders lots of tests, gives me free samples of medications, and shows that he truly cares and wants me to be in the best health.

I’ve seen Dr. Khapra at the Chantilly location, the Fairfax location, and the Fair Oaks location. I always arrive 15 minutes before my appointment (as requested), but I generally have to wait between 30 – 60 minutes *after* my appointment time to finally see the doctor. The staff has turned a blind eye to my medical complaints during intake and Dr. Khapra does not seem to be hearing my concerns. Recently, I was scheduled for a simple medical procedure that required I fast from specific foods for a period of time. After following explicit pre-​test instructions, I was turned away from the medical procedure for not following the instructions! I tried to get more information from the nurse on what I should do prior to the procedure (as it needed to be rescheduled) and I was again handed the directions that I had already followed. I tried multiple time to communicate to staff that I had followed the directions, I was turned away with a promise for a call from the doctor to address my concerns. 5 days later, I heard back from the nurse, who responded that I needed to reschedule the test and follow the directions given to me. GRRRR! I’m tired of not being heard or understood and finding a new gastroenterologist.

If you like waiting 90, yes, 90 minutes for a doctor by all means go here. That wasn’t a fluke. The other time I went it was 60 minutes. Today I had an ultrasound and they will not call me with the results just because the doctor isn’t there today. I said you have 50 other doctors there have one of them call me. I am now probably going to have to go to the ER and repeat the test since I can’t get a simple «normal» or «not». RI-​DIC-​U_​LOUS.