Fern L. Grapin, MD

I had my first visit with Dr. Grapin today. I was asked to arrive 30 minutes early for my appointment, which seemed odd at first but turned out to be a great thing because I was out of the office (after an exam and blood work) within 30 minutes!
I found everyone in the front of the office (receptionist, phlebotomist, and nurse) to be polite, respectful, attentive, and competent. Dr. Grapin was very nice and competent. I feel as if she asked all the questions necessary to ensure our visit was tailored to my needs.
Overall, the whole experience was as great as an annual pap smear at 715AM can be. I will definitely be back for future exams and I recommend her highly.
Another rater left a comment saying that Dr. Grapin reminded her of a caring Aunt – I’d agree with that, and it’s a good thing in my opinion. Another rater left an unkind comment about the décor of the office. It is different for a doctor’s office, but I felt the «home-​y» style made the entire situation feel more welcoming.

I’ve been a patient for about two years now. I actually found out about her here on Unilocal,and after reading all the positive reviews, I decided to call and make an appointment… I read the negative ones too but they were definitely eye-​roll worthy, over stuff I wouldn’t b!+c# about.
I love everything about Dr. Grapin’s office!
The receptionist (I don’t think I’ve ever gotten her name) checks you in very fast and she knows exactly what she is doing (I’ve been a receptionist in healthcare before so I know what I’m talking about!).
The phlebotomist (I don’t know her name either, sorry! But she’s always there when I’ve been so I assume she’s the only one there!) is really nice and gets the job done quickly and painlessly.
Denise the N.P. is awesome and talking to her makes me feel like I am talking to one of my friends. I had to get a prescription changed recently so I called the office and told the receptionist said she would relay the information to Denise. She got it done so fast!
When Dr. Grapin sees me, I feel like I’m talking to a caring aunt (I guess I’m weird like that but it takes a lot for me to feel comfortable around doctors, especially if you’re going up my junk!). She can keep our conversation going while she’s looking all up in my hooha which really tones down the awkwardness I always felt elsewhere, when the doc’s all up in there like they’re judging in silence. I ask the stupidest questions but she answers me as if I worded my thoughts correctly!
I’ve never felt judged by her or her staff and I actually look forward to my appointments there. That’s not weird, is it?

Probably not the worst but definitely not the best. I couldn’t stand Dr. Grapin’s lectures and her staff are rather judgy… I assume all her other patients are heterosexual; virgins until marriage. I expect some of that but she never gave me the chance to explain that I walk to her office for appointments (which is why I was probably a little sweatier than the average patient) and take yoga before she started her lecture on incorporating walking and a little fitness into my life. She just assumed I didn’t. But what’s the point of having a doctor who doesn’t listen anyway? I switched to Planned Parenthood and never looked back. They listen, understand, and never judge.
Besides, her waiting room is some sort of unfortunate art and jewelry shop… I think it’s tacky.
You might like her if you have a judgy mom who doesn’t trust you and want to be reminded of that. I don’t have that kind of mom, so it seems very strange to have someone talk down to me like that.

I have seen Dr. Grapin for two years, and I have always felt her to be kind and understanding. Her staff has always been courteous and polite when I have been in the office.
My main issue with Dr. Grapin’s practice actually has nothing to do with the office or medical care, but with the answering service. Never in my life have I been treated so rudely as I was when I called after hours to inquire about faxing a prescription to my pharmacy.
Myrna, who answered the phone, was the most impolite, condescending, aggressively insulting customer service representative I have ever had the displeasure to encounter. Her goal seemed to be to make me feel stupid for having the gall to presume that I could leave a message for my healthcare provider after hours.
I’m not sure what the point of an answering service is if the representative can’t be bothered to, you know, answer. The whole experience left me wanting find a new practice where I can hope to be treated with some respect.

I Googled Dr. Grapin to get her phone number and came across this Unilocal profile. I couldn’t believe she had any negative reviews so I felt compelled to add my review related to my experiences.
I have been a patient of Dr. Grapin’s for more years than I can remember — long before she started out on her own practice. I could have remained with her former large, established practice and become a patient of one of her former colleagues. I didn’t because I had every confidence in her. I too, suffered migraines while on birth control pills back in the day but was unwilling to give them up. Dr. Grapin worked with me on changing formulas and other strategies to help alleviate this particular, potential migraine trigger connection. I have a few other gynecological issues that she has treated me for and guided me in some decisions I had to make related to management and treatment. She’ll be the first to admit that neither she nor the science community have all the answers but it is obvious that she keeps up with new breakthroughs in knowledge and treatments for my particular ailments.
Dr. Grapin is down-​to-​Earth, friendly, smart, and caring. She will take the time to answer all my questions no matter how many times I ask the same ones. These are the characteristics I look for in a healthcare provider.
Concerning her staff, I agree that out-​of-​office escapades and should not be discussed in front of patients. Such unprofessional behavior should be brought to Dr. Grapin’s direct attention. In my experience, I have only received friendly, professional service from her staff during my many years of interaction.

How much time do you have to read my thoughts? Allow me to first summarize them in a few words — STAY AWAY!!! Now allow me to list my issues with her practice:
1) She is completely and totally incompetent– it has taken me 2 google searches to find CRITICAL information about my health and well-​being, something I expect a doctor to have a firm grasp of.
First, I suffer from migraines with auras and should not be on birth control with hormones– after having seen a string of neurologists I was told that my birth control contributed to the frequency of my migraines and put me in a high stroke bracket. They asked why my gynecologist knowingly had me on this. I called her office and was told I had to make an appointment to raise the issue with her. When I went in they STILL got it wrong.
Second, I scheduled an IUD appointment after figuring out for myself which birth control to be on. I was told to take misoprostol before the appointment. I just happened to google the medicine the day before my appointment and learned that nobody is prescribing that anymore and that it is actually detrimental to your health. That was the last straw, and I will never be going back to that office EVER again.
2) The rudeness of the staff will blow you away, the nurses are simply horrid to talk to on the phone and treat you like dirt when you are in the office. If you ever happen to need a question answered via phone they tell you that they can’t answer it. When you ask to speak to the doctor they tell you that Dr. Grapin never talks to patients.
3) The office itself is constantly under some sort of construction. Last time I was in I had to sit in an overcrowded office used for storage while painters working on the exterior stared in at me during a gynecological consultation.

Dr. Grapin is the best. Visits never last longer than 15 – 30 minutes and she’s so laid back and honest that I feel like I can ask her anything.
I also had a great experience when I needed further explanation on something and the nurse (I think her name was Denise?) was informative and helpful over the phone.

My husband and I just moved to Alexandria, It was time for my annual and I just checked the web and found very good comments about Dr. Grapin. I’m so glad I decided to go there, very professional, NOT a painful experience, all the opposite! I highly recommend her. God bless!

Dr. Grapin definitely puts you at ease, is prompt with services, and is very open when it comes to answering your questions.
Her staff however, is less than spectacular. I had a 7:45 a.m. appointment, and had to wait about 20 minutes listening to one of her nurses talk about going out without her husband, getting wasted, and almost leaving her car locked in a garage in the city. I don’t care to hear about drunken escapades while waiting to get a pap smear, but if that doesn’t bother you, then I totally recommend Dr. Grapin.

I am surprised at the good reviews. I went here based on Unilocal reviews and am very disappointed, and will not be going back to Dr. Grapin. The nurse practitioner was horribly business-​like and seemed that she could not care less what my answers were to her questions. I was not impressed with Dr. Grapin either. When I was unfamiliar with a vaccine, she acted like I was stupid for not knowing about it and questioned why my former doctors had not mentioned it (that’s not my problem!). I did not feel comfortable with her, or trust her to understand what I wanted to ask. I am giving more than 1 star because I thought it was okay, and quick, and the receptionist was professional and pleasant.

Just as an FYI. she is only a gyn now, no more babies. I’m still on the hunt !

I’ve been seeing Dr. Grapin since I was 29… I am 43 now. She was my doc pre and post-​kids. She delivered the 1^st but wasn’t the doc on call for child #2 and that was fine. Now she is just GYN and that’s unfortunate for those who want to have babies under her care but for those of us who are done, it’s a bonus. I have had a ball getting to know her over the years — she is funny, irreverent, cautious, thorough and has a great bedside manner. I had to have surgery after child #2 on my bladder — delivered 2 9 pound babies. She referred me to another amazing Doc — a surgical gyne-​urologist. Again, brilliant referral. I am 100%. HIGHLY recommend Dr. Grapin if you need a GYN. One of her staffers can be a bit short but they get the job done. This isn’t a social hour, it’s a business and it more important to me to click with the doctor anyway!

I, too, am shocked with the over-​the-​top reviews. Dr. Grapin was good, but she could not make up for the rudeness of her staff. I hate calling that office — no one is ever nice or accommodating. I’ve only been going to her for a year, but I had already been considering leaving. A few weeks ago, I found out I might be pregnant. Never having been pregnant before, I called to schedule an appointment with my doctor. I was told that if I am pregnant, Dr. Grapin will not see me at all anymore and will not deliver the baby. I was told I could come in for a blood test but… Wow! I certainly would never recommend this office to anyone. Why in the world would I go to a doctor just to have to find a new one when I’m pregnant? Instead of being happy, now I’m stressed out trying to find a new OBGYN.

I really was not looking forward to coming, oh the things I’ve heard about this field…*shudders* Thankfully, everyone here, in person and by phone, were very professional, friendly, and laid back.
Dr. Grapin is exceptional, non-​judgmental, and very easy to speak to throughout the entire visit! It really was so nice to be at ease here without ever having that feeling that they are thinking negatively about you. They even laugh and smile here! Laugh AND smile!
It is a small practice, but clean and well kept. If you find yourself wandering to look for it when your GPS ends, it is all the way in the back, past the ladies holding the «Choose Life» signs, on the right side.

I’ve been going to Dr. Grapin for about 5 years and she’s great. I found out about her from a friend that’s been going to her since high school. She really puts you at ease and has a great laid-​back demeanor. They also do a great job of staying on time and getting you out of there quickly so you aren’t spending your whole day in the waiting room. I’d definitely recommend her.

I recommend her highly– and have to girlfriends. Dr. Grapin and her staff are courteous, respectful and treat patients well.

I have been going to Dr. Grapin since I was 16 years old, which will be almost 9 years.
She is wonderful in every way, she is honest, and open, and helpful. She makes the OBGYN experience not so horrible. Plus, I always feels that she tells me the truth about new things, as she was the one to inform me of the HPV shot.
I recommend her to my friends and family and to anyone looking for an OBGYN.

It’s not often I walk out of a doctor’s office with my mouth hanging open, shocked and awed… IN A GOOD WAY.
That was my last experience with Dr. Grapin. When Dr. Jeffrey-​Coker sold her practice to Dr. Grapin two years ago, I was nervous. I’ve had *really* bad experiences when my old-​faithfuls have decided to sell their practices to less-​than-​competent boobs. Dr. Grapin, however, is a wonderful replacement.
The office is quiet, tidy, and never crowded. It feels more like a comfortable living room than a bleak waiting room. Dr. Grapin doesn’t overschedule herself just to rake in the dough: she allows 30 minutes per appointment, more than adequate time! You’re not sharing the waiting area with 20 other frustrated patients. Her bedside manner is really pleasant, kind, and calming. The staff in the office are friendly and efficient. On my last visit, I was in and out in *TWENTY* minutes. And amazingly, I didn’t feel the least bit rushed or hurried. Incredible!
A breath of fresh air in a stank, insurance-​driven world.