CP&A Foggy Bottom

I have been taking my child (ren) to this office for 3 years now and I cannot say enough good things about the CP&A doctors. They are so caring and helpful. Whether it is a minor medical issue, a first-​time parent question, or a serious concern (all of which I’ve brought to them), they give each question and issue consideration and take the time to explain it to you. It’s true that they are often running behind schedule, but as someone who has unfortunately had to spend more than their allotted appointment time with the doctor due to a medical issue, I appreciate that they give their patients (and the parents) their full attention, even if they do run behind schedule as a result. Because, in the end, what you want is quality medical care for your child. They have even called to check up on my child after a hospital visit. The nurse’s line is also very helpful if you have a simple question, particularly when it comes to home care for a virus or breastfeeding issues. The new office is very nice and welcoming. The only frustration I’ve experienced beyond waiting for my appointment is with the billing department, which is part of the larger Children’s National network.

This is a review for prenatal and new patient consultations. I am currently 7 months pregnant and in the process of interviewing pediatricians, so I haven’t visited as a true patient yet, but after having such a helpful conversation over the phone I wanted to leave a brief review.
I called on a weekday afternoon intending simply to request a new patient interview with one of the doctors, since I assumed the office might be too busy and become impatient if I asked too many questions over the phone. I was completely wrong; in the process of booking my appointment, Scarlet managed to answer all of my questions quickly, honestly, and politely. It really boosted my opinion of the practice, so much so that I don’t feel the need to meet with the others that I had been considering (mostly out of a concern that this practice might be too big to operate efficiently, based on some of the other reviews here).
From what I can tell the doctors are all very well-​regarded, the only complaints I’ve read have to do with the office style, but Scarlet was so professional it really put my mind at ease. I look forward to working with this practice, thanks Scarlet!

I have 3 kids who are patient here. For the past 9 years I have been bringing my children here. The doctors are absolutely great BUT I may need to find a new office for them. One of my kids got sick after hours so I can the nurse line. Yes, I was contacted promptly and after I was told solutions to my child’s issue, I was then told that the doctor would call back to follow up. Never happened and this is not the first time. Also, the front desk staff is always rude. The only bright spot is when I get to see the doctor. After 9 years, it’s time for me to go when I feel welcomed from the front to the back. I also need a place that I can call when my kids get sick and I get actual feedback from the doctor.

This review is about the practice as a whole, not the doctors. Every doctor we have had with our two boys have been great. Especially Dr. Wagner. She is the only reason we have stuck with this place for 5 years.
However I think we have had enough and will find a new doctor. They are late for nearly every appointment by 30 – 45 minutes, and we make them for first thing in the morning before they get backed up. We wait on hold for 15 – 20 minutes just to make an appointment and you have to make them 2 months out. If your child is actually sick, forget it. Just as hard and you wait around forever. My most recent visit, they didn’t even have my son’s appointment on the schedule. They said I could wait around and see if the dr could squeeze is in. Not really helpful to just wait and see. Luckily our doctor said she would see us and gave us a specific time. I did find my appointment card to show them the mistake was on their end. The lady at the desk acted like they were still doing me a favor. The only one to apologize was the doctor.
So great doctors but the rest is pretty bad.

My son has been a patient of the Foggy Bottom practice since birth. We’ve had excellent experiences in all their services: doctors, nurses, phone appointments and urgent care.
No complaints at all.

The ONE STAR is for the FRONT DESK ripping me off at the Capitol Hill Location:
Okay, now I see why there were bad reviews about the front desk.
I’m a little disappointed to find out that they have been unnecessarily charging me to my child’s medical records — when I didn’t actually need them. It turns out that you can get your child’s vaccination records for free. They ask every single visit, «Would you want your medical records» — keep in mind that 1) there are actually 2 forms — one which they automatically give you for free and this one — which they charge you for. This 2^nd form is completely unnecessary — as the only purpose that it serves it to start a new daycare. This wasn’t made clear at all. Instead, they kept asking — and charging me.
Please don’t make the same error because their lack of explanations.

The medical staff we’ve seen have been terrific, but administrative issues are a nightmare, and frankly jeopardize patient safety. I called over the weekend when my very young son broke his arm, so we could make sure to see the orthopedist the practice would recommend and be most comfortable following up with, and the notes from the call I made over the weekend got lost — so the hour I spent on the phone on Sunday, and the 45 minutes on the following Monday were wasted — and I never received a follow-​up call to try to get my son’s care coordinated. The medical staff all seem terrific, but we’re changing practices after this very last straw. My kids deserve better. We were with a huge practice in New York most recently, with 2 enormously busy locations, and we NEVER had to deal with nasty staff, ridiculous phone waits, and lost notes (for my kid with some health issues that have required some attention).

It’s hard to compare pediatrician offices since I’ve only ever taken my daughter to one. But having made about 15 visits to this office, I can sure identify it’s pros and cons. Here we go…
Pros:
1. They have same or next-​day appointments for sick children. You call the nurse and if she thinks it’s serious enough, she gets the child on the morning drop-​in list. The wait for drop-​in list is really not bad.
2. The nurse advice line is terrific. They call back promptly and will help over the phone. We even got the nurse to send us paperwork for return to daycare, without having to go to the office. Awesome. Thank you, Emily!
3. Our doctor was nice and not alarmist, which I liked.
Cons:
1. Their office looks run– down, old and dirty.
2. The front desk staff are hit or miss. Third floor is usually fine, fourth floor is where you need to brace for barking and other niceties from the receptionists. They have tons of attitude, if not sense for customer service.
3. It s cramped and busy in the waiting room.
4. (Now this is a shameful one) They do not have accessible bathrooms or a changing area for babies! People change poopy diapers on the floor, in strollers and on the bench in front of the elevators.
5. It’ s really hard to schedule well child appointment, especially since they only open booking 1 month in advance.
6. They overly rely on residents for sick child visits.
7. The waiting times for well child visits are horrendous. We have waited 2 hours with a small baby, in a room full of sick children. (guess what, baby caught RSV there, yuk) We never waited less than 1 hour past appointment time.
8. The parking situation is ridiculous. The valet downstairs is completely understaffed. At times, this generates 3 blocks of traffic jam on k street. But if you arrive 3 minutes late at your appointment after waiting 45 minutes in jammed k street, they might reschedule you…
Overall, if there were a better option, I would switch. However, I’m not convinced the other pediatric offices are any better.

I am so relieved to have found this practice. Coming here from my previous pediatrician’s office was like night and day. BIG upgrade. I have never had to wait long past an appointment time, their administrative staff is friendly and appears very organized, and most importantly, my baby’s Dr (Dr Smith-​Khuri) is incredibly thorough, compassionate, and knowledgeable. The nurse call line (Emily?) has always responded promptly to my questions, which has also made a big difference in my stress level as a new parent. Since I found this practice a few months ago, I have been recommending this practice to any mom that will listen.

On the positive side, it’s nice to use a big practice when your child is sick and you are in a pinch for a pediatrician at the last minute. A doctor is almost always available for next day or same day service.
On the negative side…
1) Impossible to get through by phone and will only let you schedule appts 2 months ahead or less
2) It’s hard to get the same doctor each time so there is no continuity; they don’t remember you from one appt to the next; very impersonal in that sense
3) Very clinical in their approach; no attention to individual needs or preferences; your child is just a number
4) Not remotely holisitic; they are just medicine men (and women)
5) Nurse traige line is no more helpful than Google

My daughter has been a patient here since she was born. The first couple of months we struggled to help her with a tough case of acid reflux, which necessitated multiple trips to the pediatrician. The office was always able to fit us in for an appointment the same or very next day. We have seen multiple doctors in this practice and they have all been wonderful and very knowledgeable. The majority have taken their time during appointments, answering our questions patiently. In addition, the nurse advice line was a godsend– the nurse who staffs it during the day, Emily, is the best!
While the majority of the doctors have been in practice for many years, there are several who are much younger. I think this is a great thing– having recent graduates means the practice is exposed to the latest medical treatments and procedures, while at the same time you have invaluable years of experience from the more seasoned doctors.
A bonus is the Breastfeeding Center is located in the same building. While CPA does not have lactation consultants on staff, the Breastfeeding Center offers both in-​office and home consults.
The drawback? The office is very busy and the waiting room is cramped. When my daughter was a newborn I spent most of our time before appointments waiting in the hallway to minimize her exposure to sick kids.
I am very happy with this practice and will continue to take my daughter here!

My son just turned one, and we’ve already been to three pediatric practices. Not because he’s needed special medical care, but because his mommy is picky, picky, picky.
The first practice (Capitol Medical Group) doesn’t take our new insurance and is a little too far. The second (Pullman & Ariza) isn’t open on Saturdays. So, encouraged by a million positive reviews on various mommy boards, off to Children’s Pediatricians we go!
I have nothing against big, impersonal practices, but this was a bit too much for me. Was I supposed to take a number somewhere? I checked in on the 4^th floor, was sent down to the 3^rd floor, then had to go back to the 4^th floor to check out. Rather than having blood drawn at the practice, we were sent to a lab, which, fortunately was in the same building. All the while, I felt like cattle (appropriate, since I had to sing «Old McDonald» a thousand times so my son would stay calm.)
Dr. Sepe (the only doctor we’ve met so far) was super nice, and we were impressed that they had gone digital a long time ago, unlike some of our other doctors, who are fighting electronic health records like it’s a disease. The other staff members we interacted with? Lukewarm, at best.
Apparently, their wait times aren’t bad, considering the size of the practice, but it’s annoying to see 8 – 10 people just hanging out behind the receptionist when you’re there for what’s supposed to be a quick pick-​up, especially since they’re apparently super duper strict about appointment times. This is total hearsay, but a mom I met in the waiting room, who had been waiting for 20 minutes, told us that the day after the monster snowstorm last year, they made her reschedule because she was 3 minutes late! As my son will no doubt start saying soon: No fair!