Medical Care Warning -- My Experience with Dr. Paoloni…read more I am sharing this review based on documentation and my own medical records. I am not currently pursuing a lawsuit, but I reserve the right to do so. I am not seeking compensation, though I did request a refund for services that I believe -- based on known risk factors and medication interactions -- should not have been recommended without additional safeguards. Pregnancy Care - 2013 I was under Dr. Paoloni's care during my pregnancy in 2013. While things seemed routine early on, the final weeks became frightening -- and, in hindsight, may have been preventable. My blood pressure rose from 109/70 to 154/111 I gained nearly 40 pounds in under four months Proteinuria (1+ positive) was documented multiple times These are classic signs of preeclampsia, yet I was: Not warned about the risks Not placed under additional monitoring Not advised on symptoms to watch for At my 9/27 appointment, I was told to drive myself to the hospital for a "pre-E evaluation" -- despite dangerously high blood pressure. No transport was offered. I was alone and unaware I had entered a medical crisis. Within a week, I developed severe eclampsia, underwent an emergency C-section at 34 weeks, and my baby was taken to the NICU. I was unable to see or hold him for over 24 hours due to magnesium sulfate treatment and complications. Semaglutide + Lexapro - 2024 In 2024, I was again a patient -- now at River City OB/GYN, under Dr. Paoloni's supervision. I was already prescribed Lexapro 40mg daily (twice the FDA-approved max). That dosage was documented in my chart. After reviewing my medications, his office recommended Semaglutide injections for weight loss. The first dose was administered by his nurse, and the rest were self-administered -- all under Dr. Paoloni's supervision, as noted in my records. Why this is concerning: Lexapro (an SSRI) increases serotonin Semaglutide (GLP-1) also affects serotonin pathways Combined, they increase the risk of serotonin toxicity Shortly after my first injection, I reported dizziness and dry mouth -- early signs of serotonin overload. No medication review occurred. No referral or pause in treatment. I was never warned about this risk, despite clear documentation that I was on high-dose Lexapro. Refund, NDA, and Silencing Attempt After raising concerns, I was offered a $1,000 refund -- but only if I signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that would: Waive all legal and regulatory rights Prevent me from speaking about my experience -- publicly or privately I declined. I expressed concern about the NDA's scope. In response, Dr. Paoloni referred communication to his legal counsel, and no revisions were offered. To be transparent: Dr. Paoloni has repeatedly stated, both directly and through legal counsel, that he believes he followed the standard of care in my case. I respectfully disagree -- and my review is based on documentation, medical records, and my lived experience. Dr. Paoloni's License Lookup (see "Yes" under Additional Public Info): https://dhp.virginiainteractive.org/Lookup/Detail/0101241161 Final Thoughts I'm not sharing this to be vindictive or dramatic. I'm sharing it because patients deserve transparency -- and no one should be silenced by legal agreements when the care they received raises real concerns. If you're considering care here: Ask questions Keep copies of everything Pay close attention to what's not explained We deserve safe, ethical, trauma-informed care. And no one should ever be asked to trade their voice for a refund.

Dr. Paoloni has been my doctor for over 10 years at VPFW, and eventually he opened his own practice…read moreat St.Francis hospital. He is exceptional in his care and it is rare to find such dedication and attentiveness nowadays. I feel really fortunate to find Dr. Paoloni and be his patient and if you are in need of a great OB/GYN your search is over.

My obgyn Dr. Any Zavelsky is amazing and listened to all of my concerns and answers all of my…read morequestions and explains everything so well. I am recommending her to everyone I know because in today's world is very hard to find people that care and she does! The staff is very welcoming and professional.

Churn and burn gyno's office. I truly only think they care about the volume of clients they have…read moreversus the women who are actually walking through their doors.

I made my first appointment with this office because they were in-network with my insurance but…read morealso for their reviews. I am extremely upset that my experience at this office was absolutely horrible, and I will not be returning. I have never felt more like a number than right now. The lack of care is extremely disappointing. I had a procedure in this office; again, I went here because they were listed as in my network. To my surprise, this office uses a different lab and sent it to a separate Doctor to review my results. Now this Doctor who I have not seen and did not know about was not in-network with my insurance. Now I have received a $530 bill in the middle of a pandemic and no explanation as to why it was sent to someone my insurance didn't cover. The receptionist handled my phone call poorly, told me I needed to speak to billing. I asked her why I would talk to them when it was their office that failed. She then placed me on hold without telling me, which I was stuck on for 15 minutes, just to be told, "Well, did you ask what lab they were sending it to?" I am a new patient, and I assumed that this was taken care of in their office, with their lab with the Doctor that I had been seeing. If they had cared, they would have taken a better look at my insurance and sent it to the correct one since there are apparently multiple. The receptionist was busy trying to rush me off the phone at this point and told me I would receive a call from a manager and no surprise to me I have not heard from anyone. Another note I would like to make, they made a surgical appointment for me without my consent, not even a phone call other than the one I got to "confirm" the surgery. Fixing that was a nightmare because of their hours, not being able to leave a voicemail, and no email. Never have I been to an office where they just make your appointment for you without calling/asking what your schedule is, especially for surgery! I understand I am just one patient out of the many they see, but this is unacceptable. I want to stress that anyone thinking of making an appointment even though it says they are in your network make sure you ask the "correct" questions.

Amazing service so far going to deliver my baby here! Just moved from Hawaii, everyone is so…read morefriendly great hospital so far!

Being diagnosed with a BRCA1 gene mutation in my 20s was overwhelming enough -- but going into…read moresurgical menopause at just 30 years old felt like another life-altering blow. I honestly didn't know what to expect or how I'd manage the sudden, intense symptoms. Thankfully, I found Dr. Nathan Guerette. From the very first appointment, Dr. Guerette made me feel heard -- truly heard. He didn't rush me, dismiss my concerns, or treat me like I was just another patient on a schedule. He took the time to explain what was happening with my body, helped me understand the long-term impacts of early menopause, and most importantly, reassured me that I didn't have to suffer through it. What sets Dr. Guerette apart is his incredible bedside manner. There's a calmness and compassion in the way he speaks that immediately puts you at ease. He listened without judgment, validated my experience, and worked with me to find a solution tailored to my needs -- not a one-size-fits-all plan. That solution came in the form of biosynthetic hormone pellet implants, and let me tell you: they have been transformational. Within weeks of receiving the pellets, I noticed a huge reduction in hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, and the emotional rollercoaster I had been riding. I finally started to feel like myself again -- not just surviving, but living. I'm so grateful to Dr. Guerette for his expertise, empathy, and unwavering support through one of the most challenging transitions of my life. If you're facing something similar -- BRCA1, early menopause, hormone disruption -- don't wait or try to tough it out alone. Go see Dr. Guerette. He listens. He cares. And he knows how to help.

The care that I received at that the Intimate Wellness Institute of Virginia was excellent. I can…read moretalk with the staff and they will listen to my heath concerns.The office experience is wonderful and they don't rush you at the front desk. Overall, my experience today was fantastic.

Do not recommend as a general practitioner. The communication & patient experience could not be…read moreworse here. Have used various providers at this location - they mention they will be following up with a call to go over blood work and never indeed follow-up. Inside the portal, the communication is a one way street meaning that once you receive a message, it is impossible to use the portal to reply back to any providers as your replys are ignored. It is like pulling teeth to get any results back and follow-up. Not a place I would recommend and even if you meticulously remind the providers to follow-up, results may vary...

This Doctors office is a bit off my beaten path but I trust the Doctors here. At one time they were…read moreshort staff but now they have 2 new nurse practitioners. I called to make an appointment thinking maybe I would get one in a week or so and upon asking for first available... to my surprise she said "Today at 4:00." I quickly replied with excitement " I'm on my way!" I've seen Dr. James Miller (he's hard to get) Dr. Turned (great Dr.) Dr. Eastman (no longer there) and a few others. The one I just saw is new her name is Maddie. She was friendly and took time to explain some concerns I had. I made another appointment with her for a Physical. The waiting area is spacious (social distance if needed) and clean. The front staff to check you in is efficient and quick. Always a good thing if you're not feeling yourself.

You are in charge of your body and decisions with Dr Lawson. She will guide you through everything…read moreand find what works best for you. The best gynecologist I have ever seen and has continuously helped me in many ways. The office is super clean and nurses are very friendly.

From the owner: Dr. Kristen Lewis is an OB/GYN at Virginia Physicians for Women. Her areas of expertise are first…read moretime visits, contraception and family planning, low intervention obstetric care, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and health care maintenance. Dr. Lewis sees patients at VPFW's Koger Center and Prince George offices and delivers babies at Johnston Willis Hospital. She performs procedures at Johnston Willis Hospital and the Surgery Center at Virginia Physicians for Women.