Dr. Donna Marie Graessle, DO

I would rate Dr Graessle with 10 stars for her bedside manner and care for her patients. She is the very best.

I would like to add an update on my experience with Dr. Graessle. First of all, to Karen, RN, who said "Just read some of the reviews and I feel, other Dr.s have had their staff write them". I can assure you that I am not a staff member of any other doctor, but a retired nurse myself, who lives 3 hours away from Dr. Graessle's office. I never met Dr. Graessle, before I was referred to her, by a colorectal specialist. I have no desire to write reviews, negative or otherwise, just for the fun of it or just because you "think" someone else works for another doctor. I write reviews, both good & bad, based on my own personal experience with a doctor. Just because you claim to have had a positive experience with Dr. Graessle, doesn't mean that everyone else has had that same experience. I was referred to Dr. Graessle, last year, by Dr. Lina O'Brien, to see if she could determine why I was having upper right quadrant pain that radiated to my back. It was like a very uncomfortable,… constant ache & then a sudden sharp stabbing pain that started underneath my rib cage & into my back. The "ache" felt like a severe muscle cramp. The cramping was one thing, but the stabbing was unbearable. After my first visit with her, she did order an EGD & told me everything was fine. She also gave me a copy of the pics she took during the EGD. Once I arrived home & the anesthesia wore off, I looked at the pics & was curious as to why the only abnormal area, was erosion where the common bile duct enters the intestines, near the duodenum. I called her office back, the next work day & asked the nurse to speak with Dr. Graessle, about the area of erosion. I told her that I knew, from experience, as a nurse, that the erosion could not be from gastritis, reflux, etc.. The nurse spoke with Dr. Graessle & she readily admitted that the erosion wasn't from that. But, whey did I have to bring that to her attention. She is the specialist, after all. Initially, she didn't want to do anything further, to find the reason for the erosion, but she finally ordered an MRCP, but without contrast. I received a call from her nurse about 1 week later & was told that everything was normal & Dr. Graessle felt my upper right abdominal pain was probably due to adhesions. Since, I have developed such a distrust of doctors, I always like to see the reports myself. I asked the nurse if she could send a copy of the MRCP test results to me, which she did. It was after I received the MRCP test results, that I read that not only did I have an adrenal tumor, but also a fairly large, dilated extrahepatic duct. I called the office back & asked the nurse, why I wasn't told about the adrenal tumor & dilated extrahepatic duct & asked whether an ERCP would be beneficial in finding the cause of the dilatation. The only answer I received back was no, because Dr. Graessle had already performed an MRCP & that was enough. Dr. Graessle's nurse then told me that the extrahepatic duct was "probably" enlarged, due to gall bladder surgery I had 25 years before. I then began doing my own research & found this was a totally bogus excuse & highly improbable. But, it is an excuse that many doctors use, when they don't want to do further testing to find out the cause. Fast forward to this year, when I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Lina O'Brien. I had seen Dr. O'Brien because I was having both upper & lower abdominal pain, constant & overwhelming fatigue, nausea & vaginal bleeding, even though I had a total hysterectomy 27 years ago. She determined, at the first office visit that I had a rectocele, which 3 previous gynecologists had missed. But, she didn't feel that was the cause of my vaginal bleeding. Dr. O'Brien ordered 2 tests & during the 3rd & final appointment I had with her, she suggested I have surgery, but asked that I "think about it", because it would be extensive & at least 4 hours long, depending on what they found. She told me I had not only the rectocele, but she also suspected pelvic floor dysfunction & adhesions. Dr. O'Brien related to me that she didn't feel the pain I was having in my upper right abdomen was due to adhesions. I agreed to think about it, because my intent in finding a cause for my health issues, wasn't to have surgery, but a resolution, that didn't include surgery. After thinking about whether to have surgery or not (for 16 months), I finally decided I would agree to the surgery, because I was tired of the pain, fatigue & bleeding. However, Dr. O'Brien decided she wouldn't do the surgery after all. Upon my arrival back home, I thought about it & spoke with my personal physician & he referred me to a surgeon to see if they could offer any solutions. The surgeon wanted me to get a copy of all tests that had been previously been ordered. So I called back up to Dr. O'Brien's office & requested a copy of my medical file, including all tests. Actually, I should be thanking Dr. O'Brien, for refusing to do my surgery, otherwise, I would not have found out what was showing up on the tests, that they neglected to tell me. Once, I reviewed the medical reports & notes by both Dr. Graessle & Dr. O'Brien, I realized it was probably for the best that Dr. O'Brien didn't do my surgery, because I would not want anyone, that negligent performing surgery on me. While reading the medical reports, I read where the radiologist noted in his report that I had a pelvic mass & "thought" it "might" be an ovary. The problem with that scenario, is that I had a total hysterectomy 27 years ago. Both Dr. Graessle & Dr. O'Brien knew this, because I not only wrote it on my medical history, but personally, told them. Yet, neither one of them told me about the mass - I had to read about it myself. Dr. Graessle even mentioned in her doctors notes, about the mass & that she was pretty sure I had a t

I waited 1 hour and 15 minutes for my appointment, and because the staff did not update me on waiting times I had to leave without seeing the doctor. I have worked in the medical field for years, I know things happen that make physicians late. The nurse and receptionist were sitting at the front desk engaged in personal conversation while I waited. I could clearly hear them and now I am also aware of who some of her patients are along with their confidential information. I waited 1 month for this appointment, I told the woman who schedules that my symptoms are worse and I can't wait that long, keep in mind I am an established patient. When I had to schedule a procedure that my PCP wanted done ASAP I was told that everyone has met their deductables for the year and that is why I had to wait 2 months for a procedure. So deductables and routine screening procedures took priority over my severe symptoms. I could not believe the scheduler actually said that out loud to me. I would… not recommend this physician at all, I find the way she practices appalling, but at least she got paid up front before anything is done, because money is very important to her. I like money too, but I know I have to provide good service to make it. She obviously doesn't need to since people flock to her assembly line practice.

Just read some of the reviews and I feel, other Dr.s have had their staff write them. Clinical evaluation from a retired Cardio-Thoracic ICU , Transplant, Burn Care Nurse with Management and Education Roles in my 43 yr career , Dr. Graessle is one of the most caring, listening, accurate Doctors I have met in my 5 state experiences. Yes, Iris, the lady who schedules needs to return calls , same day or next. I worked in 2 hospitals, where Dr. Graessle is on staff, and that is why, she is , and will be our family G.I. specialist.

I was sent to see Dr. Graessle to see if she could determine why I was having upper right abdominal pain that was radiating to my back. My spouse took me up to see her as I was so sick I couldn't drive myself. Unfortunately, my husband also began to feel ill on the way up, due to health problems he has. The office staff seemed to be more interested in socializing with sales reps. than attending to patients because I was left waiting over 1 1/2 hrs. in front lobby before I was taken back to the exam room. Her staff was rude & yelled at me in front of other patients. They blamed me because they hadn't received copies of previous tests from the referring physician in the same complex. I told her I had my personal doctor fax up tests she had requested & I felt she could have either called the referring doctor for tests or walked over to their office to ask the other doctors for the tests they had ordered, since I didn't live in the area & had to travel almost 3 hours to get to the… office. I also heard the girl at front desk talking about other patients, including personal info like their address, phone numbers, SSN & medical history. This is clearly inappropriate. I then waited another 1 hour before Dr. Graessle came into room. She walked into the room & seemed to be in a very happy mood. She said she was "sorry" for being late, but it didn't seem very sincere. She performed a basic exam & then ordered an EGD. I told her I had no abdominal pain, but she insisted. She ultimately performed an EGD & only biopsied for bacteria, even though there were abnormal areas of erosion where ducts entered into duodenum (before small intestine). She said I didn't have ulcers (heck I knew that) & stomach was entirely normal. I knew that too b/c pain wasn't in my abdomen. She didn't want to do any further tests until I questioned the areas of erosions where the ducts entered into duodenum. She finally ordered a MRCP, but refused to order iodine with test. Even radiologist said that would have been more helpful. She told me everything was "normal" & told me I probably had adhesions. I asked for copies of the test. It was only after receiving copies of the tests that I noticed there were some abnormalities, including a tumor. Even referring physician didn't agree with the diagnosis. She has put off any surgical consultation until I see endocrinologist for the tumor & other problems noted on the tests. I won't be seeing her again. I have follow up appointment with endocrinologist in a few weeks & have since visited another gastroenterologist who disagreed with her diagnosis & have been referred to more specialists, since they feel my problem is caused by several factors that she clearly ignored & overlooked.

I have been going to Dr. Graessle for years and I absolutely love the woman. She is kind, caring and knowledgeable. She listens to what you have to say and doesn't rush the visit. She isn't interested in shoving Rx down your throat either. I have been to several other GI's in the area and she is bar none the best. Sarah, her nurse, is terrific as well. I will say that getting an appointment is a bit challenging though. The woman I spoke with, about a year ago, was not as polite as she could have been.

The Best.

Wonderful doctor, IF you can get her scheduler to return your phone calls. HORRIBLE STAFF.

This doctor is soo money hungery that she is required to have a full payment upfront before she will do any surgery even if it is life threatening. Obsessed with money.

DR. Graessle is the best, I give her 5 Star.