Janet Parnes MD in Baltimore: OB/GYN with Established Hospital Affiliation

Janet Parnes MD is an obstetrician and gynecologist practicing in Baltimore with clinical privileges at University of Maryland Medical Center. Her practice handles obstetric care, gynecological surgery, and general women's health across the lifespan, placing her in Baltimore's larger network of maternal and reproductive health providers.

What she actually does

Parnes provides comprehensive obstetric and gynecological services. Obstetric care includes prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum follow-up for pregnant patients. Gynecological services span routine gynecology, in-office procedures, and surgical interventions. She also manages general women's health concerns including contraception counseling, hormone therapy, and prevention screenings. Her affiliation with University of Maryland Medical Center means deliveries and hospitalizations occur at that facility on the Maryland medical campus.

Services and patient access

New-patient calls are directed through her practice office. Most insurance plans are accepted, but verification of coverage is necessary before the first visit since individual plan details vary and network status can differ by plan year; calling ahead prevents surprise denials.

Obstetric patients are seen for initial prenatal intake, then typically at regular intervals: every four weeks in early pregnancy, every two weeks in the third trimester, and weekly near term. First visits usually block 45 to 60 minutes for history, screening labs, and ultrasound. Routine prenatal visits run 20 to 30 minutes.

Gynecological procedures offered in an office setting (like biopsies, IUD placement, and minor surgical management) do not require hospital admission. More complex gynecological surgeries (including hysterectomy and myomectomy) are performed at University of Maryland Medical Center.

Specific pricing is not publicly listed on most independent practice websites. Cost depends on insurance; uninsured or self-pay patients should request a fee schedule at the office and inquire about payment arrangements, as they vary by procedure.

How Parnes compares locally

Baltimore has obstetricians in both hospital-based and private group settings. University of Maryland Medical Center houses multiple OB/GYN attending physicians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists; patients can be scheduled directly at their clinics but receive care within the teaching hospital model. Mercy Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital also maintain obstetric services with attending physicians, though individual provider listings are less transparent to the public.

Choose Parnes if you want continuity with a single private-practice physician whose deliveries occur at University of Maryland. Choose a hospital-based clinic if you prioritize seeing multiple providers before labor so you meet whoever is on call. Patients with high-risk pregnancies (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia risk, advanced maternal age) may benefit from maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists available at Johns Hopkins, which has a dedicated MFM division; Parnes would refer such cases as indicated but is not a specialist in that domain.

Who this suits and who it does not

Parnes is a fit for patients seeking obstetric care or gynecological management with a single provider for continuity and who accept University of Maryland Medical Center as their delivery hospital. Her practice is suitable for uncomplicated pregnancies, routine gynecological care, and office-based procedures.

This practice is not ideal for patients who need maternal-fetal medicine subspecialty input from the start (such as those with diabetes or prior complicated pregnancies), those who prefer Johns Hopkins as their hospital system, or those seeking only telehealth gynecology visits. Patients requiring immediate gynecological emergency care should present to an emergency department; this office is appointment-based.

The first visit for obstetrics

Initial prenatal visits begin with a detailed history: age, prior pregnancies and outcomes, medical and surgical history, medications, and family history. A physical exam and routine labs follow: blood type and antibody screen, CBC, metabolic panel, urinalysis, STI testing, and dating ultrasound (usually at 8 to 12 weeks to confirm due date). These labs are often drawn on-site or sent to a reference lab; results are reviewed at the next visit or by phone.

The visit includes discussion of what to expect during pregnancy, labor options (vaginal vs. planned cesarean, if relevant), pain management preferences, hospital policies, and postpartum plans. Patients receive written materials about diet, activity, and what to report urgently (bleeding, severe pain, loss of fetal movement).

The first visit for routine gynecology

A gynecology visit typically includes a history of the chief complaint, relevant past medical and gynecologic history, sexual and contraceptive history, and menstrual history. A physical exam follows, including pelvic examination and cervical cytology (pap smear) if indicated and not recently performed. Contraception counseling is provided if needed; options are discussed based on patient preference, contraindications, and insurance coverage.

Hours, parking, and location

Specific office hours and parking details are best confirmed by calling the practice office, as hours can shift seasonally or for coverage. University of Maryland Medical Center operates a parking garage on campus; patients should budget extra time for hospital lot navigation on their first obstetric visit. Obstetric emergencies and labor are managed through the hospital's labor and delivery unit, accessible 24/7 by the main ER entrance.

Parnes maintains a private practice focus that appeals to patients wanting a consistent care relationship for obstetrics and gynecology in Baltimore's academic medical environment.