2013 experience only please: Have you found a good, organized clinic?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

We're thinking about leaving our fertility clinic, in search of a more organized and effective one. Ours was good once, but staff turnover has left it a shambles. (We've missed more than one cycle due to their shoddy monitoring and communication.)

We don't care (much) about warm and fuzzy. We just want an accessible, communicative, competent and organized office -- preferably in DC or Montgomery Co.

A good doctor, a responsible and competent nursing staff, and an organized billing and insurance office. We really don't care if it's a cattle call.

Any suggestions? (Given the frequent staff turnover at these places, we're looking for input from people who have used their practice in the past 6 months.)

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have been very happy with Dominion Fertility. I saw them in Arlington, but they do have a new office in Bethesda. They have been very on the ball, as well as very responsive over the phone and via email. There are 4 docs there, 2 new, but the new ones where added, not replacing ones who left. Also the main 2 docs there (Gordon & DiMattina) started/own the clinic, so I doubt they will be leaving!

[Anonymous]

Nope! They all suck. preying on desperation. Makes me sick.

[Anonymous]

So far so good at Shady Grove K Street. Had a test done at Rockville - easy peasy. My nurse is great and accessible. Haven't had to use the financial counselor yet since diagnostics are covered by insurance. I have a procedure scheduled next month at their Sibley surgery center - getting that scheduled was a breeze. And I love Dr. Widra. I don't feel like anyone is preying on me.

[Anonymous]

Op - can you tell us the name of your clinic?

[Anonymous]

OP here. At this point, I'd prefer not to name the clinic, because we haven't left them yet, and we don't want to have an antagonistic relationship with them as long as we're still there.

Suffice it to say that their name has not come up in this thread as a possible solution to our problem. (We're leaning toward moving over to Shady Grove.)

Despite the fact that we're still two weeks away from Day 1 of the next cycle, the financial office at our current clinic is already telling us that we probably won't be able to go forward with the next cycle because they (the clinic) submitted the wrong type of procedure to our insurance co for pre-authorization, and golly there's just nothing they can do to un-do that. Whatever. Our insurance co doesn't even require pre-authorization, the clinic is the one that insists on pre-auth.

I think this new insurance procedure is just a way to get us to pay up front and maybe even let some of the money we pay "age" in their accounting system before refunding us after they are reimbursed by the insurance co.

Sorry for the rant. It's hard enough to deal with trying to get pregnant, but it completely SUCKS to have a clinic that seems hellbent on NOT getting you pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I was very impressed with SG DC in terms of how well they ordered my paper work and how quick they were to tell me how much everything would cost upfront.

Unfortunately, as a newbie to the infertility world, arriving on Day 1 to meet with an unimpressive doctor, receive a laundry list of mandatory testing before they would even see me again, to meet with a nurse who wasn't able to answer questions, and a financial counselor who made me look at prices for IVF was way too much.

All I'm saying is be careful for what you wish for ... having procedures in place does not mean you're going to end up happy.

[Anonymous]

I know people will disagree due to the issue of only having one doc, but I have had no issues with GW. Dr. F is on top of things, Brian in finance is a-ma-zing, and the nurses were quick to respond to calls/emails. Coming from the total disfunction of CFA, it was unbelievable to cycle without perpetually wondering what was going on.

[Anonymous]

Used Dominion in 2010 and again in Jan/Feb of this year. I saw all 4 doctors this year, and I liked them all. Dr D is my main Dr and he did all of the procedures. He's not warm and fuzzy, but an excellent Dr.
I basically had the same few nurses for all of the blood draws. I think they are a well run practice.

[Anonymous]

Recently switched to SGFC and, from the minute I walked in the front door, was amazed at the difference. SG was a much, much better-run operation. You can always set up a consult there. From the first consult, I think you can get a pretty good feel for the staff and how the office is run because you meet with your nurse and the financial counselors.

[Anonymous]

Brian at GW is indeed amazing. I got approved for my cycle the second day I was covered under my insurance and starte my cycle like 3 days later. I consulted with Dr G but he was gone once our cycle was really under way and he did my ER and ET (ER was a Friday, he called me each day over the weekend to give a status report). I had issues it's getting meds approved, GW got everything straightened out. I am a fan. Try aren't in the profit driven industry like many other clinics, and take much more risky cases. That's what we liked about it. My nurse still checks in me at 21+ weeks pregnant to see how I am doing.
Hope you find a place you like!

[Anonymous]

18:21 here...I forgot to mention, yes this was 2013 and GW never hounded us to pay anything. We paid a 50% deposit by choice but thy didn't require it - they just require you pay your balance within 6 months I think, or before you do another cycle. The total cost with our insurance was under $2500 and they even gave us a refund when insurance paid more than GW thought they would once it was all said and done. I was like...wait, a doctor's office giving a refund because they got extra funds from insurance? Whaaaaat? Lol

[Anonymous]

Really happy with Dr. Payson at DF, he is very kind and accessible, and the nurses and financial staff have been very helpful. Sometimes the monitoring appointments are rushed but they always answer my questions and address concerns with the afternoon phone call.

[Anonymous]

I worked with GW for several years off and on and as recently as April 2013. Brian is great and I never had one issue with their billing.

Nurses and docs are great too. Immediately responsive.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend GW. Dr F is great and the office has been running very smoothly despite having one doctor. And I also agree that Brian is amazing with the financial/insurance part.