Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, GWU also is willing to disclose the gender of the embryos if tested, and will let you choose what to implant. SG doesn't. It's a consideration for some.

This is no longer the case. Shady Grove changed their policy and will now disclose the gender and/or let you choose what to implant.

I'm a Shady Grove patient and have had a positive experience overall with my doctor, nurse, and everyone in the office. My only complaints have been about the financial department, but we had a unique and difficult case so I'm trying to cut them some slack.

I've done three rounds at GW. I've never had much of a wait for bloodwork; I have had to wait longer for a soon, but it was half an hour, max. Usually more like 5-10 minutes.

Like PP above said, come as early as possible. I seem to remember Monday is usually more patients waiting for the monitoring (any day after the major holiday as well).

Anonymous wrote:For those of you have undergone IVF at GW, when you showed up for your initial monitoring (waiting ti trigger) how long was the wait? thanks. I remember reading from an earlier post that the wait times could be long. If so, any suggestions/tips for getting and out fast? My job will be across town with a strict start time.

It can sometimes be a long wait, but just be there right at 7:00 and you will be fine. It gets crowded around 7:30. If you're there right at 7:00 you won't have a long wait at all.

For those of you have undergone IVF at GW, when you showed up for your initial monitoring (waiting ti trigger) how long was the wait? thanks. I remember reading from an earlier post that the wait times could be long. If so, any suggestions/tips for getting and out fast? My job will be across town with a strict start time.

From what I understand, GWU also is willing to disclose the gender of the embryos if tested, and will let you choose what to implant. SG doesn't. It's a consideration for some.

Anonymous wrote:Two questions:
1. Has anyone who did IVF thru GW paying completely out of pocket had difficulty understanding what you were being charged for?
(So far I have done a few IUIs w SGF and their bills dont match what my insurance's EOBs say which makes me concerned about doing IVF w them since there will be no way to double check that I am being charged as I should be.)

2. If you had a good expereince with a GW financial person as you did IVF, what is the name of financial person you liked?
Thank you.

I've worked with Connie on the finance side of things and had a great experience with her. She answers all of our billing questions and has found ways to provide FSA documentation on pre-paid services when invoices weren't available as the actual treatments had not taken place.

To the poster from yesterday who said that her ER is this weekend--- Good luck!!

Anonymous wrote:Two questions:
1. Has anyone who did IVF thru GW paying completely out of pocket had difficulty understanding what you were being charged for?
(So far I have done a few IUIs w SGF and their bills dont match what my insurance's EOBs say which makes me concerned about doing IVF w them since there will be no way to double check that I am being charged as I should be.)

2. If you had a good expereince with a GW financial person as you did IVF, what is the name of financial person you liked?
Thank you.

I did IVF in 2015. Had no problem understanding what I was charged for and why. I was always calling LaKisha and she had no problem explaining it all for me. She was quick to return calls so that was great.

2. See above. I'm going back for FET and have already been in touch with her (LaKisha) about cost, payment, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Two questions:
1. Has anyone who did IVF thru GW paying completely out of pocket had difficulty understanding what you were being charged for?
(So far I have done a few IUIs w SGF and their bills dont match what my insurance's EOBs say which makes me concerned about doing IVF w them since there will be no way to double check that I am being charged as I should be.)

2. If you had a good expereince with a GW financial person as you did IVF, what is the name of financial person you liked?
Thank you.

So far I have loved GW My nurse, Christie is wonderful and emails me before noon most of the time with results, answer all of my questions promptly as does Dr. Lalwani. Everyone from the front desk to the MA's that draw your blood, are friendly and responsive. I am due for my first ER this weekend, so we shall see how it turns out but the entire staff at GW has made a stressful situation so much better, just my 2 cents.

I am paying out of pocket and the contract was pretty straight forward. You have to pay all at once before you start your first monitoring appointment but everything is laid out on the contract. Any time I have a question, either Connie or LaKisha have been exceptional and prompt in answering all of my questions and explaining everything to me.

Anonymous wrote:All I wish (current patient GW) that we, the patients, could get additional details into how the "embryologist lab" is being run (that is separate from RE). Skills of each lab tech, competent or even better than average? (handling of fertilized eggs by lab tech could make huge difference). That type of info.

As a previous commentator stated, Doug is exceedingly open and full of information in the Intro class. In mine, he referred to the fact that the tech absolutely makes a difference, and that he'd worked with one tech whose embryos had a statistically significant higher percentage of identical twins- something about her ISCI technique just resulted in the embryo being more likely to split. He hands out his email address in the class, you should email him if you have specific concerns.

Two questions:
1. Has anyone who did IVF thru GW paying completely out of pocket had difficulty understanding what you were being charged for?
(So far I have done a few IUIs w SGF and their bills dont match what my insurance's EOBs say which makes me concerned about doing IVF w them since there will be no way to double check that I am being charged as I should be.)

2. If you had a good expereince with a GW financial person as you did IVF, what is the name of financial person you liked?
Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I wish (current patient GW) that we, the patients, could get additional details into how the "embryologist lab" is being run (that is separate from RE). Skills of each lab tech, competent or even better than average? (handling of fertilized eggs by lab tech could make huge difference). That type of info.

Does this happen at other clinics? Have you asked for that information and been denied? I felt fairly confident after attending the 'Intro to IVF' class, getting to hear from Doug about how he runs the lab and asking him any and all questions. Also, if they did provide that information, how would go about verifying that information? What clinic is going to say 'our lab techs are slightly above competent.'?

Yes, I understand that the lab makes a huge difference in success rates, but I'm not sure the average IVF patient is qualified to vet the competency of the employees in the lab. There is a role for SART to play, but this is also where trusting yourself and the team providing care comes in.

+1

Anonymous wrote:All I wish (current patient GW) that we, the patients, could get additional details into how the "embryologist lab" is being run (that is separate from RE). Skills of each lab tech, competent or even better than average? (handling of fertilized eggs by lab tech could make huge difference). That type of info.

Does this happen at other clinics? Have you asked for that information and been denied? I felt fairly confident after attending the 'Intro to IVF' class, getting to hear from Doug about how he runs the lab and asking him any and all questions. Also, if they did provide that information, how would go about verifying that information? What clinic is going to say 'our lab techs are slightly above competent.'?

Yes, I understand that the lab makes a huge difference in success rates, but I'm not sure the average IVF patient is qualified to vet the competency of the employees in the lab. There is a role for SART to play, but this is also where trusting yourself and the team providing care comes in.

All I wish (current patient GW) that we, the patients, could get additional details into how the "embryologist lab" is being run (that is separate from RE). Skills of each lab tech, competent or even better than average? (handling of fertilized eggs by lab tech could make huge difference). That type of info.