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| - I'm a woman of "advanced maternal age"/AMA when it comes to having babies. I sought the help of REACH based on recommendations from two friends. Here are my experiences and thoughts since I've been there:
Treatment
You will basically be treated by the entire practice. Usually the procedures are done by your assigned doctor, though.
They will not give you specifics about test results/monitoring. Everything just "looks good/normal" If you ask for specifics, they will tell you what you need to know, but you need to ask.
If you push to be more aggressive, they will be.
If you bring up a different method based on research and it's not one of their pre-defined methods of treatment, forget about it. Maybe this varies by doctor?
After a few failed treatments, they may bring up "donor eggs" to you. If you are not interested, then tell them so.
I haven't felt like they will discontinue treatment because I have not been successful thus far and that is a big deal when you are AMA. Many clinics will try to keep up their statistics by turning away the harder cases or the cases with a lower chance of success (older women.)
Ask them what tests they have done on you. Research various infertility tests on your own. If a test wasn't done, ask them to do it. Again, they are a very busy practice and things slip through the cracks.
Customer Service
Pretty much, everyone is nice.
Be your own advocate. Remind them of your pharmacy (in town/mailorder), tests, any change in your medical history.
They have a lot of patients so they do not remember the particulars of your chart and I think they do not have the time to review everything thoroughly before speaking with you.
Be firm - they tried to convince me I had to use a particular out of network center for a test. I stood firm on them sending my tests to my "in network" clinic and they did.
I have had times when I've called the nurse line when I'm not in the middle of a cycle and no one calls me back. I complained and someone got on the phone right away. It happens. However, every time during treatment, a call was always returned.
Overall, let's face it we have 3 clinics in town:
CMC, well I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than to go there. They turn patients away. I'm totally against any clinic EVER turning a patient away if they have $ and they are still in their childbearing years. If I want to do 10 ivf cycles then do 10 IVF cycles! If I'm never successful, well that's my concern.
There's a clinic in Huntersville, which I've heard mixed things about. I do know they do not turn anyone away, but they also do not appear to accept any insurance either.
Then there's REACH. I really do think they want to help you. I think with there only being 3 clinics in town, one of which turns the hard cases away, REACH is just inundated with patients. As long as you go there knowing that, then I think you'll be A-OK. In the end, I think they are doing the best they can while taking on anyone who needs help. For that, they have my understanding with the few bumps in the road I've had with them. No one should ever be turned away from treatment.
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