Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
8.5
8.5
Scheduling
Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.
Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.
Billing Department
6.9
6.9
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
8.4
8.4
Nursing Team
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.
LGBTQ Care
10
10
LGBTQ Care
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory LGBTQ care.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent LGBTQ care.
Attention to Detail
7.1
7.1
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.
For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.
CDC Success Rates
This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
Dr. Dahl came to our appointment having reviewed our extensive medical history and had targeted insight/advice on how to effectively manage my complicated medical issues. She was the first doctor that has taken my symptoms seriously and incorporated my specific issues into account in her plan of treatment. She was very kind and patient - listening to our concerns and advising
Weaknesses of this [CCRM Minneapolis - Bismarck] clinic are the phone lines - it is difficult to get through to the front desk. Strengths is Dr. Dahl - in a sea of uncaring, overworked, "old-school" practitioners, Dr. Dahl is a diamond in the ruff. She is smart as a whip, does her research, and practices and individualized approach to treating her patients.
How was your experience with Stephanie Dahl at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Dahl was very warm and compassionate. She was a clear and direct communicator and was very willing to talk through her thoughts and processes. She spent over an hour with us during our initial consult and was very thorough in answering questions, proactively asking targeted questions, and devising a plan of care which included consults with several third-party specialties. Dr. Dahl completely exceeded both mine and my husband's expectations in communication, warm bedside manner, and medical knowledge/expertise. I've worked with three other infertility doctors, who all approached my treatment and care like I was just a number, not wanting to answer my questions, and not individualizing my care. After just one visit with Dr. Dahl, we are in awe of her personalized approach to treating our infertility.
We have so much trust in her approach and expertise.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stephanie Dahl at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be open about your medical history and lifestyle. Be ready to hear the pros and risks of treatment and possibly to see other care professionals prior to beginning treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stephanie Dahl at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Dahl came to our appointment having reviewed our extensive medical history and had targeted insight/advice on how to effectively manage my complicated medical issues. She was the first doctor that has taken my symptoms seriously and incorporated my specific issues into account in her plan of treatment. She was very kind and patient - listening to our concerns and advising. I had a whole slew of questions to ask her and didn't even need to ask most of them because she proactively answered all of them in detail.
Describe the protocols Stephanie Dahl used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
Dr. Dahl referred us to a maternal fetal medicine doctor, geneticist, and possibly cariologist prior to starting any workup or treatments on us. After we are "cleared" by these other consults, she plans to do a full one-day workup for both my husband and myself at their clinic in Minneapolis.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Weaknesses of this clinic are the phone lines - it is difficult to get through to the front desk.
Strengths is Dr. Dahl - in a sea of uncaring, overworked, "old-school" practitioners, Dr. Dahl is a diamond in the ruff. She is smart as a whip, does her research, and practices and individualized approach to treating her patients.
One of the reasons we selected Dr. Salem for my care, was his continuous research and knowledge he possessed in regards to infertility. Choosing a doctor who provided recommendations based on the current scientific data was imperative for my husband and I. The professionalism, knowledge and compassion he and his team showed us was remarkable...The protocol Dr. Salem chose for me was specific for me
CCRM has reputable reputation and continues to grow. The Minneapolis office has a new office and plenty of space for patients now. Be patient sometimes you may not be seen at your exact appointment time...Any communication was via phone or the clinic portal site. Any issues or questions that I had was handled very swiftly by Taylor and the nursing staff...CCRM of Minneapolis became our “intimate,” close familiar space during uncertain times...
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem is a compassionate, knowledgeable and highly trained professional who provides excellent patient care. Under his care my health was utmost importance. Before moving on with any treatment Dr. Salem ordered multiple tests to ensure nothing was abnormal. He took note of my blood pressure each time I was in the office and noticed how consistently high it remained. He eventually diagnosed me with high blood pressure and prescribed a medication safe for pregnant women and women trying to conceive.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
The one advice I would give a prospective patient of ask Dr. Salem would be to have access of knowledge of all your previous medical records as well as your partner/spouse. Dr. Salem is very thorough and this will aid in your future treatment under his care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Intimate is defined as, “closely acquainted; familiar, private; personal and a very close friend.” When making the decision to move forward with infertility treatment, the word “intimate,” is how I would best describe the atmosphere of the clinic setting. CCRM of Minneapolis became our “intimate,” close familiar space during uncertain times, especially while dealing with Covid-19. Having to request special permission from the Governor of Minnesota to continue our Transfer cycle is just one example of how Dr. Salem went above and beyond to provide exceptional patient care. One of the reasons we selected Dr. Salem for my care, was his continuous research and knowledge he possessed in regards to infertility. Choosing a doctor who provided recommendations based on the current scientific data was imperative for my husband and I. The professionalism, knowledge and compassion he and his team showed us was remarkable. Even though it took some convincing on my part, Dr. Salem recommended I schedule a visit with my Obstetrics gynecologist to figure out exactly what was going on inside my uterus. I am very thankful I followed Dr. Salem’s advice, because of him we now know the possible causes of my miscarriages. This is how I know he and his team treated me like a human and not a number.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
The protocol Dr. Salem chose for me was specific for me. I followed FET protocol, but prior to the transfer (2-3 months before) I took an injection of Lupron to help reduce the symptoms of endometriosis. Once I started the protocol I used multiple hormones, vaginal pills, transdermal patches and injections. I became pregnant after each cycle, but miscarried in the first trimester.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Taylor)
Any communication was via phone or the clinic portal site. Any issues or questions that I had was handled very swiftly by Taylor and the nursing staff.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
CCRM has reputable reputation and continues to grow. The Minneapolis office has a new office and plenty of space for patients now. Be patient sometimes you may not be seen at your exact appointment time.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
The costs were explained thoroughly by the billing staff. If we had any questions we just called to verify any amounts due.
Describe Wael Salem's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Salem strongly recommends only transferring a single embryo base off scientific data, which I completely agree with. Transferring more than one embryo may result in multiple embryo’s competing for space which may result in an unsuccessful pregnancy.
Dr. Salem has a breadth of knowledge about all things fertility and assisted reproductive technology, from more traditional approaches and opinions, to new research that's coming out. CCRM has a list of vitamins they recommend for female patients, and after giving that to me, Dr. Salem told me about a study that's being conducted at CCRM in Colorado where they've found improved success rates in IVF cycles
The nurses [at CCRM] are really kind. I just get the sense that they might be overwhelmed. Just know that you might be the one who needs to reach out, ask questions, pay attention to dates and details on your IVF calendar, etc....They also have an amazing discount program (20% off all the services they provide/bill for!) if you or your spouse are active military, which was a big draw for us.
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem has a breadth of knowledge about all things fertility and assisted reproductive technology, from more traditional approaches and opinions, to new research that's coming out. CCRM has a list of vitamins they recommend for female patients, and after giving that to me, Dr. Salem told me about a study that's being conducted at CCRM in Colorado where they've found improved success rates in IVF cycles for patients who took acai berry. He said their proprietary blend wasn't for sale, but that if I could get my hands on some acai berry to give it a try. I really appreciated the personalized recommendation.
Dr. Salem has also customized our IVF protocol based on my issues (low AMH) and he's been good about explaining why he recommends this or that. With my former RE, I was always second-guessing things and feeling like I needed to do my own research. With Dr. Salem, it feels so good knowing we can trust him and that we are in good hands.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Ask all the questions! He's so good giving his opinion and backing it up with scientific evidence, but he will explain everything in a way you can understand. I honestly would recommend Dr. Salem to anyone, 10/10.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Right at the start of our consultation, it was clear the Dr. Salem had reviewed all of our history/paperwork. He was so thorough in explaining his opinion on why we're struggling to conceive. I went into the meeting with lots of questions, and he answered each one with patience, honesty, and scientific evidence. We've since had additional meetings with Dr. Salem in preparation for IVF, and his bedside manner has remained the same. Never once have we felt rushed or like we were just a number. Moreover, he's recommended certain supplements and tweaks to our IVF protocol specifically for me. Dr. Salem is compassionate, and we feel we can trust him to do what's in our best interest.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
Because I have low AMH, we are doing estrogen priming instead of birth control. I am taking 2mg of Estrace (oral), twice a day for about 2 weeks. With my next cycle day 3, we will do baseline ultrasound and blood work, and everything looks good we will start stims. I will be doing 2 vials of Menopur (injection) in the morning, and at night I will do 300 units of Follistim (injection), plus 100 mg of Clomid (oral), and Dexamethasone (oral). Again, since I don't have a lot of eggs, we are pretty much doing max stims to try to recruit as many as possible. At some point I will start Cetrocide/Ganirelix (injection) - not sure what dose, I think this is to prevent me from ovulating before the retrieval.
Because we hope to have 2-3 children, we are doing CCRM's family building program, which was recommended to us by Dr. Salem. This means we will do 3 freeze-all retrievals and after the last retrieval all of the embryos will get genetic testing (this saves $ because you're only paying for genetic testing once rather than 3 times). Then we will do a single FET, and any remaining healthy embies will stay on ice for future use.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Taylor)
The nurses are really kind. I just get the sense that they might be overwhelmed. Just know that you might be the one who needs to reach out, ask questions, pay attention to dates and details on your IVF calendar, etc. We do have a primary nurse, but it seems like whoever is available is who helps us, which is fine. I wish they would automatically upload test results into your portal, but so far I have had to ask for my results every time.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
CCRM is a well known, reputable clinic not only in Minneapolis, but also around the nation and maybe the world. They also have an amazing discount program (20% off all the services they provide/bill for!) if you or your spouse are active military, which was a big draw for us. We also really appreciate the opportunity to do the family building program, where we will do 3 retrievals at a discounted price in an effort to bank embryos. Not all clinics have this!
One thing that is not ideal is that CCRM is often very busy, probably because they're so popular! But the waiting room is often full (which can be kind of awkward) and appointments tend to book out, especially the appointments you have early on. They do have cancellation lists though so don't be shy to ask!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
Costs are comparable with our former clinic. Because we are doing the family building program which is discounted, plus we get a military discount, the cost of 3 retrievals and 1 FET will be about $40k I think.
Describe Wael Salem's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Salem definitely seems to lean towards eSET, at least in our case. He said he would only recommend transferring 2 embryos if I had two miscarriages with a singleton (though I think he probablyyyy would be open to transferring 2 after only one miscarriage).
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
It wasn't a big deal, but the clinic did lose some test results I sent in when we first started going there.
Dr. Batcheller has a record of success, and we are hopeful this round will be successful. She is always friendly and appears knowledgeable. Our last RE indicated, after one failed round of IVF, that our chances of a successful round of IVF would be low. April reviewed our records from that round and made significant adjustments to our protocol.... We had to persist to convince Dr. Batcheller to test us for infertility issues. She recommended we try for a year, though after persisting, testing showed severe male factor infertility that requires IVF.
This clinic [CCRM Minneapolis] clearly has advanced technology and is affiliated with the CCRM headquarters. They don't yet have published outcome data, so it's unclear to me whether their outcomes will mirror those of the Denver site. One major weakness we've experienced is lack of organized and general difficulty scheduling appointments. At the start of our treatment with this clinic, we had difficulty scheduling appointments and received mixed messages
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller has a record of success, and we are hopeful this round will be successful. She is always friendly and appears knowledgeable. Our last RE indicated, after one failed round of IVF, that our chances of a successful round of IVF would be low. April reviewed our records from that round and made significant adjustments to our protocol.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be persistent. We had to persist to convince Dr. Batcheller to test us for infertility issues. She recommended we try for a year, though after persisting, testing showed severe male factor infertility that requires IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
This is our second round of treatment. We previously worked with a different clinic. We feel more like a number at this clinic. We also feel our concerns were not taken seriously until we started injections. It feels as though there are more patients than can be adequately managed and that we weren't a priority until injections started.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
We are coming to April's clinic with a history of one failed round of IVF. She's recommended a number of changes, and we're happy with her ability to adjust course from our last failed round.
Priming: Estrogen and progesterone
Stimming: Menopur, steroid, human growth hormone; cetrotide; lupron and novarel
We'll be doing a frozen transfer after all embryos are genetically tested.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM Minneapolis.
The phlebotomists are fantastic - caring, understanding, and great at drawing blood effectively the first time. We've struggled a bit with the nursing staff. We've received mixed messages and have noticed errors in our IVF calendar. At one point, test results were not shared with us which resulted in unexpected testing recommendations.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
This clinic clearly has advanced technology and is affiliated with the CCRM headquarters. They don't yet have published outcome data, so it's unclear to me whether their outcomes will mirror those of the Denver site.
One major weakness we've experienced is lack of organized and general difficulty scheduling appointments. At the start of our treatment with this clinic, we had difficulty scheduling appointments and received mixed messages (or inaccurate messages) from nurses. It seems as though the clinic has more patients than they can realistically manage.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
We haven't completed the process yet. We are 100% out-of-pocket for clinic services.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
April recommends one embryo transfers due to my age and the high risk of multiples.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
Test results weren't shared with us in a timely manner and were then referenced in passing at a follow-up appointment. This particular test required follow-up on my end. I wasn't aware of this, as the results weren't shared with me.
I struggled to get testing appointments scheduled because April's schedule was consistently booked. I brought this to the attention of nurses and scheduling staff on three occasions. It wasn't until my husband contacted the nurses that our concerns were addressed.
A test was ordered for my husband. As he arrived to complete the test, clinic staff suggested he didn't meet criteria for the test and gave him the option to not continue. We then later learned he did, in fact, meet criteria.
When meeting with Dr. Batcheller I felt that my care was very personalized and that she made a solid plan for my specific case. We met with her for the initial consultation, regroup after fertility tests (hormone levels, sperm analysis, etc.), and I saw her before and after my egg retrieval....The patient has to be comfortable dealing mostly with staff at this clinic. For me that wasn't a problem, and Dr. Batcheller was clearly monitoring my progress behind the scenes, as she is clearly very busy. I felt my care was well handled and had a very good cycle
The staff at CCRM Minneapolis are also fantastic and began remembering my name after the second or third stim check, so I didn't feel much like a number....The nursing staff always answered my messages in the portal promptly. They were overall kind and considerate...The only issue we really had was that they did not freeze the first sperm sample due to miscommunication. It was analyzed and discarded
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
The patient has to be comfortable dealing mostly with staff at this clinic. For me that wasn't a problem, and Dr. Batcheller was clearly monitoring my progress behind the scenes, as she is clearly very busy. I felt my care was well handled and had a very good cycle to begin with seeing as I have low ovarian reserve. The protocol seemed very fitting for a first round based on my situation, and I will only be requesting small adjustments for round two.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
If you want a very personalized plan this is the place to go, but you should be prepared to have somewhat limited interactions with the doctor herself.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
When meeting with Dr. Batcheller I felt that my care was very personalized and that she made a solid plan for my specific case. We met with her for the initial consultation, regroup after fertility tests (hormone levels, sperm analysis, etc.), and I saw her before and after my egg retrieval. I was able to make a follow up appointment with her two days after retrieval, and will be meeting with her to plan round two. I believe that other clinics have a lot more face to face time with the doctor, during stimming/monitoring I didn't see Dr. Batcheller at all. This didn't bother me personally very much, as she was clearly always in the background assessing how to manage my care. The staff at CCRM Minneapolis are also fantastic and began remembering my name after the second or third stim check, so I didn't feel much like a number.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
I did a high dosage protocol for my low ovarian reserve. I was on both Clomid and Dexamethasone, alongside 300 units Follistim, two vials of Menopur, and about halfway through I started one prefilled syringe of Ganirelix. I triggered with both HCG and Lupron. Toward the end of my cycle my estrogen was very high, so there was some concern for overstimming. They had me trigger according to our original plan, even though I was hoping to let a few more follicles catch up. They focused on my body and safety when I didn't, which I think is very important. They put me on Cabergoline to help this as well. I am currently one day past retrieval and have had no weight gain, no trouble urinating, and otherwise no signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Being below age 35 and having been on such high doses of hormones this was definitely a concern, and I'm glad that my doctor took this into account.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Andrea)
The nursing staff always answered my messages in the portal promptly. They were overall kind and considerate. If they didn't know an answer they usually let me know that and followed up with someone who did know the answer. It seems like there is a bit of divide between the nursing staff and embryology, but I think this is not atypical. There were a few occasions where my questions were answered incorrectly, but I generally followed up with the doctor and got the right information. Dr. Batcheller then assured me she would inform the nurse so that they know for the future. I think I had more challenging questions than most as I am studying for my masters in biology.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
My overall experience at CCRM Minneapolis was great. I got all my questions answered (when I remembered to ask them, if not, the portal was a great resource) in a timely fashion. The communication seemed to be slightly lacking on occasion (they forgot to freeze my partner's sperm the first time around, but I think they are not used to doing this during the one day workup), generally between the lab and the nursing staff. When this occurred they did everything to help fix the issue and did not charge for reanalysis. Due to my concern about this they were even kind enough to show me the vial of sperm with my partner's name on it to reassure me. They called me promptly the morning after to let me know how many eggs were mature (60%) and that 100% had fertilized, and told me that there is still a chance that more will mature. Overall this is, of course, fewer than I might have hoped, but is still very good for my AMH. As with any clinic, be sure to advocate for yourself - if there is anything very particular to your case (like us using frozen sperm from my partner), tell them and tell them again. Other than that, things will run smoothly!
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
Initial Consultation: $200
One Day Workup (Hormone Testing, Hysteroscopy, Sperm Analysis, Disease Testing, Other Blood Tests): ~$2,100 in house, ~$2,000 to Quest Diagnostics (disease testing)
Round One (Monitoring, Surgery): ~9,400
Anesthesia: $475 (Check Only)
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Because I am doing PGS testing and am under age 30 I believe that when we get to the transfer I will only be allowed to do one. The risk of multiples is too high, and the success rate should be around 70%. For me this is a non-issue as I would like to avoid multiples if possible, as the risk to myself and the babies increases significantly in this case.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
The only issue we really had was that they did not freeze the first sperm sample due to miscommunication. It was analyzed and discarded, but thankfully we were in town long enough for them to reanalyze and cryopreserve. We were not charged for the second analysis. I also asked a question and received an incorrect answer from a nurse, but this was cleared up on the same day when I met with the doctor.
Dr Kohlmeier is fantastic, I wish I could talk to her more but you can always send a portal message and the nurses will help you get a response. She is a genuinely kind person and has adjusted my medications for my second retrieval. We have focused on what we can do differently to get our desired result. IVF is a complicated process but she explains everything and is patient and gives reasonable expectations.
[CCRM Minneapolis] Strengths- high success rates and great nurses and doctors Weaknesses- billing team needs a bit more compassion and need to work better with insurance. The anesthesia group doesn’t take insurance so I have to send it in on the back end to get that paid. Not ideal but in the end I got my money. Just a lot of stress here that adds to the process of going through IVF.
How was your experience with Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr Kohlmeier is fantastic, I wish I could talk to her more but you can always send a portal message and the nurses will help you get a response. She is a genuinely kind person and has adjusted my medications for my second retrieval. We have focused on what we can do differently to get our desired result. IVF is a complicated process but she explains everything and is patient and gives reasonable expectations.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Ask your questions, she can’t read your mind or know what you don’t know. It’s important to ask timelines too. IVF takes awhile and it’s not something I realized at first.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Kohlmeier fit me into her schedule to do a procedure that would normally wait until after retrieval. She listened to what I needed and wanted and was able to provide the right care for me.
Describe the protocols Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
We are currently in process for starting our second egg retrieval in which we have added growth hormone to hopefully produce higher quality embryos. The first round went well and we ended with 3 genetically tested normal embryos. Unfortunately the first we transferred ended in miscarriage (this happens). We have 2 left but want 2 kids so are doing another egg retrieval to hopefully “bank” embryos. We will then be doing a transfer of one of our test embryos 5 days post egg retrieval if my uterus looks optimal.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Ashley)
All of the nurses are great and super friendly!
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Strengths- high success rates and great nurses and doctors
Weaknesses- billing team needs a bit more compassion and need to work better with insurance. The anesthesia group doesn’t take insurance so I have to send it in on the back end to get that paid. Not ideal but in the end I got my money. Just a lot of stress here that adds to the process of going through IVF.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis.
I have very good insurance so I’ve only paid my out of pocket max of $5500
Describe Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
eSET. I’m high risk so can’t risk more than one embryo anyway but she stated she prefers only one tested embryo in general.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
There was a miscommunication around not getting a call back with my second beta. The dr on call said they were going to get to the bottom of it but I did get my answer from the provider that day, I just had to call after hours.
Billing is a bit of a nightmare but I have figured out my personal issues with them and it has been streamlined. I know others this is their main complaint about CCRM.
Because of the Covid restrictions we were only able to meet with Dr. Hansen via video, but during those times he was able to be personable, answer our questions and make us feel comfortable. Also, during the egg retrieval, he was not the doctor that conducted that procedure, but did take the time out to come over and check on my wife to ensure she was good and introduce himself in person..
The strengths [of the CCRM nurses] were making sure the timelines were clear, the procedures explained, the next steps set up...Weaknesses would have to be the office administration- numerous times there had to be follow up with them around submitting any prior approvals, payments, etc. They held overpayments at their will, and were not compassionate about any of the areas that were of concern for my wife and I.
How was your experience with Brent Hanson at CCRM Minneapolis?
Our experience as patients has allowed us to ask all of the questions that we needed and be lined up for all of the treatments that were necessary. Dr. Hanson and CCRM does lean on their large network to enable them to see a large amount of patients. This can seem a little impersonal at times, but it also allows the clinic to serve a greater number of individuals.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brent Hanson at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be sure to expect most of the communication to come from nurses and be very good at checking all the information on the on line portal.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brent Hanson at CCRM Minneapolis?
Because of the Covid restrictions we were only able to meet with Dr. Hansen via video, but during those times he was able to be personable, answer our questions and make us feel comfortable. Also, during the egg retrieval, he was not the doctor that conducted that procedure, but did take the time out to come over and check on my wife to ensure she was good and introduce himself in person.
Describe the protocols Brent Hanson used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
My wife was diagnosed with PCOS, which made the medications that were required for IVF retrieval extremely expensive.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Stephanie)
The strengths were making sure the timelines were clear, the procedures explained, the next steps set up.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Weaknesses would have to be the office administration- numerous times there had to be follow up with them around submitting any prior approvals, payments, etc. They held overpayments at their will, and were not compassionate about any of the areas that were of concern for my wife and I.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brent Hanson at CCRM Minneapolis.
$18,597 for 1 egg retrieval and implantation. This did not include the $3,500+ in medications.
Describe Brent Hanson's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Amanda listened to our history of trying to become parents and made us feel heard. She's also very willing to work with us on any particular requests we have. Her team is also incredible...very good at describing her part in everything and what they would do during the whole process. The only weakness I saw was that there was an implication of the semen collected for analysis was also going to be used for fertilization. This is not the case. No big deal, but worth mentioning.
So far, we couldn't be happier with everything so far [at CCRM Minneapolis]. They are very organized and make sure we are fully informed. Their egg donor database is pretty extensive, so anyone should be able to find a donor through them. Also, for gay male couples trying to become parents, they work with fresh egg donors instead of frozen eggs in overly expensive lots of 8. They also do massive amounts of testing on embryos to increase the chances of live births.
How was your experience with Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Amanda was very good at describing her part in everything and what they would do during the whole process. The only weakness I saw was that there was an implication of the semen collected for analysis was also going to be used for fertilization. This is not the case. No big deal, but worth mentioning.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Make sure intended parents fulling understand what their next steps are so there isn't any confusion.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis?
Amanda listened to our history of trying to become parents and made us feel heard. She's also very willing to work with us on any particular requests we have. Her team is also incredible. I think our experience has been so good because of Amanda's team.
Describe the protocols Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
We're going with an egg donor since we are a same sex male couple, so we don't need to do any treatments.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Melissa)
The whole team is fantastic!
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
So far, we couldn't be happier with everything so far. They are very organized and make sure we are fully informed. Their egg donor database is pretty extensive, so anyone should be able to find a donor through them. Also, for gay male couples trying to become parents, they work with fresh egg donors instead of frozen eggs in overly expensive lots of 8. They also do massive amounts of testing on embryos to increase the chances of live births.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier at CCRM Minneapolis.
Yes, this is the shocking and sad part. Our total package for everything is over $46,000.
Describe Amy (Amanda) Kohlmeier's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Amanda has a very strong preference of eSET because they do extensive testing of the embryos. If the quality of embryos is good, she'd only do eSET. If they were lower quality embryos, she mentioned she'd be open to potentially doing DET (if surrogate was willing).
She [Dr. Batcheller] is a very nice person, caring and seems to connect with you as a patient. You only really see Dr. B when you do your initial consult, and for specific procedures the rest of the time your communication is with your nurse...i learned was to have questions ready and rapid fire ask when I saw her...I did not feel like my FET was personal or personalized to me, they would adjust things based on labs, but nothing seemed like it was just for me...
CCRM-Minneapolis is a busy clinic...They treat many women in the clinic so at times you feel "lost in the shuffle"...I never felt like my care was personalized for me...you really have to be your own advocate throughout the process...When they call in your Rx make sure they do it and in a timely manner before you are expected to take said medication. Just know that you are a patient but you are also expected to take the lead in your care...
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
She is a very nice person, caring and seems to connect with you as a patient. You only really see Dr. B when you do your initial consult, and for specific procedures the rest of the time your communication is with your nurse. This felt a bit off-putting but again, we know she is busy. If I asked questions to my nurse she would get back to you with details from Dr. B. I felt like Dr. B is the best provider in the office, but with that she is very busy and very sought after. What i learned was to have questions ready and rapid fire ask when I saw her. She seemed distracted during re-groups and they felt rushed. Throughout the process i didn't always feel confident in her ability to help our family grow. She is smart, personable, and made eye-contact.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be prepared. If you have questions be ready with them, don't be afraid to push back, you really have to be your own advocate throughout the process. Double-Check everything because Dr. B rarely takes the time to get down to the nitty gritty details.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
CCRM-Minneapolis is a busy clinic. That is first and foremost. They treat many women in the clinic so at times you feel "lost in the shuffle" they have improved dramatically in how they treat you, but I never felt like my care was personalized for me.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
I feel like they used and re-used the same calendars based on initial screenings. I did not feel like my FET was personal or personalized to me, they would adjust things based on labs, but nothing seemed like it was just for me... After completing an ERA my FET was adjusted slightly but again it was a calendar for "pre-receptive" ERA results, nothing geared toward me or my specifics.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Dana )
If you are trying to reach a live person who is a nurse after 3pm it is difficult.
Dana was always so caring and nice. Sometimes things were missed - calls to the pharmacy, if I had a question about my calendar, if I didn't agree with something. You would sometimes hear from other nurses who were not familiar with you. She was always willing to call me and explain things to me. Dana missed a pretty big procedure I was suppose to have done and then it was a hurry up rush to get it scheduled. This was very stressful and brought on some big emotions.
The surgery nursing staff is amazing. I cannot say enough great things about them, so thoughtful, well-trained, compassionate, caring, helpful, just all around great women on that side.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
CCRM is obviously well known. They are leaders in the fertility field and for good reason - they have awesome success rates. However, understand they are busy. They have a lot of women that want to expand their families, sometimes things are streamlined to get people in and out. Be your best advocate. Study the billing statements, ask questions about insurance practices, if you are not familiar with a test or something they are asking of you ask questions and get it in writing. Make sure they are doing what they say they will do (example, if the egg retrieval says that you have a regroup before or after the procedure make sure it is set up and not overlooked) When they call in your Rx make sure they do it and in a timely manner before you are expected to take said medication. Just know that you are a patient but you are also expected to take the lead in your care. Its a whole new ball game and you need to be an expert in your (fertility) health.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
I was adamant about transferring 2 embryos. This resulted in a positive pregnancy test.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller gives all of the pertinent information and allows the patient to make the decisions that are best for them...I was sufficiently educated about about the number of embryos that should be transferred. Since I have a limited number, transferring them one at a time will give me a better chance of success...is kind and patient. She takes as much time as you need to answer all of your question. She is easy to talk to and she is empathetic. She is also very intelligent and explains everything in detail.
I love the nursing staff at CCRM. Andrea has supported me on my journey both pre and post cancer. She answers all of my questions and never seems frustrated when I have more. Everyone on the care team at CCRM are outstanding! I felt so fortunate to be with such a strong, compassionate, and talent team all around...It cost about $15,000 for the egg retrieval, fertilization process, and genetic testing. That also included all appointments, ultrasounds, blood draws, and the actual retrieval procedure. That did not include medication.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
I went to see Dr. Batcheller right after I was diagnosed with cancer. She and everyone at the clinic, got me in urgently, helped me understand my options, moved quickly and treated me with compassion. I tried to get two retrievals in, but my cancer grew too quickly so I had to cancel the second one. Dr. Batcheller gives all of the pertinent information and allows the patient to make the decisions that are best for them. I could not recommend her and her clinic more highly. While she was on maternity leave, I also saw Dr. Salem at the same clinic, and he was amazing too! I highly highly recommend this clinic and these doctors!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Choose Dr. Batcheller and CCRM for your fertility needs.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller is kind and patient. She takes as much time as you need to answer all of your question. She is easy to talk to and she is empathetic. She is also very intelligent and explains everything in detail.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Andrea)
I love the nursing staff at CCRM. Andrea has supported me on my journey both pre and post cancer. She answers all of my questions and never seems frustrated when I have more. Everyone on the care team at CCRM are outstanding! I felt so fortunate to be with such a strong, compassionate, and talent team all around.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Everyone communicates well. If a person can't help you, they find someone who can. I was also going through cancer at the time and the clinic was SO great about finding me resources for support. They also gave my a discount because I was going through cancer, which helped both financially as well as emotionally. I cannot recommend this clinic more highly!
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
It cost about $15,000 for the egg retrieval, fertilization process, and genetic testing. That also included all appointments, ultrasounds, blood draws, and the actual retrieval procedure. That did not include medication.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
I was sufficiently educated about about the number of embryos that should be transferred. Since I have a limited number, transferring them one at a time will give me a better chance of success.
when I first starting seeing Dr. Batcheller she made my husband and I feel very comfortable in her presence. She was understanding of everything we have been through and listened when we told her the challenges we had been fighting. She was very flexible with our initial decision to try one more IUI cycle before moving on to IVF. She explained how everything worked and what we should consider. She made me feel really comfortable with her overall approach...has slowly gotten much busier over the last 3 years. It is definitely more challenging now to get in touch with her directly than it was back in 2016. She still performs all of her own procedures but often the diagnostic testing is now done by nurses or the other physician on staff. I
The nursing staff [at CCRM Minneapolis] has changed a lot over the years. I have a new primary nurse who is fantastic but there has been a lot of confusion when other nurses try to fill in...The nurses created protocols and called in prescriptions from the protocol that I never ended up needing in my cycles because they changed the protocol later. The nurses are responsible for selecting the protocol to use and selected one based on what they use for most patients without reviewing my own history and seeing that that protocol would not work for me...Frozen transfer cost approximately $5,000 plus medications, IVF cycle with fresh transfer cost $12,000 plus medications
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller has slowly gotten much busier over the last 3 years. It is definitely more challenging now to get in touch with her directly than it was back in 2016. She still performs all of her own procedures but often the diagnostic testing is now done by nurses or the other physician on staff. I also often wonder why the nursing staff has as much control over patient calendars. The nursing staff says that they review all calendars with Dr. Batcheller on a weekly basis but if that is true I question some of the decisions that have been made on some of my calendars and would expect Dr. Batcheller to know based on previous cycles what works and what does not work for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be very clear what type of communication you expect from her so that she can meet your expectations or so that you know what you can expect from her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
when I first starting seeing Dr. Batcheller she made my husband and I feel very comfortable in her presence. She was understanding of everything we have been through and listened when we told her the challenges we had been fighting. She was very flexible with our initial decision to try one more IUI cycle before moving on to IVF. She explained how everything worked and what we should consider. She made me feel really comfortable with her overall approach.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
1 IVF cycle with 4 successful embryos and a fresh transfer leading to a successful birth (September 2016)
1 frozen transfer cycle with a negative pregnancy test (January 2019)
1 frozen transfer cycle canceled due to illness (September 2019)
1 frozen transfer cycle pending (October 2019)
All frozen transfers included lupron with two weeks of estrogen
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Angie)
The nursing staff has changed a lot over the years. I have a new primary nurse who is fantastic but there has been a lot of confusion when other nurses try to fill in. In my frozen transfer cycles I have been given a few different calendars that were contradictory to what had worked in previous cycles and in one case they completely forgot one piece of the protocol that was not identified until my nurse reviewed the calendar at my own request. In addition, twice the nurses have sent in the wrong medications for me to have filled. In both cases the medications were covered by insurance and so were not too expensive but I still filled medications that should my insurance not have covered would have been a huge waste of money.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Communication between nurses is a challenge but I love that they do really try to make a plan specific to each person. I do not like that they refuse to allow you to purchase generic versions of medications which is a significant cost to patients. Overall the clinic has given me one amazing child and I am grateful, however, I do feel concerned that their growth is impacting their ability to provide the excellent customer service I saw three years ago.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
Frozen transfer cost approximately $5,000 plus medications, IVF cycle with fresh transfer cost $12,000 plus medications
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
No concerns, we wanted to transfer only one embryo
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
The nurses created protocols and called in prescriptions from the protocol that I never ended up needing in my cycles because they changed the protocol later. The nurses are responsible for selecting the protocol to use and selected one based on what they use for most patients without reviewing my own history and seeing that that protocol would not work for me. I noticed immediately when I saw the protocol and asked if they should switch it which then they did.
He spoke to us at a human level. Answered all of my questions. Was kind and understanding. Warm. Friendly. For the first time, I felt heard and validated about my concerns. ... Dr Salem discussed the risks and options we had and let us choose which path we wanted to take. He was sympathetic and kind during this stage ... He reassured us that we can work around this risk factor but also explained the challenges.
It’s a very warm and inviting office [CCRM Minneapolis]. The reception desk recognized me after my second visit. ... I am not great with giving blood and the nurses were exceptional. They took extra care to ease my anxiety and distracted me when needed. I cannot day enough good things about them so far! ... Everyone was warm and kind. It felt like we were the most important even thought there were obviously many other patients. We never felt rushed and always received communication in a timely manner.
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
We have only completed our initial work up and are starting down the path of IVF with the genetic testing, after finding out we are both carriers of CF. This came as a shock to both my husband and I, but Dr Salem discussed the risks and options we had and let us choose which path we wanted to take. He was sympathetic and kind during this stage, especially as I found this out on the anniversary of a dear friend passing of CF. He reassured us that we can work around this risk factor but also explained the challenges.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Trust him. I am so thankful we found Dr Salem and CCRM
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Since our first meeting with Dr Salem and the team at CCRM MN, I have felt at ease. It was a breath of fresh air after the two doctors I had seen through my general medical care while TTC. I had always had in the back of my mind that I could face infertility due to family history so after 6 months of TTC, I started down the path of trying to get answers. The first 2 I saw, I felt like my questions and concerns were diminished/ignored because we hadn’t been trying for a year yet. Turns out, had the first dr listened to me and was attentive to my bloodwork results, we would’ve know 9 months earlier that I had a DOR. Dr Salem noticed this in our consult from looking at our previous testing. He spoke to us at a human level. Answered all of my questions. Was kind and understanding. Warm. Friendly. For the first time, I felt heard and validated about my concerns.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
We are just starting with creating the probe for our genetic mutation so we have not begun our IVF cycle yet. We have to wait until the probe is ready.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Angie)
Everyone was warm and kind. It felt like we were the most important even thought there were obviously many other patients. We never felt rushed and always received communication in a timely manner.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
It’s a very warm and inviting office. The reception desk recognized me after my second visit. Dr Salem came out to get us in the waiting room instead of a nurse showing us back. I am not great with giving blood and the nurses were exceptional. They took extra care to ease my anxiety and distracted me when needed. I cannot day enough good things about them so far!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Batcheller always made us feel like we were making progress, even when things didn’t go our way. ... Dr. Batcheller provided customized treatment plans and was never afraid to try something new. ... She was always up on the latest research and was very forthcoming with us when things she recommended were experimental vs. proven. She is compassionate, yet still candid, which I appreciate.
As mentioned above, there were quite a few admin errors during my cycles. More recently, we have been trying to move our embryos to a new clinic and due to multiple delays from CCRM, we are JUST about to finish the process, nine weeks later. The lack of urgency on their end has caused my latest transfer to be pushed back an entire month, which is a big deal due to insurance timing.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller always made us feel like we were making progress, even when things didn’t go our way. She was always up on the latest research and was very forthcoming with us when things she recommended were experimental vs. proven. She is compassionate, yet still candid, which I appreciate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Be your own advocate and ask for tests you want right away vs. waiting until you have a failed transfer.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batchelor always made us feel very human. The process outside of our conversations with her made us feel very much like one of the many.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
I don’t have the details.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM Minneapolis.
I’m not sure if I ever even met my nurse in person. She was assigned to me after my previous nurse left the clinic. She was very nice and answered all of my questions in a timely manner but there were multiple occasions during which I had to remind her of my treatment plan after she incorrectly scheduled me based on standard procedure vs. the customizations that were supposed to be made for me.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Strengths: Dr. Batcheller provided customized treatment plans and was never afraid to try something new. She was always available (with an appointment) and personally performed every one of my retrievals/transfers (until her mat leave).
Weaknesses: Admin. They are extremely unorganized which is even more frustrating when you are hopped up on hormones. Also, the clinic/Dr. B never mentioned that she was pregnant until she was on bed rest, which I thought was poor form not because of the sensitive nature but more because of the impact to her patients‘ treatment plans.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
$14k for Stim/Retrieval (~$10k for meds)
$4k for Transfer ($5k for meds)
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
She had a strong recommendation for a SET given our “unexplained” diagnosis and the risks that come along with a multiple pregnancy.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Provided conflicting information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
As mentioned above, there were quite a few admin errors during my cycles. More recently, we have been trying to move our embryos to a new clinic and due to multiple delays from CCRM, we are JUST about to finish the process, nine weeks later. The lack of urgency on their end has caused my latest transfer to be pushed back an entire month, which is a big deal due to insurance timing.
Dr. Batcheller, when I saw her which was not often, was kind and patient. She fully explained the procedure and risks and answered all of my questions. My interactions with her have always been pleasant...I was not able to talk to Dr. Batcheller directly at all over the phone and when I asked for an email address to send her an email, I was given a non-functioning email address. When I tried, via the portal, to obtain a working email, I received no response.
$3500 for transfer [at CCRM Minneapolis] plus the cost of medications...This clinic is NOT RESPONSIVE. As someone who is dealing with a highly sensitive and highly precise science, this is a terrible characteristic for the clinic. I was unable to talk to my doctor (Dr. Batcheller). I had no email, no phone number or any other way to communicate with her. I found the clinic to be incompetent and unprofessional... I am not being provided with information or responses to questions. There is no clarity on the process. The medications were not sent to the pharmacy and it generally feels like they are overworked, understaffed, or simply do not care about providing me with adequate service.
Doctor Nps
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller, when I saw her which was not often, was kind and patient. She fully explained the procedure and risks and answered all of my questions. My interactions with her have always been pleasant.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
More time with each patient and more availability for patients. I was not able to talk to Dr. Batcheller directly at all over the phone and when I asked for an email address to send her an email, I was given a non-functioning email address. When I tried, via the portal, to obtain a working email, I received no response.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
My most recent experience with Dr. Batcheller is concerning. I am not being provided with information or responses to questions. There is no clarity on the process. The medications were not sent to the pharmacy and it generally feels like they are overworked, understaffed, or simply do not care about providing me with adequate service.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM Minneapolis.
The nurses were unresponsive, uninformed and did not assist in ordering my medications for transfer. Quite frankly, I am not sure what the nursing staff does but every time I tried to talk to them or to reach Dr. Batcheller I was met with resistance. In fact, they gave me a general email address to email Dr. Batcheller with my concerns and the email link was bad. When I requested a new email link, they ignored me.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
This clinic is NOT RESPONSIVE. As someone who is dealing with a highly sensitive and highly precise science, this is a terrible characteristic for the clinic. I was unable to talk to my doctor (Dr. Batcheller). I had no email, no phone number or any other way to communicate with her. I found the clinic to be incompetent and unprofessional.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
$3500 for transfer plus the cost of medications
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Batcheller prefers a single embryo transfer for good candidates due to the likelihood of twins.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
The clinic did not order my medications. When I called to inquire as to the status of medications, they assured me that they would obtain quotes from two pharmacies and that the pharmacies would call me to provide me with the quote and so that I could order the medications. That did not happen. When I followed up with the clinic, they only contacted one pharmacy and that I would need to contact any additional pharmacies with my medication inventory list (which I did not have and was not provided to me) to obtain any quotes. When I contacted the one pharmacy that they did call, that pharmacy did not have any of my contact information and would not have been able to follow-up with me to actually order the medication. None of this communication was provided by CCRM - I was the one calling on a daily (and sometimes more frequent) basis to understand what was going on. This was about a week before I was supposed to start my medications for transfer.
Dr. Salem has been very compassionate and great at communicating. He is the only doctor on staff right now while the other is out on maternity leave but he still took the time to call with updates and give us next steps. Everyone at the clinic has been wonderful and caring and patient with all the questions we’ve had throughout the process...really makes you feel like he wants to help, you’re not just a number...Due to my husbands abnormal sperm sample and the fact that we had tried other approaches prior to going to CCRM, Dr. Salem thought our most efficient and best option would be IVF since my tests showed normal results. We are currently in the transfer prepping phase of the cycle.
Due to my husbands abnormal sperm sample and the fact that we had tried other approaches prior to going to CCRM, Dr. Salem thought our most efficient and best option would be IVF since my tests showed normal results...The clinic and staff are always great. The appointment times are accurate, you’re never left waiting for too long, unlike a lot of doctor’s offices. Everyone there is always willing to answer questions to find the answers for you quickly. They never make you feel like an inconvenience. The only weakness I would say is Dr. Salem is flying solo right now which makes the schedule fill up very fast. I’m sure that will change when the other doctor returns.
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem has been very compassionate and great at communicating. He is the only doctor on staff right now while the other is out on maternity leave but he still took the time to call with updates and give us next steps. Everyone at the clinic has been wonderful and caring and patient with all the questions we’ve had throughout the process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Ask as many questions as you want. He’s extreme patient and kind and really makes you feel like he wants to help, you’re not just a number.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
He has been absolutely wonderful. He gives us the facts but in a way that is caring and assured that we’re going to get through it in a positive way. He’s very optimistic and we trust him.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
Due to my husbands abnormal sperm sample and the fact that we had tried other approaches prior to going to CCRM, Dr. Salem thought our most efficient and best option would be IVF since my tests showed normal results. We are currently in the transfer prepping phase of the cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Angie )
Every nurse I have worked with at the clinic has been nothing short of awesome. Any questions that have come up have been answered quickly and thoroughly. Everyone is extremely patient and caring. Even though going through this type of treatment is something no one wants, they have made it so much less painful to have to go into the doctor so many times for checks.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
The clinic and staff are always great. The appointment times are accurate, you’re never left waiting for too long, unlike a lot of doctor’s offices. Everyone there is always willing to answer questions to find the answers for you quickly. They never make you feel like an inconvenience. The only weakness I would say is Dr. Salem is flying solo right now which makes the schedule fill up very fast. I’m sure that will change when the other doctor returns.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
So far the costs have been surprisingly minimal through our insurance. I do wish we could have gotten a better estimate up front on what the cost of the entire cycle was going to be including medications.
Describe Wael Salem's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
My doctor does the single embryo approach. When I asked about doing multiples to possibly have a better shot, he explained the benefits for the mother and child if only one is transferred and that made me feel better about the approach and care for myself after getting pregnant.
She [Dr. Batcheller] explained step by step what was going to happen when she was doing procedures or if we needed to change treatment course (which happened multiple times). I do wish I would have had more face time with her vs. the nurses but if I ever needed to get a hold of her for questions - she was available...We attempted 3 times for a transfer but due to having a thin lining we had to cancel 2 times (was successful on the 3rd). After the first transfer attempted was cancelled, I was worried and unsure about the future and if we would be able to transfer. She calmed my worries and looked at my medicine and changed course accordingly, always trying to find the right mix of medication.
Everyone who works here [CCRM Minneapolis] are experts and you can tell by the care you received. The Nurses at this location really made my experience amazing and one of the huge reasons I will continue to go back to them! They were considerate, answered my questions, and when I was having a bad/good day or appointment, they were there for me to celebrate in the happiness or pick me up if needed it. I had great experience with communication (via the portal and phone call).
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller was always pleasant when I met with her. She explained step by step what was going to happen when she was doing procedures or if we needed to change treatment course (which happened multiple times). I do wish I would have had more face time with her vs. the nurses but if I ever needed to get a hold of her for questions - she was available. I loved her and will continue to go back to her for all my fertility treatments!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Ask lots of questions and tell her how you would like to communicate. I preferred a more direct approach and she respected that.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller and her team were always willing to answer questions or sit with me longer to answer questions or concerns I had. They knew my name when I would come into the clinic - which made me feel like they were invested in me and I wasn't just another "patient"
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
Egg Retrieval: Normal protocol using Gonal-F, Menopur, Cetrotride. We STIM'd for 10 days and retrieved 24 eggs on the 11th day.
Embryo Transfer: We attempted 3 times for a transfer but due to having a thin lining we had to cancel 2 times (was successful on the 3rd). After the first transfer attempted was cancelled, I was worried and unsure about the future and if we would be able to transfer. She calmed my worries and looked at my medicine and changed course accordingly, always trying to find the right mix of medication. I was so discouraged when we cancelled but she was always positive and assured me that sometimes when bodies have a hard time getting a thicker lining they just have to change the medicine protocol. I have been on Estrogren (oral and patches), Vaginal Viagra, Progesterone, Baby Aspirin, Endometrin, etc.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Andrea)
I LOVED the nurses at CCRM-Minneapolis! They responded quickly to me, were always checking in, and happy to see me even! They made the experience at CCRM so enjoyable!
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
The knowledge and lab facilities are amazing! Everyone who works here are experts and you can tell by the care you received. The Nurses at this location really made my experience amazing and one of the huge reasons I will continue to go back to them! They were considerate, answered my questions, and when I was having a bad/good day or appointment, they were there for me to celebrate in the happiness or pick me up if needed it. I had great experience with communication (via the portal and phone call).
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
Medicine (Egg Retrieval + 3 Transfers attempts + 1 successful Transfer) = $15,000+
Care: Unsure - at least $7,500. My insurance coveres a specific amount (which has now been used up). Our costs will be different when we do this another time.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
I trusted Dr. Batcheller's approach to transferring just the 1 embryo.We only had 2 good embryo's and we did discuss transferring both but she wanted to make sure that we had the best chances for success - which meant transferring only the 1, which was successful.
I have PCOS and my husband has a normal sperm count/motility so we are good candidates for IUI. With the success rate of IUI (about 20%) the plan [with Dr. Wael Salem] is to do 3 rounds of IUI and if not successful moving on to IVF...takes the time to be prepared for our appointments and spent time to understand our goals before we developed a treatment plan. While we have not had a complete cycle due to setbacks, he has adjusted our plan to ensure that we are setting ourselves up for the best results.
Ensure that you are very clear on the type of appointment that you are trying to make [with CCRM Minneapolis]. Some appointments have to be scheduled before certain times, Sperm Preservation for example, this will help avoid confusion and get you the appointment that you need...They [staff] respond with thoughtful responses to questions and concerns. Additionally when we have had setbacks they have explained the reasoning and our next steps clearly and with compassion.
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr Salem takes the time to be prepared for our appointments and spent time to understand our goals before we developed a treatment plan. While we have not had a complete cycle due to setbacks, he has adjusted our plan to ensure that we are setting ourselves up for the best results.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Bring all of the questions that you can to understand the process, He was able to break down our plan using our results. It was helpful for me to have my questions written down so that I was sure I got all of the answers that I needed to feel good moving forward with our plan.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem and our Nurse are awesome. They respond with thoughtful responses to questions and concerns. Additionally when we have had setbacks they have explained the reasoning and our next steps clearly and with compassion.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
I have PCOS and my husband has a normal sperm count/motility so we are good candidates for IUI. With the success rate of IUI (about 20%) the plan is to do 3 rounds of IUI and if not successful moving on to IVF.
We were ready to start an IUI procedure using letrozole to trigger ovulation, sadly the lab found that one of my ovaries had an active cyst which would interfere with the treatment plan. So we did a 3 week cycle of birth control pills to quiet it down. We are currently waiting to see if that did the trick to move to doing a full cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Margaret)
Our nurse is awesome! She takes the time to make sure we understand the whole plan and answers any questions that we have.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Ensure that you are very clear on the type of appointment that you are trying to make. Some appointments have to be scheduled before certain times, Sperm Preservation for example, this will help avoid confusion and get you the appointment that you need.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
$383 was the cost for a sperm analysis and cryopreservation
$253 is about what a monitoring appointment costs (day 2/3 appointment)
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
We had once instance where the lab didn't draw enough blood for all of the needed tests. They called us later in the day and we were able to get back in to get the needed tests done.
It is also very helpful to ask a few follow-up questions to ensure you are getting the correct appointment. To have some sperm on hand (just in case) we wanted to do a sperm banking appointment and originally were able to make an appointment late in the day, only to learn, through follow up questioning, that those appointments have to happen before 1:30pm (which was earlier than our appointment).
The first time I met Dr. Salem, he provided us with clear timelines and what things would look like. He was very thorough and has a personality that helps to make people feel comfortable. I have twins that were done previously through IVF at a clinic that is no longer open and he was diligent in getting all of that information to help inform him on my care... He is very open and honest about what to expect and outcomes...he prescribed me with thyroid medication to be sure that I had optimal levels. Then I went on birth control for 3 weeks before beginning my stimulation meds. I am on the last day of my stimulation meds now. I take 2 vials of menopur in the morning with my thyroid medication. At night I take Follistim and Dex. On day 5 I also began taking Gonirelix in the morning with the Menopur. I have had daily ultra sounds and blood work for the last 5 days. I will likely trigger tonight.
Cost of medication was about $7,000 [at CCRM Minneapolis] Cost of everything else was about $20,000 We did IVF with CCS testing. They also had sperm thaw...Strengths: The clinic is clean and easy to get to Staff is friendly and knowledgeable Was able to get financing with help of the clinic Came in on Easter Sunday and the nurses were still in good spirits Weakness: I haven't found one yet. (maybe cost, but that is not necessarily something unique to this clinic)
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
The first time I met Dr. Salem, he provided us with clear timelines and what things would look like. He was very thorough and has a personality that helps to make people feel comfortable. I have twins that were done previously through IVF at a clinic that is no longer open and he was diligent in getting all of that information to help inform him on my care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. He is very open and honest about what to expect and outcomes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem was amazing at telling you the truth, but using language that I could understand. He was pleasant and had a positive outlook without promising success.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
The first thing that I did at CCRM was to get a full workup. They took blood and did ultrasounds to be sure that I was in good health. It was at this time that he prescribed me with thyroid medication to be sure that I had optimal levels. Then I went on birth control for 3 weeks before beginning my stimulation meds. I am on the last day of my stimulation meds now. I take 2 vials of menopur in the morning with my thyroid medication. At night I take Follistim and Dex. On day 5 I also began taking Gonirelix in the morning with the Menopur. I have had daily ultra sounds and blood work for the last 5 days. I will likely trigger tonight.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Angie)
The nursing staff at CCRM is outstanding. They are empathetic and understand that your time is valuable. I am a teacher, so leaving during the morning to go to appointments is difficult. They made every effort to make the appointments quick, without feeling like I was being pushed out. I had to call one time after hours to ask a question about my medication. The nurse responded to my message within 5 minutes and was so kind in her response.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Strengths:
The clinic is clean and easy to get to
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable
Was able to get financing with help of the clinic
Came in on Easter Sunday and the nurses were still in good spirits
Weakness:
I haven't found one yet. (maybe cost, but that is not necessarily something unique to this clinic)
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
Cost of medication was about $7,000
Cost of everything else was about $20,000
We did IVF with CCS testing. They also had sperm thaw.
Describe Wael Salem's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Salem prefers single embryo transfer as he believes that with added testing the results are likely going to be positive.
Dr. Batcheller took the time to review my history and my failed transfers from my previous clinic before meeting with us. She also prepared her opinion of our case and give us options to what she believes will help us to be successful with the up coming IVF cycle. She listen for our opinion and very open....Dr. Batcheller also very details in her explanations. Love her energetic approach and how knowledgeable she is.
Can not describe the clinic strength as I just started with them [CCRM Minneapolis]. The clinic weakness is that they don't really get new patients in as fast as possible. For example, I had my consultation and was supposed to schedule a hysteroscopy within 3-12 days in my cycle. They say no opening and will call me. Call me the very last minute and it's already past 12 days cycle, so now I have to wait for a new cycle to get the test done. The clinic need to regulate timing of the patient carefully and schedule them properly.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
As a patient I feel like Dr. Batcheller did really took the time and effort to review my history and go over our treatment plan. Dr. Batcheller also very details in her explanations. Love her energetic approach and how knowledgeable she is.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Don't loose HOPE until you see Dr. Batcheller.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller took the time to review my history and my failed transfers from my previous clinic before meeting with us. She also prepared her opinion of our case and give us options to what she believes will help us to be successful with the up coming IVF cycle. She listen for our opinion and very open.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
Too early. We just finished our consultation, done labs and ultrasound. Still need a hysteroscopy and regroup before we can start IVF treatments
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM Minneapolis.
Haven't start my cycle so can't really say much about the nurses there which I haven't really met them beside the ultrasound technician and the lab lady. They both seem very nice.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Can not describe the clinic strength as I just started with them.
The clinic weakness is that they don't really get new patients in as fast as possible. For example, I had my consultation and was supposed to schedule a hysteroscopy within 3-12 days in my cycle. They say no opening and will call me. Call me the very last minute and it's already past 12 days cycle, so now I have to wait for a new cycle to get the test done. The clinic need to regulate timing of the patient carefully and schedule them properly.
New patient would need to know every visit, you must prepaid before you can be seen or do treatment if you're out of pocket. This make my feel awkward and dislike clinic for this reason.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
No comments. Didn't get that far yet.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
Nothing really wrong, I just feel like they need to change their billing approach for service to be billed after service and not the same day or before before treatments.
Beside that, the nurse need to be scheduled us in appropriately in timely manner with our cycle test since these tests are time sensitive. Don't want to keep on delaying for just doing tests.
The doctor [Dr. April Batcheller] is great. She's kind, understanding, and works with you on a plan. Her availability isn't great, but that's the only downside, she's very very busy, and it takes 3 weeks to get seen even if you're already a patient...My IUIs were simple, honestly. 100mg of Clomid for 5 days, testing on day 10, after which it was decided how to proceed. Low dose of Ovidrel trigger, IUI 36 hours later. Still going through IVF, though, so can't say, but she put me on an antagonist protocol bc of suspected PCOS.
I did not like the mandatory "donor therapy" [at CCRM Minneapolis] that couldn't use any insurances, snd cost me $800 out of freaking pocket...the clinic seems against transferring mosaic aneuploid embryos...Biggest weakness is their weak schedule and the difficulty contacting anyone but a nurse for good information. Scheduling is weeks out and they don't make that clear before you're up to pay. Good is that they have stupid high success rates and the doctor is fabulous. They also take some insurances.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
The doctor is great. She's kind, understanding, and works with you on a plan. Her availability isn't great, but that's the only downside, she's very very busy, and it takes 3 weeks to get seen even if you're already a patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Start early!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
She's just a really sweet person, and understands how you feel. She's also very willing to work with you to have a plan you want.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
My IUIs were simple, honestly. 100mg of Clomid for 5 days, testing on day 10, after which it was decided how to proceed. Low dose of Ovidrel trigger, IUI 36 hours later. Still going through IVF, though, so can't say, but she put me on an antagonist protocol bc of suspected PCOS.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Melissa, then Dana)
Melissa was amazing, would love to work with her again. Dana has been a nightmare. She's snippy, insulting, and seems to be looking down on me and I don't really like working with her at all.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Biggest weakness is their weak schedule and the difficulty contacting anyone but a nurse for good information. Scheduling is weeks out and they don't make that clear before you're up to pay.
Good is that they have stupid high success rates and the doctor is fabulous. They also take some insurances.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
I had insurance, so they were modest, but I did not like the mandatory "donor therapy" that couldn't use any insurances, snd cost me $800 out of freaking pocket. All so the therapist could scare my donor and I on shit we already discussed.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
My doctor is convinced I will have a highly successful egg retrieval based on my previous responses to lighter medication. Based on my lining, she suggested no more than 1 embryo transferred at a time unless I specifically wanted twins. Furthermore, the clinic seems against transferring mosaic aneuploid embryos.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
I was supposed to complete my blood work. I already had some of it done, but all the wrong blood work was ordered and it just didn't make any sense. Furthermore they kept losing my blood work from my GP I was supposed to be prescribed a med and I had to call after hours to get a prescription for it. Furthermore, they didn't tell me that the sperm count from the donor had been low after they unfroze it, wasting my first IUI, until literally the day before my second IUI. The doctor was out on leave so I don't blame her, but it was a damn mess.
Dr. Batcheller always treated is like a human. ... She was blunt when we had to be and gentle when we needed it. ... We asked a lot of questions I don't think she was used to answering and could tell that she wished we had been less complicated. But it ultimately worked out and we trusted her. She did not offer embryo testing at the time of creation and I wish that she had.
But we often had trouble with the business office and sometimes with the nurses. We would ask a question and get a generic answer (or no answer) that didn't always fit with our situation. Like they never even opened my file before calling me back or responding. ... We recruited our own egg donor which is something I don't think they'd gone through very often which made our journey a little bumpy.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr Batcheller made is feel comfortable and confident throughout the process. She was blunt when we had to be and gentle when we needed it. We recruited our own egg donor which is something I don't think they'd gone through very often which made our journey a little bumpy. We asked a lot of questions I don't think she was used to answering and could tell that she wished we had been less complicated. But it ultimately worked out and we trusted her. She did not offer embryo testing at the time of creation and I wish that she had.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Ask as many questions as you have. She'll answer them all. But doesn't necessarily bring things up if you don't ask. She brings up the things that are medically important. But maybe not extra things that might be important to crazy infertiles lIke us!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Batcheller always treated is like a human. But we often had trouble with the business office and sometimes with the nurses. We would ask a question and get a generic answer (or no answer) that didn't always fit with our situation. Like they never even opened my file before calling me back or responding.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
My AMH was .05 and AFC around 4 when I first saw Dr B. She suggested we start with a medicated IUI. I did triple Menopur for 14 days and had 1-2 follicles. It was not successful. Given my poor response and low AMH/AFC she suggested we either do multiple rounds of IVF with high doses of stims and CCS testing bto hopefully get 1-2 normal embryos if we wanted to it my own eggs or move on to donor eggs. We opted for donor eggs. Knowing we wanted more than one child. The cost of using my own eggs would be too high.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Gina)
We had a lot of trouble with our first nurse. They were just getting the donor program started and things seemed a little unorganized. We just didn't click with our first nurse. She was not very compassionate and dropped the ball a few times (in our opinion). When they added a second nurse to the donor program, Gina, they switched is to her. It was a much better fit. She was very kind and compassionate. And took the time we needed. I did have to have a conversation with the nursing staff about remembering that we are coming in with trauma related to Infertility that requires some extra attention. We need a little more hand holding through this process sometimes. And that this is a big deal for us even if it's their every day work.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr.Salem is very compassionate and made me feel like my husband and I having a baby was his biggest priority. He had a manner that was extremely friendly and explained everything in great detail.... Dr. Salem primary did phone consists with me as we were far from the clinic. He always explained things in a way I could understand and made me feel confident our cycle would be successful. He explained his experience and how it compared with our expected treatment plan and I never doubted his expertise. He was caring during painful procedures and his knowledge of infertility blew me away.
It’s difficult to get same day results from outside clinic faxed to CCRM. They also ordered wrong medication which had to be corrected.... Weaknesses: not feeling like you’re able to get through to a nurse or billing coordinator when you need. It seemed like there were always multiple people looking at my chart and they would jumble the info. Feels like they would quickly rush you through appts. Strengths: having Dr.Salem on staff
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem primary did phone consists with me as we were far from the clinic. He always explained things in a way I could understand and made me feel confident our cycle would be successful. He explained his experience and how it compared with our expected treatment plan and I never doubted his expertise. He was caring during painful procedures and his knowledge of infertility blew me away. When answering questions I had, he did so in a way that didn’t belittle my lack of knowledge and explained everything so wonderfully.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
If you’re unable to get the answers you need from his nursing staff, ask to speak directly with him. He’s more than happy to set aside time to speak with you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr.Salem is very compassionate and made me feel like my husband and I having a baby was his biggest priority. He had a manner that was extremely friendly and explained everything in great detail.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
For our Egg Retreival process, I was on 150units of Gonal F for 10 days starting day 16 of my cycle. I also did 1 vial of menopur for those 10 days and 5 days of cetrotide starting day 21 of my cycle. For my trigger prior to retreival I did leuprolide and novarel. I was also placed on a medication to lower my estrogen levels 2 days prior to retreival.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Andrea)
I didn’t end up primarily working with Andrea. There would be different nurses providing results each time. I didn’t feel like I knew how each monitoring appt went unless I asked for specifics. They would just say if I was on track or not.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Weaknesses: not feeling like you’re able to get through to a nurse or billing coordinator when you need. It seemed like there were always multiple people looking at my chart and they would jumble the info. Feels like they would quickly rush you through appts. Strengths: having Dr.Salem on staff
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
Ivf Egg retreival with Genetic testing and 1 frozen transfer is approximately $25000
Describe Wael Salem's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
Dr. Salem stated he prefers single embryo transfers
What specific things went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at CCRM Minneapolis.
It’s difficult to get same day results from outside clinic faxed to CCRM. They also ordered wrong medication which had to be corrected.
I’ve met Dr. Batcheller once or twice, but she’s always been super helpful and friendly. In our initial consult with her, we talked about our plan being 3 months of IUI and then evaluate from there. At that point, she was so optimistic for us that we never spoke of what would come next and that was comforting. Unfortunately IUI has not worked for ya yet. We’re trying a 4th round with some new meds and if that doesn’t work, we’ll have our regroup appointment next month.
Strengths: Scheduling has always been so easy. Weaknesses: I was once handed a bill in person. It was our first large bill (a couple thousand dollars) and so I was shocked. I would have preferred that they [CCRM Minneapolis] mailed that bill to my home ... Margaret [nurse] and everyone else we worked with have been so friendly. Margaret does a great job of explaining options and clearly laying out our plan each cycle.
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
I’ve met Dr. Batcheller once or twice, but she’s always been super helpful and friendly. In our initial consult with her, we talked about our plan being 3 months of IUI and then evaluate from there. At that point, she was so optimistic for us that we never spoke of what would come next and that was comforting. Unfortunately IUI has not worked for ya yet. We’re trying a 4th round with some new meds and if that doesn’t work, we’ll have our regroup appointment next month. Honestly, we see more of the other staff and they’ve all been great.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Stop in and say hi during appointments every now and again if you’re available!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
April was so optimistic for us that we were very excited to begin treatment. Everyone at her office has been incredible to work with.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
IUI with Clomid (1pill x 5days), Ovidrel and Progesterone. Our second cycle, I ovulated on my own, so Ovidrel wasn’t needed. In our upcoming 4th round, we’re adding in 3 injections of Gonal-F. So far, no positive tests, but we’re optimistic about this round.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Margaret Sundheim)
Margaret and everyone else we worked with have been so friendly. Margaret does a great job of explaining options and clearly laying out our plan each cycle.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
Strengths: Scheduling has always been so easy. Weaknesses: I was once handed a bill in person. It was our first large bill (a couple thousand dollars) and so I was shocked. I would have preferred that they mailed that bill to my home so I could be shocked and cry on my own vs. in the parking ramp before I had to start my day.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
Our insurance is taking a while to process things, so I know we’re not up to date. So far we’ve spent around $2000. I anticipate it will be more though.
I met with Dr. Salem after having a bad experience at another fertility clinic. He is incredibly kind and compassionate. He is also incredibly smart and up to date on the latest information about fertility treatments. He worked really hard to get me the maximum number of eggs for freezing and tailored my treatment plan specifically to my issues (I ended up getting nearly double the number of eggs that I got at the previous clinic!)
Everyone you deal with at this clinic [CCRM Minneapolis] is extremely nice and caring. The nursing staff was excellent...$8,754 for an egg freezing cycle + $475 for anesthesia. The clinic also offers to reduce the fee for a second cycle by 20% and 15% for each cycle after that... is on the cutting edge of fertility technology. The only negative is that they don't bill insurance for you, but they do fill out all the claim forms for you so that you can submit them on your own - it is worth it to get the best treatment!
How was your experience with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
I met with Dr. Salem after having a bad experience at another fertility clinic. He is incredibly kind and compassionate. He is also incredibly smart and up to date on the latest information about fertility treatments. He worked really hard to get me the maximum number of eggs for freezing and tailored my treatment plan specifically to my issues (I ended up getting nearly double the number of eggs that I got at the previous clinic!) I sent my sister to him also because I was so impressed with his services.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Go see him! He is a great doctor! If you are a woman who its hesitant to go see a male ob/gyn, don't let that stop you - get the best treatment possible from the best doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Salem is incredibly kind and compassionate. He is easy to get ahold of and actually called to see how I was feeling during my egg retrieval cycle. He knows his patients by name.
Describe the protocols Wael Salem used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
My treatment protocol was "Luteal Oral-Clomid Protocol 5 - freeze all only." I did a round of egg freezing at a prior clinic and got 7 mature eggs. Dr. Salem's goal was to get me at least a few more the second round. To do that, he advised me to wait 3 months after stopping birth control pills to see if my AMH would increase (it did! went from .5 to 1.78). Based on that, Dr. Salem concluded that birth control pills had a very suppressive effect on my ovaries, so rather than start my cycle with down-regulation by taking birth control pills, I waited for my natural LH surge and then started priming my ovaries by taking estrogen (estrace 2 mg tab twice a day). On day 3 of my next cycle I stopped taking estrace and started taking the stim meds (2 vials of menopur in the morning, 300 units follistim in the evening + 2 tabs of clomid for 5 days + dexamethosone). On day 7 of the stim meds I added in ganirelix in the morning. Triggered after 11 days of stims with HCG and Lupron. I got 13 mature eggs this round - almost double what I got at the previous clinic. I feel that Dr. Salem is directly responsible for the improvement - he really looked into which treatment plan would work best for my circumstances. The other clinic planned to do their exact same protocol a second time (birth control pills for 2 weeks to down-regulate, then start with 1 vial of menopur in the morning + 225 units of follistim in the evening, add ganirelix and then trigger with just HCG). It didn't work well the first time and they had to increase the medication half way though - I believe that if I had done that protocol again, I wouldn't have gotten as many eggs. In addition, they made it seem as though that was the best they could do for me - that because of my low AMH I should just be happy with the number I got. It was very frustrating. Dr. Salem's approach was much more tailored to me and really addressed the concerns I had at the first clinic. He is optimistic and tries to do the best for all of his patients.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis. (Assigned nurse: Christie)
Everyone you deal with at this clinic is extremely nice and caring. The nursing staff was excellent. Christie, my nurse, was very nice and easy to get ahold of. She actually gives patients her extension number so that when you call, she actually answers! Which is a total contrast to the clinic I started at - you have to leave a voicemail and a random nurse would call back several hours later. Everyone at this clinic was nice and helpful. Even the phlebotomists were nice!
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
I think this is the best fertility clinic in MN. I would 100% recommend it to anyone. I switched to this clinic after doing one round of egg freezing at another clinic in the twin cities. It was a night & day difference! This clinic is truly the best and is on the cutting edge of fertility technology. The only negative is that they don't bill insurance for you, but they do fill out all the claim forms for you so that you can submit them on your own - it is worth it to get the best treatment!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Wael Salem at CCRM Minneapolis.
$8,754 for an egg freezing cycle + $475 for anesthesia. The clinic also offers to reduce the fee for a second cycle by 20% and 15% for each cycle after that.
She advised me to only transfer one embryo, due to the high chance of multiple pregnancy if multiple embryos were transferred...Although I saw a lot more of the nurses at the clinic than Dr. Batcheller, when I did see or speak to her she was always very clear and thorough in her explanations, very up-to-date on the science (the one exception being that she ordered bed rest for 24 hours after embryo transfer and gave me a 10 lb lifting restriction), and very kind.
The [CCRM] nursing staff was great, overall. I especially remember (one nurse) was hugely helpful with medications and helping us get what we needed when we ran out of things...The cost for IVF was about $14,600 (including anaesthesia) plus the cost of medication (which I think was around $5000). IUIs were around $2500-$3000 each, plus the cost of medication...
How was your experience with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Although I saw a lot more of the nurses at the clinic than Dr. Batcheller, when I did see or speak to her she was always very clear and thorough in her explanations, very up-to-date on the science (the one exception being that she ordered bed rest for 24 hours after embryo transfer and gave me a 10 lb lifting restriction), and very kind.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis?
Dr. Bachellor was very warm and friendly and answered all questions in detail. All of my interactions with her were very positive. My experiences with the rest of the clinic staff were largely positive as well.
Describe the protocols April Batcheller used in your cycles at CCRM Minneapolis and their degree of success.
I honestly don't remember a lot of the specifics three years later, sorry.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Minneapolis.
The nursing staff was great, overall. I especially remember Jill (do not remember her last name) was hugely helpful with medications and helping us get what we needed when we ran out of things.
Describe your experience with CCRM Minneapolis.
It is a great clinic, they very much know what they are doing and are up to date on the research on fertility treatments. It does tend to feel a bit impersonal at times, they serve a lot of patients and are very busy, but they did a great job of individualizing my care and updating treatment protocols based on what they learned from each treatment cycle.
Describe the costs associated with your care under April Batcheller at CCRM Minneapolis.
The cost for IVF was about $14,600 (including anaesthesia) plus the cost of medication (which I think was around $5000).
IUIs were around $2500-$3000 each, plus the cost of medication.
Preliminary testing and diagnostic work cost around $2500.
Describe April Batcheller's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Minneapolis.
She advised me to only transfer one embryo, due to the high chance of multiple pregnancy if multiple embryos were transferred.
