So we actually saw her [Dr. Kowalczyk's] PA, Alex Karbowski, for our consultation and monitoring. We got into the clinic faster this way. Alexa specializes in PCOS, my diagnosis, so her and Dr. K reviewed our testing together and created a plan. It was nice knowing both of them were overseeing our care. I never met Dr. K in person, but she did call me to confirm my lab results and protocol. She also did my graduation consultation over the phone because we lived an hour away from the clinic. It felt more like a chat with a good friend than a talk with a doctor, which I really liked.
My phone calls were always returned the same day [by Michigan Center for Fertility and Women's Health], usually within 2 hours. Results were always called same day as well. I never waited long for my appointments. Staff was always personable and we felt cared for...Nursing staff was on their A-game...During my hcg draws, they always called within a few hours to let me know my numbers. They were very compassionate and when we would get a negative, I could hear they were bummed out too.
How was your experience with Carole Kowalczyk at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health?
So we actually saw her PA, Alex Karbowski, for our consultation and monitoring. We got into the clinic faster this way. Alexa specializes in PCOS, my diagnosis, so her and Dr. K reviewed our testing together and created a plan. It was nice knowing both of them were overseeing our care. I never met Dr. K in person, but she did call me to confirm my lab results and protocol. She also did my graduation consultation over the phone because we lived an hour away from the clinic. It felt more like a chat with a good friend than a talk with a doctor, which I really liked.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carole Kowalczyk at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health?
Don't expect her to personally do your ultrasounds, draw your blood, etc etc. That's why she has a team of competent, licensed clinical workers. Do expect her to give you a phone call to follow up and be ready to have some questions for her (she wouldn't let me off the phone without asking at least one question). She really wanted me to be fully informed with each phone call we had, despite me being under Alexa (her PAs) care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carole Kowalczyk at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health?
My phone calls were always returned the same day, usually within 2 hours. Results were always called same day as well. I never waited long for my appointments. Staff was always personable and we felt cared for.
Describe the protocols Carole Kowalczyk used in your cycles at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health and their degree of success.
We had a missed miscarriage 11 months before we saw Alexa & Dr.K, so after some diagnostic testing to be sure my tubes were clear and my problem was PCOS, they were confident that we didn't need to jump into anything crazy. We did letrozole, Ovidrel injection, and timed intercourse. Alexa was confident that since our sperm and egg could meet, IVF was unnecessary at the time. She said we could do an IUI to increase our chances, but we declined (our insurance covered 50% of infertility treatment and monitoring. No IVF). Their policy was to try a protocol for 3 months, and then move onto more aggressive protocols. They even mentioned possibly switching letrozole to clomid if I didn't respond properly. Our first cycle resulted in a negative pregnancy test, but our second cycle worked.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health.
Nursing staff was on their A-game. When I decided my insurance was dumb and I'd pay less for Ovidrel from an out of state pharmacy, they immediately sent the script over same day so I could get it shipped in time. During my hcg draws, they always called within a few hours to let me know my numbers. They were very compassionate and when we would get a negative, I could hear they were bummed out too.
Describe your experience with Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health.
This practice is definitely getting big. I think they've added a new doctor since we've been there. Their Lake Orion location was closest to me (I live in the Flint area), but they have limited services and hours. I think they were able to do SAs and IUIs there, but any IVF services had to be done at the Warren location. Once you get a positive beta, they prefer you to keep going to the same lab for as long as they want you to so be aware (I had a week and a half of blood draws). Also, once you are pregnant, they graduate you FAST! I was shocked when I got a 5w2d ultrasound and then Dr.K called me later for my exit consultation. It was bittersweet, and I wish they would let people stick around for viability checks like some other clinics do.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carole Kowalczyk at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health.
Our insurance covered 50% of infertility-related testing and treatments, excluding IVF (not covered). Saline ultrasound was $400, 2 monitored ultrasounds for med response/monitoring was about $600, initial consultation was something like $200+, following consultation was only like $100. Beta hcg blood draws were super cheap ($5 a pop), and our last ultrasound, OB/gynecological, was something like $100.
Describe Carole Kowalczyk's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health.
N/A (didn't do IVF).
What specific things went wrong at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health?
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health.
The only issue I had here was with the front desk staff. I forget the woman's name, but she is super cranky when you call. She would not let me set up an appointment without a referral from an OB. My PCP had to refer me because my insurance requires her to do my referrals. Her office required me to set up an appointment first, then get the referral set up so my insurance would cover infertility services. They don't do this at this office because most people pay out of pocket. She swore up and down she'd mail us the new patient paperwork, but decided to brush me off because I wasn't doing things the way she wanted. I ended up calling a day later and got Dawn, who was super awesome and understanding when I explained my problem. She set up my appointment and mailed out my new patient paperwork the same day.
10
Clinic
Michigan Center for Fertility & Women's Health
Warren