Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
8.8
8.8
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
8
8
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
8.8
8.8
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
8
8
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. Eblen is very nice, informative, and always has a positive attitude. She takes time to answer any questions you may have and will reassure you that if plan a doesn't work out, then we will try different plans after that. I would recommend her to any of my friends and family...we moved on to 3 rounds of IUI. Unfortunately, those didn't work either. We took a break for our mental and emotional health. We just recently started back with Dr. Eblen to proceed with Embryo Adoption.
There really aren't any weaknesses the [Nashville Fertility Center] clinic has. They did get a new office, which is an improvement from the old one because it's bigger and newer. It's always nice, neat, and clean as well. The new office is conveniently located by the elevators and they have a nice, big sign outside of their door...Dr. Eblen and her staff treat you like family and are very informative. They have great bedside manner as well.
How was your experience with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Eblen is very nice, informative, and always has a positive attitude. She takes time to answer any questions you may have and will reassure you that if plan a doesn't work out, then we will try different plans after that. I would recommend her to any of my friends and family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Write down any questions you may have, because she does not mind if you have a list of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Eblen and her staff treat you like family and are very informative. They have great bedside manner as well.
Describe the protocols Abby Eblen used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
When we first started seeing Dr. Eblen, she treated us as a couple. We started with different tests to find out why we couldn't conceive and then moved on to treatments. We started we oral medications to try to get me to ovulate and after about 3 rounds, we moved on to injectables. After that failed, we moved on to 3 rounds of IUI. Unfortunately, those didn't work either. We took a break for our mental and emotional health. We just recently started back with Dr. Eblen to proceed with Embryo Adoption.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
The nurses have always treated us well.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
There really aren't any weaknesses the clinic has. They did get a new office, which is an improvement from the old one because it's bigger and newer. It's always nice, neat, and clean as well. The new office is conveniently located by the elevators and they have a nice, big sign outside of their door.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center.
I think we spent over $8,000 when we were Dr. Eblen the first time. This time that we are with her for the embryo transfer, we are expected to pay close to $10,000 or more.
Describe Abby Eblen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
Dr. Eblen strongly suggests transferring one embryo at a time to prevent multiple. We have not gotten to the transfer part yet.
[Dr. Christine Whitworth] is very knowledgeable about the fertility world. She is thorough through test results...She can come across as cold because she wants to tell you the facts and not sugar coat anything...[she] allowed you to ask as many questions as possible...After the failed IVF cycle. She wanted i biopsy to check out inflammation in the uterus...she suspected Endometriosis...She performed the surgery. We found out I had Silent Endo
The nursing staff [at Nashville Fertility Center] is one of the best nursing staff I have ever met...They got to know me as a person...With IUI with injectibles it was $1,500. IVF runs between $15,000-20,000...There is two locations to go to for appointments...Saturdays can be a long wait to get to be seen. There is no online patient portal that is useful, like for emails and check past appointment things
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Strengths- She is award winning at Endometriosis surgery. She is very knowledgeable about the fertility world. She is thorough through test results.
Weakness- She can come across as cold because she wants to tell you the facts and not sugar coat anything.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
She knows what she is doing and stick with her plan! Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you want.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
She sat down with you and allowed you to ask as many questions as possible.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
The first step she did was to get a complete bloodwork, HSG done, ultrasound and semen analysis. She will give you a list of supplements to take as well. The next step is treat any problems that may have come to light. Then we started IUI with a sperm wash because my test came back positive for antibodies. After trying numerous IUI's we moved on to IVF. She did a plan specific for me and how I responded to medications prior. After the failed IVF cycle. She wanted i biopsy to check out inflammation in the uterus. It came back inflamed so she suspected Endometriosis. She recommend surgery or medication. She respected my decision to not be put on a medication but to have the surgery. She performed the surgery. We found out I had Silent Endo. She allowed me to have time to heal and process all the news. She then did a injectible IUI cycle that was another failed cycle. We were going to do more injectible cycles but the COVID-19 came into the picture. We stopped all treatments.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
The nursing staff is one of the best nursing staff I have ever met. They made sure that you felt welcomed. They got to know me as a person. They were there through all the nervousness, laughter and tears.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Strengths- There is two locations to go to for appointments. The nurses and doctors are amazing!
Weaknesses- Saturdays can be a long wait to get to be seen. There is no online patient portal that is useful, like for emails and check past appointment things.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Nashville Fertility Center.
They only doing monitoring appointments for morning hours. The earliest you can be seen is 8am. I wish they had earlier times so that way I didn't have to go in late for work. I am a teacher so it's hard to get coverage multiple times a week when you are getting monitored.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center.
With each IUI with oral medication and wash it was $538 dollars. With IUI with injectibles it was $1,500. IVF runs between $15,000-20,000
Dr. Hill seemed kind in our consultation, but we were told we would not see him again until egg retrieval and/or transfer... After that, there was no way to get ahold of him- the communication from then on out was from various nurses and seemed unorganized...He recommended sperm freezing, IVF, and genetic testing of embryos...you will not being seeing him/speaking to him much throughout your treatment.
[Nashville Fertility Center] Strengths- several locations Weaknesses- I did not feel I was getting adequate care at this clinic due to mistakes being made, unorganized staff that gave different answers, no online portal making communication difficult (phone tag was the only option), genetic testing of embryos felt pushy...[nursing staff was] Unorganized and difficult to get ahold of due to no online/client portal.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
This is a large clinic, so I only saw him once for the initial consultation. After that, there was no way to get ahold of him- the communication from then on out was from various nurses and seemed unorganized (i.e. different nurses would tell my spouse and I different information). Dr. Hill seemed kind in our consultation, but we were told we would not see him again until egg retrieval and/or transfer.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Just know you will not being seeing him/speaking to him much throughout your treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
This is a large clinic, things felt unorganized, and important things were being missed. We opted to switch clinics for better care.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
He recommended sperm freezing, IVF, and genetic testing of embryos. We went in and paid for sperm freezing and later found out the specimen was accidentally discarded instead of frozen. We are now moving forward with IVF but with a different clinic. It is also interesting that our new clinic/doctor did not feel genetic testing of embryos was necessary for our specific case (which will save us thousands).
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
Unorganized and difficult to get ahold of due to no online/client portal. They use paper patient files but have several office locations. They couldn’t even locate my paper chart at one of my visits because it was at the wrong office location.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Strengths- several locations
Weaknesses- I did not feel I was getting adequate care at this clinic due to mistakes being made, unorganized staff that gave different answers, no online portal making communication difficult (phone tag was the only option), genetic testing of embryos felt pushy, and I didn’t like hearing “if we don’t contact you, make sure to follow up because things can get missed” after all of my lab appointments.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
$1,000+ for sperm freeze. We found out that freezing at another local clinic is half the cost. The clinic had a typical/average cost for IVF compared to other local clinics.
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
We are not moving forward with him, but he recommended IVF with ICSI plus genetic testing of embryos.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
Samples/specimens were mistakenly discarded instead of frozen, my paper chart was misplaced and they couldn’t find it (they do not have patient files online- they use paper charts), and my husband and I were given conflicting information from staff members.
Dr. Weitzman is a very straight forward doctor. He's a no BS person, which if you have thick skin, you'll be just fine. If you're looking for compassion, he's not your guy. He doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to changes you or your spouse need to make (losing weight, etc). With his candid nature, he gives you straight forward answers of the likelihood of success with different treatment options. He will not put you through a treatment option he doesn't feel will work.
Every time we've had testing done at the clinic [Nashville Fertility Center], we've had to wait days to get ahold of someone or to have someone call us back with results. When we're at the clinic for the tests, we've been told same day or next day we'll have results. We've always had to call ourselves to get them. The last time, we were very mislead with the positive outlook of our results - which ended up being high FSH levels in my husband resulting in the only treatment option being sperm freezing and IVF.
How was your experience with Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Weitzman is a very straight forward doctor. He's a no BS person, which if you have thick skin, you'll be just fine. If you're looking for compassion, he's not your guy. He doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to changes you or your spouse need to make (losing weight, etc). With his candid nature, he gives you straight forward answers of the likelihood of success with different treatment options. He will not put you through a treatment option he doesn't feel will work.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
Be patient and have thick skin.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
With every visit, my husband and I have spent no less than 1.5 hours at the office. Our initial consult, we were there for 4 hours (on Christmas Eve!). You definitely need to be prepared to block off half your day to go see him.
Describe the protocols Glenn Weitzman used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
When my husband and I went for our initial consult, I was told to try a 2nd round of clomid (my gyno had me on it the previous month). We had only tested my husband's sperm once (through his GP) and he had been put on an antibiotic to clear up what he thought was an infection. Dr. Weitzman requested my husband be off his antibiotics for 3-4 weeks and to be retested. Once we did that, we were told to come back for another consult. Based on my husband's 2 sperm counts, we were told we could see a urologist (if we wanted) or he would highly recommend going straight to sperm freezing and IVF do to a high FSH level in my husband.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Andrea Sporck)
I have not personally dealt with Andrea just yet. However, I have had major issues getting test results back on time. Every test we've done through the center, we've been told we would know results same day or next day. My husband or I would have to call, and every time we would have to wait days to get those results. After we received the last sperm analysis results, one of the staff members made it seem very promising that we could easily treat my husband's high FSH level. However, once we were told we had a game plan, we were told our only option was sperm freezing and IVF. It was a huge shock to get that news after how the test results were presented on the phone.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Check in and appointment scheduling is seamless and painless. That's about the best I have to say about the clinic's strengths. The wait time for every appointment is excruciatingly long. Once you're finally taken to a room, you sit and wait even longer on a nurse or doctor to come in. If you've got time to waste, I would recommend them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center.
So far, we've only paid co-pays and sperm analysis test fees. The sperm analysis was approx $20 more than it was through my husband's GP.
Describe Glenn Weitzman's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
My person preference would be multiple embryo transfer. Dr. Weitzman doesn't do multiple embryo transfer. This is a concern of mine, and my husband and I are weighing our options for what the next step is (moving forward with Dr. Weitzman or finding another doctor).
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
Every time we've had testing done at the clinic, we've had to wait days to get ahold of someone or to have someone call us back with results. When we're at the clinic for the tests, we've been told same day or next day we'll have results. We've always had to call ourselves to get them. The last time, we were very mislead with the positive outlook of our results - which ended up being high FSH levels in my husband resulting in the only treatment option being sperm freezing and IVF.
Dr. he’ll [Hill] used a lot of test to come up with a plan for me and we were supposed to start IVF however I wanted to wait and try a natural route. Since we went that way we ended up on Metformin And I ended up with a list of vitamins that I needed to take to help my body be as fertile as possible ... He was always so patient in our meetings ... I would recommend him because he truly values his patients and wants to help everyone achieve the overall goal of beating in fertility.
Some of the strengths of this clinic [Nashville Fertility Center] is they work with you with your schedule and trying to get you in in a timely manner they also are very punctual and patient. One of the downfalls is sometimes it takes a little bit for them to get back to you when you do have certain questions that you have called over the phone or if you leave a message for them to email you something sometimes they don’t get all the information emailed to you so you have to call again to get things done.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
George he’ll take his time to go over your game plan. If there is a lot of information he also takes the time to go into individual details about what things you need to do in each step of the process. As a patient of always hated male gynecologist even specialist but he has made me feel so at ease as a patient that it does not bother me that he is a male.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
If you have a lot of issues and you want answers and someone to believe you that something is going on I would highly suggest George Hill because I told him all of my issues and the very first meeting he literally put me through every test to find out what was going on. I would recommend him because he truly values his patients and wants to help everyone achieve the overall goal of beating in fertility.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
He was always so patient in our meetings even when I came with literally 46 questions after our very first meeting. He also was patient as I cried when I found out I had endometriosis.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
Dr. he’ll used a lot of test to come up with a plan for me and we were supposed to start IVF however I wanted to wait and try a natural route. Since we went that way we ended up on Metformin And I ended up with a list of vitamins that I needed to take to help my body be as fertile as possible and that was the only medicines I really wanted to get into and I never really got to start the full IVF process because I decided that the money was too much. Now in my current new plan I will be starting medications to do the Iui Process but I have not got that information as of yet
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Michelle )
She has been nothing but helpful in getting information to me in a timely manner as well as she is patient and understanding as well
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Some of the strengths of this clinic is they work with you with your schedule and trying to get you in in a timely manner they also are very punctual and patient.
One of the downfalls is sometimes it takes a little bit for them to get back to you when you do have certain questions that you have called over the phone or if you leave a message for them to email you something sometimes they don’t get all the information emailed to you so you have to call again to get things done. But overall the staff and clinic is very awesome
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
Currently I am around $4000.00 for everything that has been done. Surgery, doctor visits, medications.
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
Dr. Hill said from the very beginning that he only transfers one embryo because a lot of study show that transferring multiple embryos Does not hold real value of it working any better than one embryo. So he he truly is a firm believer in one embryo but he did say that he may would do two under certain circumstances but in my case it was definitely be just one so that something you will have to talk with him about if you know that you want more than one embryo transferred then you might would want to look for another doctor
Dr. Whitworth is a very busy doctor but she still takes time to explain everything clearly. She has a good bedside manor, but is not an emotional doctor. She is straight business, to some that may make them feel like more of a number but that just is her personality...She is very smart and truly does care about the care she gives and the nurses in the office call her the "endometriosis queen"- and she is!
I have been nothing but impressed with the nursing staff at the Murfreesboro office [of Nashville Fertility Center]. They have all been amazing!...They [nurses] are very very busy but they manage the patient load well. The clinic is small, but I believe that they are getting a new office in the near future...Dr. Whitworth is a very busy doctor but she still takes time to explain everything clearly. She has a good bedside manor, but is not an emotional doctor.
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
She is very informative and explains all options based on your diagnoses and will let you decide what you feel best for you and your body. She is all business and is not an emotional doctor. It took me a while to get use to this, as I am an emotional person. I did have to have surgery as well with Dr. Whitworth for endometriosis and I feel just took the best care and did the absolute best surgery. They do have a lot of patients, so until you see her a few times and get really established, it takes her a bit to put all the pieces of your history back together- that has been the only frustrating part to my husband and I. But, we have now been treated by her for over 1 year and this is not an issue now. Overall, we have been very happy with her and would recommend her to others.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Patience, even though it is SO hard!!! Fertility is such a variable practice of medicine and has to be specifically tailored to each person and sometimes, the answers take a while to uncover and sometimes, there are no answers, which is the most frustrating part of infertility.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth is a very busy doctor but she still takes time to explain everything clearly. She has a good bedside manor, but is not an emotional doctor. She is straight business, to some that may make them feel like more of a number but that just is her personality. It did take me a bit to get use to this quality, as I am more of an emotional person. She is very smart and truly does care about the care she gives and the nurses in the office call her the "endometriosis queen"- and she is!
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I had a miscarriage the first month of trying in October of 2016. I switched OBGYN early 2017 and he sent me to Dr. Whitworth - in June of 2017 I had HSG done and my tubes were clear. In Sep we started Clomid- I developed a large cysts and the cycle failed. I then did 3 rounds of Femara. 2 of those rounds, I was able to do a trigger shot to release my egg/eggs. The other round, the follicle was too large and we were not able to do trigger shot. In Feb 2018, I started even more of an increase in pain with periods and had an ultrasound that showed possible endometriomas on both of my ovaries. I did 2 rounds of Lupron and then had surgery in June 2018 for endometriosis. I was diagnosed with stage 4 endo. Dr.Whitworth now wants us to try on our own for 3-4 months and then will will try medicated if I do not get pregnant before then. Dr. Whitworth gave us about a 35% of conceiving on our own. If we are not able to do so, we will start IVF next year.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
I have been nothing but impressed with the nursing staff at the Murfreesboro office. They have all been amazing!
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
They are very very busy but they manage the patient load well. The clinic is small, but I believe that they are getting a new office in the near future. I have been impressed with the Murfreesboro office.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center.
We have been lucky, our insurance has picked up most of the ultrasounds as well as the surgery. We have had to come out of pocket for all medication, consultations and testing for my husband.
Dr. Whitworth is very easy to talk to. We would often have tons of questions and she would answer everyone, without making us feel like we were taking up too much time. We had one visit with her that lasted 3 hours, but that was by our choice because of all of the questions we had.... My husband had low sperm count and no motility. She suggested HCG shots, but due to the cost we first tried clomid. He did well with this and 3 months later had above normal numbers!
The nursing staff at the Murfreesboro office [Nashville Fertility Center] is amazing. Both my husband and I love them. We are those patients that constantly have questions since all our meds are new to us. Every time we call we get a call back from the nurse within a day.... Usually when consulting with the doctor about next steps, it’s done in their office, not the patient room, which is nice. They can do most testing in office. I’ve had transvaginal ultrasounds there, and they do sperm analyses there also.
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth is very easy to talk to. We would often have tons of questions and she would answer everyone, without making us feel like we were taking up too much time. We had one visit with her that lasted 3 hours, but that was by our choice because of all of the questions we had. She answered everyone. She explained everything g very well also to where we could understand. She was able to explain details about my husbands sperm and testosterone issues in a way we could understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
We were listened to and made to feel like we were important and that our problems mattered to them. Dr. Whitworth would address every concern we had and seemed to really care.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
My husband had low sperm count and no motility. She suggested HCG shots, but due to the cost we first tried clomid. He did well with this and 3 months later had above normal numbers! He still had some white blood cells so Dr. Whitworth prescribes antibiotics for that. I was diagnosed with PCOS and put on Metformin. I was put on one cycle of clomid, but this thinned my lining. I came in for an US to confirm that, and was then switched to Letrozole for 3 months. I ovulated each cycle. Before starting the Letrozole I had an HSG test also.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center.
The nursing staff at the Murfreesboro office is amazing. Both my husband and I love them. We are those patients that constantly have questions since all our meds are new to us. Every time we call we get a call back from the nurse within a day. She is always pleasant to talk to and remembers our specific information.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
We have only been to the Murfreesboro office, not their main Nashville office. It is clean and inviting. The rooms are nice. Usually when consulting with the doctor about next steps, it’s done in their office, not the patient room, which is nice. They can do most testing in office. I’ve had transvaginal ultrasounds there, and they do sperm analyses there also. That part is great for male factor infertility because of the convenience. It only takes an hour for them to get the results back, so it’s discussed same day. Blood work is also done there. There’s a small waiting room so if you’re not comfortable sitting with a bunch of people that’s something to think about.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center.
With our BCBS insurance we had to pay our specialty copay of $45 for our visit. If both my husband and I were being seen that would be the fee for each of us. Our insurance is not in network with their lab, so sperm analysis cost us $130. My first transvaginal ultrasound cost us $60. But the next 2 I had were covered by our insurance and we paid nothing.
Dr. Hill was so kind when he walked into the exam room to talk with me and my husband. He asked us our background, what we like to do and really got to know us before going into why we were there. Once we got to the “why we were there”, he went through hundreds of pages of previous records to figure out what was going on before to see where he needed to pick up. Since our first consult, he has ordered labs and ultrasounds. Dr. Hill was very calm and patient with us as he knew how stressed we were about trying to have a baby for the last 7 years.
Nashville fertility clink is very clean, cozy and very welcoming. They are quick to check you in and get you to a room. Every time I have gone in, I have been greeted with a smile and called by my name.... Our total is going to be around $17,470. Egg retrieval with PHT-A is $13,590 Frozen Embryo transfer is $3880... They are quick to call back every time I have left a message and are very quick to get me in the office. Always friendly and very compassionate.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill was so kind when he walked into the exam room to talk with me and my husband. He asked us our background, what we like to do and really got to know us before going into why we were there. Once we got to the “why we were there”, he went through hundreds of pages of previous records to figure out what was going on before to see where he needed to pick up. Since our first consult, he has ordered labs and ultrasounds.
Dr. Hill was very calm and patient with us as he knew how stressed we were about trying to have a baby for the last 7 years. He made sure we knew all the risks of the medications and how much everything was going to cost and went through every step before we get to IVF. He made us feel hopeful and comfortable. Like we are real people and not just his patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Write down all of the questions you have. Dr. Hill is very through in his answers and so, so very helpful.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill explained everything so well and answered all of the questions we had. He took the time to go through all of my previous records from my other doctors and gave us what our best options would be.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I am currently starting my first treatment with Dr. Hill. We are hoping to start in January of 2019. So far, he has had me have a couple of ultrasounds to check my tubes, ovaries, and uterus. I have also had a couple labs done to see if I am lacking any hormones.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
They are quick to call back every time I have left a message and are very quick to get me in the office. Always friendly and very compassionate.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Nashville fertility clink is very clean, cozy and very welcoming. They are quick to check you in and get you to a room. Every time I have gone in, I have been greeted with a smile and called by my name.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
Our total is going to be around $17,470.
Egg retrieval with PHT-A is $13,590
Frozen Embryo transfer is $3880
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
He went over what would happen if we had elective or multiple. He told us our chances are higher of conceiving if we chose to have multiple embryo transfer. With how long we have been TTC, we would choose multiple.
Through our 3 IUI cycles and our IVF consult he [Dr. George Hill] seemed to be more than supportive of our ideal course of treatment. He was good answering any questions we had and being thorough. However during the cycles we never saw him, it was always other doctors doing our monitoring...was personable and on our side for any treatment we chose to do, but while going through treatment cycles we rarely saw him during the monitoring process, mostly nurses and his other partners in the practice.
Always easy to call and book appointments [at Nashville Fertility Center], nice staff and very compassionate about not overcharging if they don't have to, since it can be expensive. I went to the M'boro office instead of the Nashville office, I preferred the smaller office and close knit staff. I do understand that other patients may not like that the office is much smaller though...She [nurse] was always personable, hopeful and just the right amount of perky. Very informative and helpful in anyway she could. No weaknesses whatsoever!
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Through our 3 IUI cycles and our IVF consult he seemed to be more than supportive of our ideal course of treatment. He was good answering any questions we had and being thorough. However during the cycles we never saw him, it was always other doctors doing our monitoring.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Be more involved with each cycle as opposed to letting other Doctors and NP's be there in your place.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
I felt like Dr. Hill was personable and on our side for any treatment we chose to do, but while going through treatment cycles we rarely saw him during the monitoring process, mostly nurses and his other partners in the practice.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
2 IUI cycles were done with Letrozole days 3-5, trigger shots, and insemination to follow, labs to check beta levels. 1 IUI cycle with Gonal F 75 iu for about a week, trigger shots and insemination, labs to check estrogen & beta levels.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Amber)
She was always personable, hopeful and just the right amount of perky. Very informative and helpful in anyway she could. No weaknesses whatsoever!
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Always easy to call and book appointments, nice staff and very compassionate about not overcharging if they don't have to, since it can be expensive. I went to the M'boro office instead of the Nashville office, I preferred the smaller office and close knit staff. I do understand that other patients may not like that the office is much smaller though.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
Most of my costs were through the pharmacies, which they provided a discount program for. All diagnostic testing was covered by our insurance and the only things out of pocket charged at the clinic were sperm washing and insemination, those costs were relatively low compared to stories I've heard of other clinics charging. Without medications, IUI cycles were under $500 with insurance, and with medications total costs $590-900.
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
He didn't seem deadset on the amount of embryos to transfer in the consultation, he did go over both sides of the spectrum for the two possible outcomes. He did suggest with our situation that a singleton would be ideal, but 2 wouldn't be out of the question either.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
One of the IUI's we did was at the Nashville office, and the day of the IUI my chart wasn't sent over so the nurse preforming the insemination was unaware of my prior experience. It wasn't really a major issue to myself personally, maybe more of a headache to the nursing staff.
[Dr. George Hill] was very informative and very helpful. He explained things in a way that I understood, and he never made me feel bad for asking questions. He acted like I was the only patient in the office and had all the time in the world for me...we decided IUI was the right step for us. Dr. Hill explained the process and everything that would happen leading up to the procedure. After two failed IUIs, we went in for one last time and discovered that I most likely had endometriosis.
I believe my nurse [at Nashville Fertility Center] was Meghan. She was amazing! She made me feel extremely comfortable. She was very sweet and had a great personality. She always knew exactly who I was and remembered conversations that we had previously had...Dr. Hill definitely treated me like a human. He always took the time to answer any questions that I had and listened to my concerns. He advised me on my options and explained everything in detail. I never felt like I was “just another patient.”
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
When I first went to Dr. Hill I was very nervous. My husband and I had tried for several years to get pregnant and never did. Dr. Hill explained the tests he wanted to run on both my husband and myself. I waited a while before deciding on whether or not to move further. About a year later we decided IUI was the right step for us. Dr. Hill explained the process and everything that would happen leading up to the procedure. After two failed IUIs, we went in for one last time and discovered that I most likely had endometriosis. I couldn’t afford surgery at the time, so we stopped treatments until we decided what to do next.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Ask questions! Dr. Hill was very informative and very helpful. He explained things in a way that I understood, and he never made me feel bad for asking questions. He acted like I was the only patient in the office and had all the time in the world for me.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill definitely treated me like a human. He always took the time to answer any questions that I had and listened to my concerns. He advised me on my options and explained everything in detail. I never felt like I was “just another patient.”
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
Dr. Hill gave us our options, and we decided that IUI was a good start. I was given my fertility pills and ordered my injection. He ordered an ultrasound at the right time and advised me on when to take the shot and when to come back for the IUI procedure. We did this for two cycles with no positive results. Before starting my third IUI, Dr. Hill recommended that I look into having surgery for endometriosis. He told me that if I wished to do to one more IUI then he would, but he was honest and up front and told me it most likely wouldn’t work.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Meghan I believe )
I believe my nurse was Meghan. She was amazing! She made me feel extremely comfortable. She was very sweet and had a great personality. She always knew exactly who I was and remembered conversations that we had previously had.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Nashville Fertility Clinic is a wonderful place with an exceptional staff. From the receptionist, to the nurses, to the doctors- I can’t sing their praises enough. Everyone treated us like we were MVPs (Most Valuable Patients)! Going through infertility is hard enough, but the staff at the clinic definitely helped to ease the pain!
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
For the IUI procedures that I had done, I paid less than $500. It was very affordable, which is why we could afford more than I round. The medications were not very expensive either. It was more affordable than I thought it would be.
Dr. Whitworth went into great detail with possible causes for our infertility. She thoroughly explained every detail and assisted us throughout the treatment process. She was able to recommend certain blood tests which revealed an underlying issue with myself...Be prepared to look more in-depth at what could be the cause of infertility. She leaves no stone unturned and explores every option throughly and respectfully.
The nursing staff at Nashville Fertility - Murfreesboro are amazing. They are very understanding and compassionate throughout the process. They do not give you any sort of false hope but rather give all possible outcomes after every procedure...The clinic is very well ran and organized. Every employee is very friendly and helpful from checking in to IUI procedures. They are willing to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth went into great detail with possible causes for our infertility. She thoroughly explained every detail and assisted us throughout the treatment process. She was able to recommend certain blood tests which revealed an underlying issue with myself.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Be prepared to look more in-depth at what could be the cause of infertility. She leaves no stone unturned and explores every option throughly and respectfully.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth went into great detail with what could be the root cause of our infertility. She suggested various tests and different treatment plans to assist during the process.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I was placed on ovulation stimulators along with trigger shots prior to IUI treatments.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Amber)
The nursing staff at Nashville Fertility - Murfreesboro are amazing. They are very understanding and compassionate throughout the process. They do not give you any sort of false hope but rather give all possible outcomes after every procedure. They allow for a clear line of communication and throughout explain all steps of treatments and procedures.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
The clinic is very well ran and organized. Every employee is very friendly and helpful from checking in to IUI procedures. They are willing to answer any questions or concerns you may have. I would recommend this location for fertility services.
I was on testosterone shots when I started seeing her [Dr. Whitworth]. Her first immediate plan was for me to stop those as they caused a very low sperm count and zero motility. She recommended HCG shots, but due to cost we tried clomid instead. She had me come in 3 months later to test again and the results were great. Dr. Whitworth gave me the results right away...went into a lot of detail through all my visits and it didn’t feel like she was rushing me out the door.
The nurse [at Nashville Fertility Center] we always had was always smiling and always in a good mood...A strength of the office was that everyone was on the same page, from the front desk to the doctor. They communicated well. The office was nice and clean. The room they have in there used for samples was nice.....About $80 for blood work and $140 for SA...Dr. Whitworth was very knowledgeable. She was great at breaking stuff down for me and explaining the technical things in a way I could understand. Specifically how testosterone works in the body. One weakness would be that sometimes I wasn’t clear on future plans or future visits.
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth was very knowledgeable. She was great at breaking stuff down for me and explaining the technical things in a way I could understand. Specifically how testosterone works in the body. One weakness would be that sometimes I wasn’t clear on future plans or future visits.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Write all your questions down so you remember everything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth went into a lot of detail through all my visits and it didn’t feel like she was rushing me out the door.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I was on testosterone shots when I started seeing her. Her first immediate plan was for me to stop those as they caused a very low sperm count and zero motility. She recommended HCG shots, but due to cost we tried clomid instead. She had me come in 3 months later to test again and the results were great. Dr. Whitworth gave me the results right away.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Amber )
The nurse we always had was always smiling and always in a good mood.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
A strength of the office was that everyone was on the same page, from the front desk to the doctor. They communicated well. The office was nice and clean. The room they have in there used for samples was nice.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center.
I had to pay my specialist $45 copay. Blood work and SA were expensive because our insurance didn’t cover their lab. About $80 for blood work and $140 for SA.
Dr Hill was always very descriptive, professional, and informative. He always listened to our concerns and what we had to say as patients. The only downfall was that we never seen him unless we had a consultation... We used 50mg of clomid for 3 months with timed intercourse. We then moved onto 50mg of clomid and a trigger shot of ovidrel with an IUI
Dr Hill and his staff [at Nashville Fertility Center-Murfreesboro] always were so positive and encouraging even when our numbers were at the lowest. We had such an amazing experience with his office... The front desk lady doesn’t seem nice at first and is very straight forward, but after the first couple of visits she is extremely sweet.the clinics strength would be that they were all up to date with what was going on with us every time we came in.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr Hill was always very descriptive, professional, and informative. He always listened to our concerns and what we had to say as patients. The only downfall was that we never seen him unless we had a consultation
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Be open and honest with everything. Voice all of your concerns and ask questions
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr Hill and his staff always were so positive and encouraging even when our numbers were at the lowest. We had such an amazing experience with his office
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
We used 50mg of clomid for 3 months with timed intercourse. We then moved onto 50mg of clomid and a trigger shot of ovidrel with an IUI
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
I don’t have any weaknesses for them. Both nurses I encountered were very accommodating. They were always up to date with my chart and what was going on. They both made personal calls to myself to check on me
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
The front desk lady doesn’t seem nice at first and is very straight forward, but after the first couple of visits she is extremely sweet.the clinics strength would be that they were all up to date with what was going on with us every time we came in.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
My ultrasounds were around $200, meds were $150, sperm wash was $220 and the insemination was $200. Each of our consultations were $250
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
She [Dr. Elben] was available to answer all of my questions and create a game plan that didnt involve dragging everything out. She let me move onto IVF as I wanted....After being diagnosed with a low egg number, she decided we would do 2-3 IUI and then move onto IVF. She didn't want to waste time.... I felt like she genuinely cared and helped calm my worries. After the first treatments were unsuccessful, she changed me right to IVF instead of making me continue with the other.
It can be difficult to get a straight answer from the billing department [Nashville Fertility Center]. I had to call several times before I would get a phone call back. They did not tend to discuss my insurance coverage very well....Everyone [nursing staff] was always easy to get ahold of and answer any questions I might have had.... After being diagnosed with a low egg number, she decided we would do 2-3 IUI
How was your experience with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
I felt like she genuinely cared and helped calm my worries. After the first treatments were unsuccessful, she changed me right to IVF instead of making me continue with the other. It was not too hard to get a consultation appointment when I felt a different approach was needed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Be sure to bring a pen and paper to each appointment. she covers a lot of information pretty fast and it's hard to remember everything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
She was available to answer all of my questions and create a game plan that didnt involve dragging everything out. She let me move onto IVF as I wanted.
Describe the protocols Abby Eblen used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
After being diagnosed with a low egg number, she decided we would do 2-3 IUI and then move onto IVF. She didn't want to waste time.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center.
Everyone was always easy to get ahold of and answer any questions I might have had.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
It can be difficult to get a straight answer from the billing department. I had to call several times before I would get a phone call back. They did not tend to discuss my insurance coverage very well.
She [Dr. Whitworth] wanted to go through a series of tests, to assess my current situation. This included various tests for my husband. Discovered issues with fibroids.... Not a lot of interaction Expected more involvement. Talked more to her staff and other doctors whom she referred me to for fibroid removal. A lot of times I felt unsure of the next steps and plan towards conception. Just felt that more communication was needed.
I like the convenience of the 2 locations [Nashville Fertility Center]. Phone staff can be negative at times, but overall pretty decent clinic but I just think that they lack in communication. Also more flexibility in schedule is needec.... [Nursing Staff] Very professional but not as much communication as I expected... Talked more to her staff and other doctors whom she [Dr. Whitworth] referred me to for fibroid removal.
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Not a lot of interaction
Expected more involvement. Talked more to her staff and other doctors whom she referred me to for fibroid removal. A lot of times I felt unsure of the next steps and plan towards conception. Just felt that more communication was needed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Get an established plan of action right from beginning
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Not of interaction
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
She wanted to go through a series of tests, to assess my current situation. This included various tests for my husband. Discovered issues with fibroids.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
Very professional but not as much communication as I expected
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Nothing in particular stands out. I like the convenience of the 2 locations. Phone staff can be negative at times, but overall pretty decent clinic but I just think that they lack in communication. Also more flexibility in schedule is needec.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
she [Dr. Van Heertum] talked to me at the level of knowledge I had (rather than talking down to me as prior doctors had). She always listened to my concerns and ideas, discussed with me recent literature, worked to craft plans that I felt comfortable with, and gave me choices along the way...she took time to talk to me and listen rather than hurry me out. I saw her more frequently after success and sonograms, and it was nice to wrap up my time in the clinic working with her directly....
Most of the time I ended up communicating [with nurses at Nashville Fertility Center] through the portal with questions outside of office visits, and questions were typically answered within a few hours, if not shorter. I always had the chance to see my nurse during an office visit (after bloodwork and ultrasounds), ask questions, and get details on next treatment plans. These were also uploaded to the portal for me to check at home. The nurses were overall patient and kind, and listened to my questions and concerns...
How was your experience with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
My prior experiences with fertility doctors had been hit or miss. When I came to her, I explicitly let her know that I had done a lot of research on the topic and wanted to be involved in my treatment. Because of this, she talked to me at the level of knowledge I had (rather than talking down to me as prior doctors had). She always listened to my concerns and ideas, discussed with me recent literature, worked to craft plans that I felt comfortable with, and gave me choices along the way. When I suggested treatments that were not as thoroughly supported by evidence-based literature, she was willing to entertain them (as long as they were not harmful), and many of these made the ultimate difference for me when abnormal embryos seemed to be my insurmountable problem.
Although I was not always in touch with her (often in touch with clinic nurses), relevant questions were conveyed to her, and in consults when we actually met, she took time to talk to me and listen rather than hurry me out. I saw her more frequently after success and sonograms, and it was nice to wrap up my time in the clinic working with her directly.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
You won't see her all the time, but she is accessible, especially when needed. Follow up, ask questions, and invest time and effort in your treatment, and she will do the same.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Van Heertum was wonderful. She listened to my questions and concerns, took them into consideration in treatment, and worked with me to craft a plan forward to address prior problems/failures. I didn't always see her, but I was able to send questions through the message portal to her nurse, and if relevant, they were conveyed to her and I received a response typically always the same day.
Describe the protocols Kristin Van Heertum used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
Initial protocol was luteal start antagonist protocol due to early dominant follicles during prior IUIs. This worked well in terms of even follicle growth and retrieval of all seen, but low fertilization rate, poor egg quality, and only 2 blastocysts (both abnormal). Second round utilized the same protocol, but at my request, I added supplements and HGH, which resulted in double the follicles and 3x the number of blastocysts, but all abnormal/high mosaic. Last cycle we turned to estrogen priming and agonist protocol (plus same supplements). Response was equal to second round, with fewer mature follicles and blastocysts, but among those was a low-level segmental mosaic that resulted in a successful transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Miranda Perotti; Laurie Lee)
The nursing staff was overall quite good. I usually saw the same nurse, but due to my primary leaving on maternity leave, I ended up seeing several. Most of the time I ended up communicating through the portal with questions outside of office visits, and questions were typically answered within a few hours, if not shorter. I always had the chance to see my nurse during an office visit (after bloodwork and ultrasounds), ask questions, and get details on next treatment plans. These were also uploaded to the portal for me to check at home.
The nurses were overall patient and kind, and listened to my questions and concerns. Miranda, my first nurse, was my favorite, and she was extremely patient with me through a lot of tough times and a million questions.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
First thing to know is that it is a larger clinic, and thus there are "departments" where individuals are in charge of certain areas/tasks (phlebotomy, ultrasonography, nursing, doctors, and finances). It may be frustrating to see so many different people each visit, but overall, I found the segmentation to work well and there tended to be strong communication among the units. I got to know the individuals in the various units over time and form relationships with them. Scheduling might be the most difficult aspect when trying to get a "new" appointment quickly (e.g. new cycle, consult, etc.), as given the nature of last minute appointments needed. However, they are willing to work with you if you explain why. They were also nice enough to work me in same day for my last appointment when I messed up the time.
In terms of the in-house finance department, they are very organized and I never had any problems. As long as you come in prepared and organized, it seems to facilitate things a lot in the finance area. They were also willing to submit and work with insurance until several claims were (unexpectedly but fortuitously) covered.
Working with Ovation, their lab, is a bit more frustrating. The lab staff and medical center staff are great and compassionate. However, the finance end of Ovation is confusing and sometimes frustrating due to the overall corporation being a much larger conglomerate. I think there was also a fair amount of turnover in staff there.
The online portal they use can be frustrating and has a bit of a learning curve, the most frustrating aspect of which is its finance/payment area and the "quotes" they give for treatment costs. It was always easier to see these printed and to discuss questions about these in person rather than attempting to use the portal for everything
.
Overall, I never had any problems and don't have any real weaknesses to cite. As long as you're prepared to work within this system, ask questions, and self-advocate when needed, you should have a good experience.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center.
Freeze-all IVF Round + ICSI and PGT-A testing (each) - $14,000 (x3)
Mock transfer cycle - ~$1000 (some charges covered through insurance)
Frozen embryo transfer - $4000 (some monitoring sent through insurance)
Describe Kristin Van Heertum's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
Multiple embryo transfer was only recommended if transferring lower viability embryos (e.g. high mosaics, abnormals) given the low likelihood of multiples. She recommended and we settled on eSET for the best mosaic embryo I had, which actually divided into identical twins anyway (a risk I was advised of, even if I didn't expect it!).
We were very lucky to receive Dr. Hill as our physician since we took the earliest available appointment. He started our treatment after the first meeting. When those treatments didn't work after 3 months, we went through further testing. At every roadblock, Dr. Hill prescribed a different medication and also sent us to a male infertility specialist (also the best of the best). He gave us real expectations and cautious optimism. He was never rushed and never seemed bothered by our numerous questions. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone.
[Nashville Fertility Center] Nashville office is old and dated, but also easy to get in and out. They have valet parking as well. The ladies at the front desk are not warm and friendly, but they are very efficient and nice if you get to know them. There's not normally a long wait and you are seen in a timely manner. They are busy, but everyone there is kind and knows their job front and back.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
We were very lucky to receive Dr. Hill as our physician since we took the earliest available appointment. He started our treatment after the first meeting. When those treatments didn't work after 3 months, we went through further testing. At every roadblock, Dr. Hill prescribed a different medication and also sent us to a male infertility specialist (also the best of the best). He gave us real expectations and cautious optimism. He was never rushed and never seemed bothered by our numerous questions. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
He is kind but also to the point. He won't sugarcoat things, so be prepared for what he has to say. He is the expert.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill was never rushed. He explained everything in both scientific and layman terms. He was soft spoken and sympathetic, but also wanted to be aggressive with our treatment.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
Since I was 36, he started me on Clomid and trigger shots immediately. While waiting testing results for my husband, we tried these methods for 3 months with no success. Once we found it was 100% male factor, he referred us to a specialty urologist, who provided the next step with sperm retrieval, making IVF our next step and only option for genetic children. Once we had frozen sperm, we moved forward with IVF. I had one round of meds, one egg retrieval, and had 4 embryos created and tested. Dr. Hill suggested ICSI for fertilization since we had such low sperm count. He also suggested PGT testing since we were trying to only do one round, and the fact that I was in my late 30's and husband in his 50's. Once we had normal results, Dr. Hill insisted (backed by research and stats) that we do a single egg transfer. I was under 40 and had PGT healthy embryo, so his goal is one healthy baby and one healthy mom. And it worked! We have a healthy baby girl. We also have one other normal embryo and 2 mosaic embryos in storage if we chose to use them.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Tina DeBoer)
Tina and the remainder of the nursing staff was very efficient. They see many patients for monitoring appointments everyday, and they minimize your wait and time in the office. Tina was our lead nurse and coordinator. She treats you with such kindness, you think she is your mom. She has worked for Dr. Hill for over 23 years and it shows. She is knowledgeable, realistic, and just an all around wonderful human.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
The Nashville office is old and dated, but also easy to get in and out. They have valet parking as well. The ladies at the front desk are not warm and friendly, but they are very efficient and nice if you get to know them. There's not normally a long wait and you are seen in a timely manner. They are busy, but everyone there is kind and knows their job front and back.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
I feel the cost was very "market price." They provided a flat fee that you paid for the entire process in one lump sum and it was at a discounted rate. This was nice so you didn't have to worry about paying each time you went. Once you embarked on IVF, the cost was paid on the first monitoring visit and then you were finished. They give you a very detailed breakdown of all the costs and educate you. We paid approximately $13,900 for the IVF cycle, which included the retrieval, ICSI fertilization, and PGT testing. The transfer was then a separate $3,980. There are less expensive options, but we wanted to do everything we could with the ICSI and testing to ensure success.
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
If you meet a certain criteria (under 40, have PGT tested normal embryos), Dr. Hill wants a single embryo transfer to occur. I never considered questioning this method, since I also wanted to carry a singleton.
Dr. Eblen has always treated us both with the utmost in care and compassion. She is straight-forward and honest, but also extremely personable and gentle...One hurdle for my wife and me, being Christians, was respect for and protection of the lives embodied in the embryos. Giving us the option to implant a single embryo instead of "going with the numbers" and attempting multiple allowed us to proceed with this form of treatment.
We actually did all of the monitoring with our local endocrinologist, Dr. Michael Doody. The results were conveyed to [Nashville Fertility Center]. We had to do some blood work at Nashville, but it was not the usual monitoring...[cost] everything was made very clear to us BEFORE we started working with Dr. Eblen and the Nashville Fertility Clinic. There were no surprises.
How was your experience with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Eblen is a seasoned professional, and we could tell that immediately. She gave us ample information, but also translated information into both knowledge and action. She is not only an excellent doctor, she is a considerate and compassionate human being.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Come with your own questions, listen intently, don't be afraid to ask a question, repeat a question, or ask her to repeat an answer. She wants to make absolutely sure you know everything you need to know.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Eblen has always treated us both with the utmost in care and compassion. She is straight-forward and honest, but also extremely personable and gentle. A rare combination among many doctors.
Describe the protocols Abby Eblen used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
We were interested in embryo adoption, so it's a little different than the usual IVF process, but she went over medical/hormonal treatments, the implantation plan and schedule, honest odds of a successful pregnancy, and when our first attempt failed, a plan of action moving forward. (Unfortunately, our second attempt has been interrupted by the Covid-19 epidemic, but we are going back to continue when we can.)
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Can't remember - mostly worked with my wife.)
Everyone at the Nashville Fertility Center with whom we interacted was very, very kind, compassionate, and professional. (Sometimes felt more like talking with a friend than someone at a "doctor's office"!)
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
To be honest, the toughest thing with working with them was just navigating the city of Nashville! We're from Knoxville, so the traffic was a bit thicker than we're used to. Once we parked and entered the hospital, everything was a pleasure.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Nashville Fertility Center.
We actually did all of the monitoring with our local endocrinologist, Dr. Michael Doody. The results were conveyed to Nashville. We had to do some blood work at Nashville, but it was not the usual monitoring.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Abby Eblen at Nashville Fertility Center.
I don't remember the exact amounts, but everything was made very clear to us BEFORE we started working with Dr. Eblen and the Nashville Fertility Clinic. There were no surprises.
Describe Abby Eblen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
One hurdle for my wife and me, being Christians, was respect for and protection of the lives embodied in the embryos. Giving us the option to implant a single embryo instead of "going with the numbers" and attempting multiple allowed us to proceed with this form of treatment.
Dr. Whitworth did take the time to discuss results of our failed cycle with me which I did appreciate. Questions I had that she was not able to answer she contacted the lab directly and sent me the answers. She was courteous and professional but I only met with her once throughout my 2-3 months receiving care from NFC.... I wish more thought would have gone into my particular cycle rather than getting the "cookie cutter first timer" regimen.
The nursing staff [Nashville Fertility Center] was fine. They kept open communication and for the most part were responsive. Following my retrieval I had a severe migraine and they made sure to follow up with me until complete resolution which I was appreciative of. Ellen, the US tech, was wonderful. There were other techs who were less friendly--downright cold as ice.... The clinic as a whole prefers single embryo transfer in patients 38 and younger I believe?
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Whitworth did take the time to discuss results of our failed cycle with me which I did appreciate. Questions I had that she was not able to answer she contacted the lab directly and sent me the answers. She was courteous and professional but I only met with her once throughout my 2-3 months receiving care from NFC.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
If you expect that one provider will take care of you and see you through your entire treatment, that will not occur. You will potentially be seen by all 4 providers and Dr. Eblen and Weitzman are great! There were a few hiccups with my voicemail not working but they seemed to correct most errors quickly. Do your research and have a list of questions early and don't be afraid to go through every single question!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
When trying to confirm insurance coverage of PGD testing she was clear that she did not want to rush the cycle without having an answer. She remained transparent throughout the process which as helpful. When my cycle completely failed, which we were not anticipating, she scheduled a phone conference and talked to me about some things she may do differently during a second round.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
This is one issue I have, I wish more thought would have gone into my particular cycle rather than getting the "cookie cutter first timer" regimen. I received 225 of Gonal-F and this was increased to 300 when I was found to only have four follicles on day 3 of stims. I eventually caught up and went down to 225 + menopur + cetrotide. I triggered with lupron even though I was not planning a fresh transfer and there was minimal chance for OHSS. I would advocate triggering with HCG if you are not planning a fresh transfer.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
The nursing staff was fine. They kept open communication and for the most part were responsive. Following my retrieval I had a severe migraine and they made sure to follow up with me until complete resolution which I was appreciative of.
Ellen, the US tech, was wonderful. There were other techs who were less friendly--downright cold as ice.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
strength: Convenient last minute scheduling, Saturday clinics if necessary, pretty quick appointments
weakness: issues with communication prior to being assigned an IVF nurse, cold support staff, lack of continuity of care (seeing different providers throughout)
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center.
I had partial coverage with insurance and my out of pocket cost was ~8K for IVF and ~3K for medications.
Describe Christine Whitworth's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
The clinic as a whole prefers single embryo transfer in patients 38 and younger I believe? Approaching 40 the number of embryos recommended for transfer increases. They prefer frozen to fresh transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
We did have an incident where a prescription was called in late to a pharmacy. This was resolved in 24-36 hrs.
Dr Hill is easy to talk to and is very knowledgeable. He is thorough in trying to diagnose the problem. I appreciate that instead of just jumping into IVF after 3 failed IUI cycles, he suggested we do further testing to see if we’re dealing with endometriosis...The staff & Dr Hill are all very caring and knowledgeable. They guided me through the process so far and I feel were very thorough in everything they did.
This clinic [Nashville Fertility Center] is very organized and knowledgeable, they follow appropriate protocols from what I have seen. I know they have several doctors and offices, and many patients, yet still are so organized and you get fast service on the phone or through the patient portal. They overlooked a few minor things such as calling in medication to the pharmacy and sending referrals, so keep on top of your care
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr Hill is easy to talk to and is very knowledgeable. He is thorough in trying to diagnose the problem. I appreciate that instead of just jumping into IVF after 3 failed IUI cycles, he suggested we do further testing to see if we’re dealing with endometriosis.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Keep up to speed on your cycles and treatments. Although this office is great they might miss some things, like calling in medication.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
The staff & Dr Hill are all very caring and knowledgeable. They guided me through the process so far and I feel were very thorough in everything they did.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
Initially Dr Hill thought we were dealing with an ovulation issue, so we started our first IUI cycle medicated with Clomid. I developed 5 follicles, which is more than they like, so the following 4 cycles we used letrozole. Of those cycles 2 were timed intercourse and 2 were IUI. I always had 2-3 follicles on the letrozole.
Upon the 2nd failed IUI, Dr Hill suggested we do a laparoscopy to see if we were missing endometriosis, since I have painful heavy periods and no other apparent cause of infertility, and have had 2 children previously.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
The nursing staff is fantastic. They were all polite, pleasant to interact with and extremely helpful.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
This clinic is very organized and knowledgeable, they follow appropriate protocols from what I have seen. I know they have several doctors and offices, and many patients, yet still are so organized and you get fast service on the phone or through the patient portal. They overlooked a few minor things such as calling in medication to the pharmacy and sending referrals, so keep on top of your care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
The costs were reasonable and what I expected for IUI, bloodwork and other procedures. The cost of the initial consult I felt was very high but following consults were more reasonable.
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
On one occasion I was told that my medication was being sent to the pharmacy and on the day I was to start it was not ready. I had to call the office but they got it sent in right away so I was still able to start the medication.
Another time they were supposed to send a referral and did not do so until I called back and requested the referral to be sent again.
He [Dr. Glenn Weitzman] is extremely detailed , precise in his treatments/procedures, if something was off he corrected the course by searching and finding the resolution. He is determined to give his patients the best care he can offer them as well as help them grow a family...He much prefer transferring one embryo at a time but will transfer up to two at a time only after completing strenuous paperwork. He didn’t discourage me from seeking to implant two embryos at once but he did give me the risks involved
I never had issues with any of the [Nashville Fertility Center] staff. I did love this one particular receptionist, you could tell she loved her job and the clients she interacted with on a daily basis. The only complaint I had was sometimes they didn’t deliver the test results in a timely manner. Otherwise I feel this facility is top notch...She [NFC nurse] always carried a smile on her face, even if her day was rough she made sure to brighten someone else’s day. She is very caring and compassionate, has a drive a passion for the job she is in. She has been working for NFC since conception—1990’s
How was your experience with Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
He is extremely detailed , precise in his treatments/procedures, if something was off he corrected the course by searching and finding the resolution. He is determined to give his patients the best care he can offer them as well as help them grow a family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
Listen to him. Be upfront and open, don’t leave any details out. Because I’ve shared even the smallest detail of why I had believed I was infertile, he was able to correctly diagnose and treat. Communication is important
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center?
He was very respectful of me and listened to me, he didn’t dismissed my fears and I felt I could trust him. I remember one time, during my first consultation with him in 2019, I had a vaginal ultrasound done. During the procedure a student was doing it and she was a little rough with me. He calmly told her to be gentle for he didn’t want me to be in pain. That’s when I knew I can relay on him to care for me as a patient and get the results we were looking for because he was very caring and understanding
Describe the protocols Glenn Weitzman used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
All he had me on was a small dose of estrogen and progesterone pills for up to a month to prepare my body then at the time of the transfer (at least 2 weeks before) he prescribed the allotted amount of estrogen patches and progesterone shots to help my body believe I was pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Kelli Millet)
She always carried a smile on her face, even if her day was rough she made sure to brighten someone else’s day. She is very caring and compassionate, has a drive a passion for the job she is in. She has been working for NFC since conception—1990’s
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
I never had issues with any of the staff. I did love this one particular receptionist, you could tell she loved her job and the clients she interacted with on a daily basis. The only complaint I had was sometimes they didn’t deliver the test results in a timely manner. Otherwise I feel this facility is top notch
Describe the costs associated with your care under Glenn Weitzman at Nashville Fertility Center.
The first two transfers were $3993 (that included the thawing and deliver ring the embryo for transfer as well as the transfer and all the ultrasounds for that procedure. This upcoming transfer has gone up in cost by $1000 more due to ovation company merging in with NFC
Describe Glenn Weitzman's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
He much prefer transferring one embryo at a time but will transfer up to two at a time only after completing strenuous paperwork. He didn’t discourage me from seeking to implant two embryos at once but he did give me the risks involved if I were ti get pregnant with 2 babies. I went with one embryo transfer
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
I had to go in three times (for this last pregnancy) to Murfreesboro to have my blood drawn and sent to the lab for beta results and each time it took forever for them to get back with me on what the numbers were. Otherwise I had no other issues. (I live 1hr and 15 mins from the clinic so having the results deliver promptly was something I expected of them)
We love working with Dr. Van Heertum! Every time we've spoken/gotten care from her, we've felt like all our concerns were heard, our questions were answered, and that we had time to think through our options and weren't rushed into making any decisions we weren't sure about. She is kind no matter the situation - whether we're excited for the next steps or heartbroken over a recent loss, she always seems to have the right words to give us comfort and not downplay our situation. We are so grateful for her!
The [Nashville Fertility Center] nurses and the doctors are very caring and they genuinely want the best for their patients. The phlebotomists (shout out to Jocelyn!) and ultrasound techs are great at their jobs and make the process easy. The Nashville clinic does get super busy and you may be waiting a little bit, but they're still efficient. The Murfreesboro and Franklin clinics have a smaller staff on site, but we've loved having them as options - their staffs are stellar too!
How was your experience with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Van Heertum is an excellent doctor and person - she has treated both my husband and I with genuine care for us and our (hopefully) future children. In the last 1.5 years, I've had a miscarriage, stillbirth, and failed transfer, along with D&Cs, a polypectomy, and an endometriosis diagnosis. Through it all, she has explained every step of the way for us. Whenever there was a bump in the road, she helped readjust the plan to make it work for us and putting our hearts and minds at ease. Throughout this journey, we've felt like we've been able to trust Dr. Van Heertum and her expertise and we feel lucky to have her as our doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
Have your questions ready to go and don't be afraid to ask them - Dr. Van Heertum is so patient and helpful!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
We love working with Dr. Van Heertum! Every time we've spoken/gotten care from her, we've felt like all our concerns were heard, our questions were answered, and that we had time to think through our options and weren't rushed into making any decisions we weren't sure about. She is kind no matter the situation - whether we're excited for the next steps or heartbroken over a recent loss, she always seems to have the right words to give us comfort and not downplay our situation. We are so grateful for her!
Describe the protocols Kristin Van Heertum used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
For our second IVF transfer (first with KVH), we used a standard frozen embryo protocol:
-Start on oral birth control until 3 days before suppression check
- Doxycycline
- Lupron (10 units for 10 days before suppression check, continue with 5 units each day until day before transfer)
- Estrogen patches applied every other day (post suppression check for 2.5 weeks) -- these were later changed to estrace pills due to allergic reaction to the patches
- Progesterone in oil (2 ml) starting 5 days before transfer day and continuing through the end of the 1st trimester
This protocol resulted in a positive beta test and I carried our baby girl until 21.5 weeks. She was stillborn after preterm premature rupture of membrane.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Nashville Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Kaitlyn Johnson)
We love the nursing staff at NFC, especially Dr. VH's team. We've worked primarily with KJ (Kaitlyn Johnson) and she has been phenomenal! As many fertility warriors know, protocols can change with a single lab result and this has been the case for us on multiple occasions. Kaitlyn is quick to respond and always makes sure we know what our plan is and is helpful in answering any questions.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
I originally didn't go to Nashville Fertility Center because it felt like a big clinic with lots of nurses and doctors and patients - I didn't think that I was going to feel like I connected with any one. I was absolutely proven wrong! The nurses and the doctors are very caring and they genuinely want the best for their patients. The phlebotomists (shout out to Jocelyn!) and ultrasound techs are great at their jobs and make the process easy.
The Nashville clinic does get super busy and you may be waiting a little bit, but they're still efficient. The Murfreesboro and Franklin clinics have a smaller staff on site, but we've loved having them as options - their staffs are stellar too!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center.
For the IVF FET cash package, it included transfer, suppression check, and monitoring appointments - it costs $2020 to be paid to NFC and $2780 to be paid to Ovation.
Outside of that, each visit was a $40 copay with my insurance (for a specialty doctor's visit).
Describe Kristin Van Heertum's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
We didn't do PGT testing on our embryos after our retrieval, but for our 2nd and 3rd transfers with VH, she encouraged us to stick with a single embryo transfer to give it the best chance. For our upcoming transfer, we are transferring our last two remaining embryos (lowest quality). After our 3rd FET failed, we asked Dr. VH if this was possible - we don't have high hopes and if we need to move forward with another retrieval (with PGT testing), we didn't want to have to go through two more FETs. She agreed and talked about potential risks, but also set us up with and MFM who helped discuss other risks and how they could be monitored. We absolutely felt comfortable with our decision at each transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Lost results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
We had our second beta test get lost, but I think that was more of a Quest (lab) issue versus an NFC issue. They reimbursed us since we never got the results back.
She [Dr. Christine Whitworth] was honest with me that IUI probably wouldn’t work but we could try 4 times before moving on to something else...My plan was geared toward myself and my issues (DOR and age)...She let me know if it didn’t work I would have to use donor eggs or get an embryo if I wanted to conceive. I appreciated the honesty and took her advice
[Nashville Fertility Center] Strengths-friendly staff for the most part, honesty about success rate based on my individual situation and suggestions of something that might have a high success rate Weakness-communication (calls weren’t returned by end of day as stated on voicemail), blood left in fridge over the weekend and not sent out/proceeded I had to call and ask why I hadn’t received results back yet
How was your experience with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
We did 4 IUI’s none worked, I was disappointed but knew it was a less than 5% chance. She let me know if it didn’t work I would have to use donor eggs or get an embryo if I wanted to conceive. I appreciated the honesty and took her advice. I had my FET at another clinic (embryos stored at this clinic) but NFC and Dr. Whitworth did all my monitoring locally
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
Ask a lot of questions and learn as much as you can. It’s a lot of information and sometimes hard to understand
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Whitworth at Nashville Fertility Center?
My plan was geared toward myself and my issues (DOR and age). She was honest with me that IUI probably wouldn’t work but we could try 4 times before moving on to something else.
Describe the protocols Christine Whitworth used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I took Ovidrel, Cetrotide, Novarel and Follistim before my 4 IUI’s. The other clinic prescribed Estrace and Crinone before my FET
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
There was an issue where prior authorization was not received before IUI’s were done and another issue where my blood sat in a fridge due and not processed to miscommunication, which put me back another month
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Strengths-friendly staff for the most part, honesty about success rate based on my individual situation and suggestions of something that might have a high success rate
Weakness-communication (calls weren’t returned by end of day as stated on voicemail), blood left in fridge over the weekend and not sent out/proceeded I had to call and ask why I hadn’t received results back yet
Describe Christine Whitworth's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
Since my embryos were tested and highly graded I was only allowed to transfer one due to higher chance of multiples
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call with results
Lost or damaged samples
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
There were nurses scheduled to perform the actual IUI, but the first IUI was trickier than expected to Dr Van Heertum came in to do it herself. That one didn't pan out, but I came back a month later and we got our successful IUI...[she] was consistently warm and kind, both to me and my wife, and seemed appropriately invested in our care...She was involved, gentle, and effective. At times I had to follow up with more questions or self-advocate, as she didn't always remember all the details we'd agreed on for my treatment, but she was responsive to my feedback and considered me thoughtfully when we were making decisions about our IUI. We conceived on our second unmedicated IUI, and transferred to my OB after our first 6wk visit with Dr Van Heertum, who offered (due to COVID-19) to see us for a couple more appointments if necessary (depending on our OB's practices - we weren't sure at the time) to ensure the continued heal
[Nashville Fertility Center is] Very LGBTQ inclusive, with a supportive and nonjudgmental staff. They were effective and helped us get pregnant quickly. Most people were exceptionally kind, but I had to be sure to self-advocate (ESPECIALLY once coronavirus started shifting their staff schedules) to make sure I was treated according to my specific needs rather than to the default. Disappointing communication breakdowns during beginning of coronavirus changes, but I'm under the impression that has since improved. There have been some billing errors and other communication-related blunders, but there has also been an exceptionally helpful and involved staff to help me troubleshoot and make sure those problems are solved.
How was your experience with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
She was involved, gentle, and effective. At times I had to follow up with more questions or self-advocate, as she didn't always remember all the details we'd agreed on for my treatment, but she was responsive to my feedback and considered me thoughtfully when we were making decisions about our IUI. We conceived on our second unmedicated IUI, and transferred to my OB after our first 6wk visit with Dr Van Heertum, who offered (due to COVID-19) to see us for a couple more appointments if necessary (depending on our OB's practices - we weren't sure at the time) to ensure the continued health of our baby. She was compassionate and nonjudgmental.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
Ask for clarity when you aren't sure about next steps.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kristin Van Heertum at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr Van Heertum was consistently warm and kind, both to me and my wife, and seemed appropriately invested in our care.
Describe the protocols Kristin Van Heertum used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
We went in for my initial consultation in January, where I opted for genetic testing and general bloodwork. She also gave us sperm bank recommendations. Due to our use of donor sperm, we were then required to see a reproductive counselor for one session before continuing treatment. We also had a saline sonogram done, and found no cause to suspect any potential fertility issues, so Dr Van Heertum recommended we try a few cycles with an unmedicated IUI. There were nurses scheduled to perform the actual IUI, but the first IUI was trickier than expected to Dr Van Heertum came in to do it herself. That one didn't pan out, but I came back a month later and we got our successful IUI. We did all our bloodwork at the clinic and then had a 6wk ultrasound and appointment with Dr Van Heertum.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
It's hard to fault the nursing staff for the breakdowns in communication, because I was beginning my second cycle right at the start of coronavirus. The staff was put on an alternating schedule and it made getting and giving clear and streamlined information quite challenging. I think they were all doing their best in relatively impossible circumstances, and I don't imagine things haven't improved since getting into a new rhythm, but communication was frustrating and disorienting by the time I started getting my IUIs.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
Very LGBTQ inclusive, with a supportive and nonjudgmental staff. They were effective and helped us get pregnant quickly. Most people were exceptionally kind, but I had to be sure to self-advocate (ESPECIALLY once coronavirus started shifting their staff schedules) to make sure I was treated according to my specific needs rather than to the default. Disappointing communication breakdowns during beginning of coronavirus changes, but I'm under the impression that has since improved. There have been some billing errors and other communication-related blunders, but there has also been an exceptionally helpful and involved staff to help me troubleshoot and make sure those problems are solved.
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
At the beginning of the coronavirus (I had both my IUIs in March 2020) I was aware that things may change and reached out on several occasions to make sure I was up to date with the current protocol. I was told that I'd be informed in advance of any changes, and I also received emails and checked their website regularly, where it said clearly that they were continuing to operate as usual, just with some added safety measures. I spoke to the on-call doctor the Saturday night that I got my positive OPK, and he said to call Monday morning and get in for the earliest possible appointment. But when I called Monday morning, they told me they weren't doing IUIs anymore. Obviously I was shocked and frustrated, since I'd been diligently checking to ensure my expectations were fairly set, and I didn't find out this change in policy until the day I was meant to receive my treatment. After a few tearful conversations, and because I had spoken to the on-call doctor, they wound up allowing me to come in for my IUI after all (and that was the one that yielded our pregnancy!), but it was an immensely stressful and emotional morning and the weeks that followed were similarly chaotic re: communication (ie getting a different nurse every time I called). These were not normal circumstances, and I know that - I really think the situation merits a great deal of grace and understanding, and they were working incredibly hard on impossible times. That said, my regular OB's office (Not my RE) was clear, communicative, and transparent in a way that really set the bar and I do think the situation at NFC could've been handled better.
Dr. Hill was always very forthright with us, which we appreciated. However, we didn't feel like took the time to understand our full history...it sometimes felt like he didn't see me or my partner as people with a nuanced history. It felt like he diagnosed our problem and laid out an action plan before even meeting us...Dr. Hill may not be warm, he will be clear and upfront
The strengths are that NFC is a larger clinic with multiple doctors, so they are able to see patients fairly quickly and move them through protocols quickly. Most of the doctors at NFC have been practicing fertility medicine for a long time and have lots of experience. The weaknesses of NFC include: because they see so many patients, it can at times feel very impersonal. The Nashville office itself is very outdated and the waiting room is a bit threadbare, but I think they are working on renovations.
How was your experience with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill was very clear in his descriptions of our situation and the potential treatments. He is also obviously very knowledgeable and has had a lot of experience with fertility treatments. I would consider going back to Dr. Hill for future treatments for these reasons; however, it sometimes felt like he didn't see me or my partner as people with a nuanced history. It felt like he diagnosed our problem and laid out an action plan before even meeting us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
I tell a prospective patient that although Dr. Hill may not be warm, he will be clear and upfront. Additionally, I would recommend a prospective patient write out her/his questions ahead of time and ask Dr. Hill to answer all of them before leaving the consultation or appointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center?
Dr. Hill was always very forthright with us, which we appreciated. However, we didn't feel like took the time to understand our full history. It felt like he already had a plan in place before we met him for the first consultation - several IUI cycles followed by IVF.
Describe the protocols George Hill used in your cycles at Nashville Fertility Center and their degree of success.
We did two IUIs with Femara and a trigger shot. Both were unsuccessful. We started a third round of IUI using Clomid and planned to use the trigger shot, but we were unable to complete that cycle because my follicles weren't cooperating with the protocol used.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Nashville Fertility Center.
In general, I found them to be kind and compassionate. However, I would often see a different nurse with each visit, so I wasn't able to build a relationship or communicate with anyone in particular.
Describe your experience with Nashville Fertility Center.
The strengths are that NFC is a larger clinic with multiple doctors, so they are able to see patients fairly quickly and move them through protocols quickly. Most of the doctors at NFC have been practicing fertility medicine for a long time and have lots of experience. The weaknesses of NFC include: because they see so many patients, it can at times feel very impersonal. The Nashville office itself is very outdated and the waiting room is a bit threadbare, but I think they are working on renovations.
Describe the costs associated with your care under George Hill at Nashville Fertility Center.
Approximately $2,000
Describe George Hill's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Nashville Fertility Center.
n/a
What specific things went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center?
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Nashville Fertility Center.
One time, I had to follow up about the results from a diagnostic test, because I was not contacted with the results. On another occasion, the office coordinator scheduled me for a procedure with the wrong nurse practitioner, and we had to reschedule the day before.
