RMA of New Jersey
Available Resources
Genetic counseling
Acupuncture
Mental health counseling
Nutrition counseling
Administration of shots
Coordinating at-home nursing
Selling medication
Providing backup medication
Basking Ridge
140 Allen Road
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
908-604-7800
Eatontown
2 Industrial Way West
Eatontown, NJ 07724
732-935-1002
Englewood
25 Rockwood Place
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-7773
Freehold
495 Iron Bridge Road
Freehold, NJ 07728
732-577-6500
Hamilton
3379 Quakerbridge Road
Hamilton, NJ 08619
609-799-5666
Marlton
767 East Route 70 Building B101
Marlton, NJ 08053
856-267-8100
Morristown
111 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-971-4600
Short Hills
636 Morris Turnpike
Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-258-4081
Somerset
81 Veronica Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-220-9060
Springfield
955 S. Springfield Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
973-258-4081
West Orange
475 Prospect Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-325-2229
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338 assessments
10
10
Age
38
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 5 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Other
10
10
In addition to highly specific diagnosis and treatment program that Dr. Franasiak provided, he was realistic about what the outcomes could be at every stage, and was incredibly kind during every interaction. We always looked forward to seeing him. As far as specific outcomes with Dr. Franasiak and RMA Marlton, they were overwhelmingly positive. For example, with previous clinics, after multiple IVF retrievals, we were only able to produce one PGS normal embryo...We only needed one round of IVF with Dr. Franasiak, as he made our protocol highly personalized...
Beth [nurse at RMA of New Jersey] is one of the most compassionate people we've met, and she is incredibly knowledgeable about all forms of treatment and care. If I had a question about anything between visits, I could call or email Beth and she'd get back to me within the hour...[Monitoring was] Super efficient, minimal wait-time (5-10 minutes at most), and I was usually out within 10-15 minutes after being brought back. It was all very easy, seamless, and professional... It's highly efficient and exceptionally clean. The staff are the utmost professionals. I was usually seen within about 5-10 minutes of arriving, which made visiting before work all the more convenient. At the time of treatment, the retrieval and transfer were done at the RMA Basking Ridge office, which is also high-tech and professional. You can tell RMA NJ stays up to date on the latest technologies, but still has a personalized feel.
Age
38
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
4th of 4 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 5 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
In addition to highly specific diagnosis and treatment program that Dr. Franasiak provided, he was realistic about what the outcomes could be at every stage, and was incredibly kind during every interaction. We always looked forward to seeing him.
As far as specific outcomes with Dr. Franasiak and RMA Marlton, they were overwhelmingly positive. For example, with previous clinics, after multiple IVF retrievals, we were only able to produce one PGS normal embryo. For my age at the time (37), this was unusual. Prior clinics gave no explanation, they would just tell us to keep doing retrievals, which was emotionally and financially exhausting. We only needed one round of IVF with Dr. Franasiak, as he made our protocol highly personalized. After just one round, we had FOUR PGS normal embryos. I still remember getting the call, I was in shock and cried about the good news.
Similarly, treatment from previous clinics - including years of IUI, IVF, and random surgeries - had never resulted in a clinical pregnancy (only a life threatening ectopic). Previous doctors said I had "implantation failure" and never tested me or gave a reason why. Dr. Franasiak looked into the reasons why I hadn't had implantation in my uterus, and tested me for both endometriosis and chronic endometritus. My results were positive for both. After treating the endometriosis and endometritus, we did our first frozen embryo transfer with Dr. Franasiak, and now I'm overjoyed to be 18-weeks pregnant with our first child due in June.
We have recommended Dr. Franasiak and RMA Marlton to all of our friends with fertility issues, and we'll be returning for baby #2 when we're ready.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Start with Dr. Franasiak and RMA Marlton and don't waste your time going anywhere else.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Before coming to RMA Marlton and seeing Dr. Franasiask, we had been under the care of three previous fertility doctors. These previous doctors relied more on "herd medicine" and one-size-fits all treatments rather than personalized diagnosis and care. This amounted to 4 years of multiple rounds of IUI, IVF, surgery, and lost hope.
When we showed up to our first meeting with Dr. Franasiak, he had all of our records printed out on his desk (probably about 6 inches high, of which he had read every page). In discussing our case, it was clear he had thoroughly taken the time to understand everything we had been through and he was prepared to recommend a diagnosis and treatment program before we walked in. He listened to and thoroughly and honestly addressed every question we had, including further nuances to our diagnosis and treatment plan.
Describe the protocols Jason M. Franasiak used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
There were several changes to our treatment strategy that were recommended by Dr. Franasiak.
On the diet and nutrition side, in getting ready for our retrieval, his office recommended going dairy and gluten free to cut down on inflammation. They also recommended a microbiome protocol which included high potency pre- and pro-biotics, and vaginal probiotic when we got to the transfer stage. Both my husband and I also tested positive for MTHFR mutations, and as a precaution, we were recommended to take 5g of methylfolate per day (people with MTHFR have a higher likelihood of aneuploid embryos).
On the medication side, I did about two weeks of estrogen priming with estradiol, and then eventually took about 450 IUs of Gonal-F or Follistim and about 50 IUs of low-dose HGC. I went in every few days for the ultrasound. One big difference I noticed from other clinics, is that I was triggered earlier with Dr. Franasiak's office. All of this resulted in our highest number of eggs (18), which made five embryos, of which an astounding four were chromosomally normal.
Dr. Franasiak diagnosed me with endometriosis, which was 60-days of lupron prior to the frozen embryo transfer. During this time, I was also treated for chronic endometritus, which was about 2-weeks of antibiotics. The transfer was seamless, professional, and now I'm pregnant with a baby boy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Beth)
Beth is one of the most compassionate people we've met, and she is incredibly knowledgeable about all forms of treatment and care. If I had a question about anything between visits, I could call or email Beth and she'd get back to me within the hour. I never really had a chance to worry about anything because I got the answers I needed right away. She's a really wonderful person and we always enjoyed seeing her.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
We attended RMA's Marlton clinic, which is in a brand new building. It's highly efficient and exceptionally clean. The staff are the utmost professionals. I was usually seen within about 5-10 minutes of arriving, which made visiting before work all the more convenient. At the time of treatment, the retrieval and transfer were done at the RMA Basking Ridge office, which is also high-tech and professional. You can tell RMA NJ stays up to date on the latest technologies, but still has a personalized feel.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Super efficient, minimal wait-time (5-10 minutes at most), and I was usually out within 10-15 minutes after being brought back. It was all very easy, seamless, and professional.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey.
We are very fortunate in that my health insurance covered the cost of diagnosis, IVF, and related care. I only paid the co-pay and a percentage of the medication costs.
Describe Jason M. Franasiak's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Dr. Franasiak explained to us what the pros and cons were of single vs. multiple embryo transfers, and recommended doing a single. We were comfortable with this, and are very happy with the outcome.
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10
10
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
10
I felt heard and supported under [Dr. Kaser's] care. I felt that my case was important and urgent and i felt my concerns were heard and validated. I can recall at least two phone calls where Dr Kaser spent a long time going in to detail with me about specifics of my case and the procedures I had to undergo...Our protocol was egg retrieval with injectable atoms, ICSI fertilization, day 5 blastocysts then PSG testing...All of these options while being more expensive are to maximize the likelihood of quality embryos for transfer. I then had a polyp removal to ensure my uterus was optimal for transfer. Our transfer was FET.
staff [at RMA of New Jersey] wanted us to conceive as badly as we wanted to...Our protocol was egg retrieval with injectable atoms, ICSI fertilization, day 5 blastocysts then PSG testing which the clinic mandates...The nursing staff was amazing, from my coordinator to the blood draw techs to the front office manager. They were professional, prompt, empathetic, and very supportive...Morning hours were well run. I never waited long. Process was efficient and well organized.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
10
How was your experience with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
I felt heard and supported under is care. I felt that my case was important and urgent and i felt my concerns were heard and validated. I can recall at least two phone calls where Dr Kaser spent a long time going in to detail with me about specifics of my case and the procedures I had to undergo.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about treatment options and possible scenarios. You will be heard.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
I felt like a human because Dr Kaser knew me, knew my situation, and was extremely informed about what my situation was and what was best for me. He answered my questions and concerns and provided me with advice I could trust because I knew he cared about me and what I was going through. We had our retrieval before thanksgiving and our transfer the day after Christmas, and Dr Kaser and his staff were so sympathetic to how this process must have felt around a holiday. Dr Kaser also performed another procedure on me to remove a polyp and I could tell he felt the urgency we felt to get this done so we could move on to the transfer. You could see he and his staff wanted us to conceive as badly as we wanted to.
Describe the protocols Daniel Kaser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Our protocol was egg retrieval with injectable atoms, ICSI fertilization, day 5 blastocysts then PSG testing which the clinic mandates. All of these options while being more expensive are to maximize the likelihood of quality embryos for transfer. I then had a polyp removal to ensure my uterus was optimal for transfer. Our transfer was FET.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Beth)
The nursing staff was amazing, from my coordinator to the blood draw techs to the front office manager. They were professional, prompt, empathetic, and very supportive.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths: great hours, informed and professional staff, quick turn around, efficient prescription logistics, overall cleanliness and comfort. I felt like everyone knew me and my situation. I felt heard and supportive.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Morning hours were well run. I never waited long. Process was efficient and well organized.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey.
We have great insurance and most what what we had done was covered. The PSG testing was not covered but was mandatory from the clinic and cost us about 2,000 dollars. We had to pay about 275 for genetic counseling and then with meds and co-pays we paid approx. an additional 1,000-2,000 for IVF.
Describe Daniel Kaser's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
The doctors at this office only do single embryo transfers to reduce the likelihood of a high risk multiples pregnancy. I would have liked the option to transfer multiples but I trusted that the doctors had my best interest at heart with their policy. It was not a deal breaker for us.
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10
10
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
10
Dr. Maguire has been a game changer during this process. She’s kind and gentle but professional and informative. She calls me personally and always starts with a personal question (how was my weekend, how’s my husband doing, etc). I couldn’t be happier with her...is completely trustworthy in her explanations and changes to treatment plans...She will respond to emails...My first cycle was an antagonist protocol. It was unsuccessful. We changed to a microburst protocol for the second retrieval to allow for better quality eggs and that’s exactly what we got. She also recommended adding a specific folate supplement during the second ER.
The wait time and experience [during monitoring at RMA] varied, depending on the day. Some days, it was quiet and all moved quickly. On days when they were short staffed or there was a large crowd, it went more slowly...Because of the size of the practice, you may not see your reproductive endocrinologist for morning monitoring or have them during your procedures. There is a schedule on their website that outlines what doctor is on what day. It all depends on your timing.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Maguire is completely trustworthy in her explanations and changes to treatment plans. I know I’m in good hands and there is this unspoken sense that she wants me to be successful as much as I do.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
She will respond to emails. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Maguire has been a game changer during this process. She’s kind and gentle but professional and informative. She calls me personally and always starts with a personal question (how was my weekend, how’s my husband doing, etc). I couldn’t be happier with her.
Describe the protocols Marcy Maguire used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
My first cycle was an antagonist protocol. It was unsuccessful. We changed to a microburst protocol for the second retrieval to allow for better quality eggs and that’s exactly what we got. She also recommended adding a specific folate supplement during the second ER.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Rachel Bethune)
She is extremely responsive to emails and phone calls (emails, usually within thirty minutes).
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Because of the size of the practice, you may not see your reproductive endocrinologist for morning monitoring or have them during your procedures. There is a schedule on their website that outlines what doctor is on what day. It all depends on your timing.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
The wait time and experience varied, depending on the day. Some days, it was quiet and all moved quickly. On days when they were short staffed or there was a large crowd, it went more slowly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey.
I can covered by insurance. My OPCs are related to acupuncture, medication copays, embryo genetic testing, cryopreservation
Describe Marcy Maguire's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
RMA will only transfer a single embryo.
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8
9
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
9
She [Dr. Shefali Shastri] tends to talk fast and passionately. Make sure you come prepared with questions and take notes so you do not miss anything...has excellent bedside manner and always gave us personalized attention during our visits. She made us feel comfortable with the treatment, answered questions, and acknowledged us with a warm hello anytime she saw us waiting in the office in between appointments.
Underwent IUI cycle [at RMA of New Jersey]...[The nurse] can come across as too direct at times. Communication is timely, responsive to phone and email messages, and makes sure that questions are promptly answered...They have a quick and easy sign in process including biometrics. They have set time windows for routine testing appointments which is efficient. Weekend hours and a team to backup the primary doctor are available. Weekends tend to be busy so it is important to make sure you go early in the window to avoid waiting. The very first time we tried to get an appointment with RMA, we were given incorrect information about requiring a referral. This did cause us to waste a few weeks. However, they did apologize and address their staff training when we brought it to their attention. They usually have breakfast items available for their early morning appointments which is a nice touch. Also have info on support groups and offer a free therapy session which is helpful.
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
South Asian
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
9
How was your experience with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
We really like Dr. Shastri and highly recommend her. She is very knowledgeable and comfortable explaining the different treatment options and protocols available. We appreciate that while she is warm and approachable, Dr. Shastri is also direct and does not set unrealistically high expectations. She clearly explained the expected success rates and how they might relate to our particular situation. Her matter-of-fact approach and answers to our detailed questions worked well for us; however we understand that they may not be for everyone.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
She tends to talk fast and passionately. Make sure you come prepared with questions and take notes so you do not miss anything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Shefali M. Shastri has excellent bedside manner and always gave us personalized attention during our visits. She made us feel comfortable with the treatment, answered questions, and acknowledged us with a warm hello anytime she saw us waiting in the office in between appointments.
Describe the protocols Shefali Shastri used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Underwent IUI cycle. Protocol used was:
(1) Day 3 baseline ultrasound and blood work
(2) Daily Follistim / Gonal-F injection starting Day 3
(3) Day 7 ultrasound and blood work
(4) Ovidrel trigger at night
(5) Two consecutive days of IUI following Ovidrel trigger
(6) Progesterone test 7 days after IUI, followed by progesterone suppository if needed
(7) Pregnancy test blood work 14 days after IUI
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Lynette Cardona)
Can come across as too direct at times. Communication is timely, responsive to phone and email messages, and makes sure that questions are promptly answered.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA (both Basking Ridge and Springfield) locations are clean and organized. They have a quick and easy sign in process including biometrics. They have set time windows for routine testing appointments which is efficient. Weekend hours and a team to backup the primary doctor are available. Weekends tend to be busy so it is important to make sure you go early in the window to avoid waiting.
The very first time we tried to get an appointment with RMA, we were given incorrect information about requiring a referral. This did cause us to waste a few weeks. However, they did apologize and address their staff training when we brought it to their attention.
They usually have breakfast items available for their early morning appointments which is a nice touch. Also have info on support groups and offer a free therapy session which is helpful.
Describe Shefali Shastri's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Not applicable
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
10
10
Dr. Constantini has a very comforting demeanor. She is humble but definitely knows what she is talking about. Her knowledge is evident when she speaks and truly makes you feel like you’re in good hands. Because it is such a large clinic with multiple locations, Dr. C does not perform all of her patients IUIs, which is unfortunate. However, she does perform the IVF procedures and is always available for communication. One more than one occasion we have been able to request in person and telephone visits and seen her within 24-48 hours!
[The nurse at RMA of New Jersey] is very sweet. She isn’t afraid to hold back her personal experiences to make you more comfortable...IVF treatment at this facility is pricey at roughly $38 K so that is a negative for me...responds very quickly to initial inquiries. Everyone is knowledgeable in their specific areas. Upon initial consult, you get your own financial advisor so you know specifically how to get information regards loans, payments, insurance, etc. The front desk staff are always super nice and helpful!
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Latino
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
10
10
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Constantini has a very comforting demeanor. She is humble but definitely knows what she is talking about. Her knowledge is evident when she speaks and truly makes you feel like you’re in good hands. Because it is such a large clinic with multiple locations, Dr. C does not perform all of her patients IUIs, which is unfortunate. However, she does perform the IVF procedures and is always available for communication. One more than one occasion we have been able to request in person and telephone visits and seen her within 24-48 hours!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Be open minded! Dr. Constantini cares about each of her patients and tries to obtain pregnancies without compromising your health. The medication cycles aren’t as aggressive as other doctors, however the goal is the same.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Constantini and her team of nurses are always available to answer any questions that I have. I never feel rushed and always get their utmost attention. In situations where I have seemed overwhelmed, the nurses have never hesitated to have Dr. C call me herself!
Describe the protocols Maria Costantini-Ferrando used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
IUI 1 and 2 Letrozole & Trigger - NEG
IUI 3 - Follistim & Trigger - POS but Chem
IUI 4 - Follistim & Trigger - NEG
IUI 5 - TBD
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Julie Cochrane)
Julie Cochrane is very sweet. She isn’t afraid to hold back her personal experiences to make you more comfortable. She hears you out and provides professional advice. She can be difficult to contact via telephone, but responds very quickly via email!
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA of NJ Englewood responds very quickly to initial inquiries. Everyone is knowledgeable in their specific areas. Upon initial consult, you get your own financial advisor so you know specifically how to get information regards loans, payments, insurance, etc. The front desk staff are always super nice and helpful!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
My IUIs were covered under my insurance so I paid copays of $50 per visit. IVF treatment at this facility is pricey at roughly $38 K so that is a negative for me.
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7
8
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
7
8
Dr. Werner is very kind, knowledgeable and professional. She gave us all the options when we came to her for consultation. She answered all my questions and never rushed us into making any decisions. So far I have gone through one IUI and one egg retrieval with Dr. Werner and we have 5 embroys ready to be transfered!...suggested IVF with ICSI due to minor male factor. We had 26 eggs retrieved due to PCOS and 5 embroys after PGS. Currently we are waiting for the transfer...strongly advised eSET becuase multiple embroy transter will increase the risk for both baby and the mother which I agreed.
we have spent around $2500 for one IUI and $20000 for IVF stimulation and egg retrieval [at RMA of New Jersey]...whole organization is working pretty efficient and professional, the clinic is very nice and clean...I think maybe becuase there are so many patients so there is not much customization treatment for individual patient. Also I was quite surprised to find RMANJ does not have a patient portal...Maryellen [nurse] was good with communication and calling me with results and instructions. However she seems not comfortable with email communications which was my prefered way of communication.
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
7
8
How was your experience with Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Werner is very kind, knowledgeable and professional. She gave us all the options when we came to her for consultation. She answered all my questions and never rushed us into making any decisions. So far I have gone through one IUI and one egg retrieval with Dr. Werner and we have 5 embroys ready to be transfered!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey?
Be prepared for your consultation and ask a lot of questions, Dr. Werner will be very patient to answer them all.
Describe the protocols Marie Werner used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We did one IUI, and then we went straight to IVF. Dr. Werner suggested IVF with ICSI due to minor male factor. We had 26 eggs retrieved due to PCOS and 5 embroys after PGS. Currently we are waiting for the transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Maryellen)
Maryellen was good with communication and calling me with results and instructions. However she seems not comfortable with email communications which was my prefered way of communication.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMANJ is definately one of the best fertility clinics in the US, the whole organization is working pretty efficient and professional, the clinic is very nice and clean and most importantly their suceessful rate is one of the highest. However I think maybe becuase there are so many patients so there is not much customization treatment for individual patient. Also I was quite surprised to find RMANJ does not have a patient portal.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Mornitoring experience was very good, I was able to in and out within 20 mins
Describe the costs associated with your care under Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey.
Nothing was covered for fertility from my insurance and so far we have spent around $2500 for one IUI and $20000 for IVF stimulation and egg retrieval.
Describe Marie Werner's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Dr. Werner strongly advised eSET becuase multiple embroy transter will increase the risk for both baby and the mother which I agreed.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
There was one time I called my nurse for one of my bloodwork result, however there was no response. Also when I tried to email her, there was always delayed response.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
[Dr. Melissa Yih has a] Strong preference for single embryo transfer...She was flexible in scheduling and was kind, patient, and thorough when we met... We have embryos from our previous IVF round and were looking for someone to manage our upcoming embryo transfer. Dr. Yih was very flexible in scheduling our consultation appointment due to our work schedule and distance we needed to travel. During our appointment she was very kind and thorough. She reviewed our medical history and explained what the next steps could look like. We left feeling very comfortable and well informed.
Our insurance does not cover infertility. Our consultation [at RMA of New Jersey] was approximately $200 and our initial testing (blood/saline sonogram) was approximately $1,000...Overall the building and office is very nice. The staff were courteous and welcoming. Scheduling was easy and flexible. My visit was efficient and ran smoothly. All of the tests were conducted as they said they would be and we didn't run into any problems.
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Melissa Yih at RMA of New Jersey?
We came to Dr. Yih because our previous doctor, Dr. Kaser, moved to California. We have embryos from our previous IVF round and were looking for someone to manage our upcoming embryo transfer. Dr. Yih was very flexible in scheduling our consultation appointment due to our work schedule and distance we needed to travel. During our appointment she was very kind and thorough. She reviewed our medical history and explained what the next steps could look like. We left feeling very comfortable and well informed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melissa Yih at RMA of New Jersey?
We really don't have anything to recommend other than schedule an appointment and go meet her! (and ask to have Jen as your nurse)
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melissa Yih at RMA of New Jersey?
She was flexible in scheduling and was kind, patient, and thorough when we met.
Describe the protocols Melissa Yih used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We have not begun the embryo transfer cycle yet. I will update when we begin.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Jen Graeves)
Words can't explain how amazing my nurse, Jen G., has been. She is an extremely talented and efficient communicator. She is kind and compassionate and will be your advocate when needed. When choosing a doctor to use after our doctor moved to another state, my decision really hinged on whether Jen could be my nurse again. She is really that amazing.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Overall the building and office is very nice. The staff were courteous and welcoming. Scheduling was easy and flexible. My visit was efficient and ran smoothly. All of the tests were conducted as they said they would be and we didn't run into any problems.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melissa Yih at RMA of New Jersey.
Our insurance does not cover infertility. Our consultation was approximately $200 and our initial testing (blood/saline sonogram) was approximately $1,000.
Describe Melissa Yih's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Strong preference for single embryo transfer.
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0
0
Age
33
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
0
0
Doctor Drews acknowledged in our first meeting this mistakes that were made by the first doctor and assured us he’d give us a different protocol for the second round. During the second round it was nearly impossible to see Dr.Drews. He didn’t even call us to share our results that this round was not successful - our nurse did and told us if we wanted to know why we could schedule to see him. I called several times to get an appointment with him and was told I’d have to wait about a month to even speak with him. When we did get to see him he gave us absolutely no definitive answers - he blamed smoking ( Neither of us are smokers ) he said it could be from medications but absolutely not one answer as to why. He then proceeded to push doner eggs. We both stated that It’s not something we’d want t
you will not likely see the same doctor twice in one cycle [at RMA of New Jersey]. It feels like a revolving door and you are on your own. No general information about what to do to have a successful cycle. Lack of explanation - they make you feel as if they don’t want to tell you much about what happened or they try to keep you in the dark - or they simply can’t answer you...It was supposed to be a different result from the first cycle. When the results seemed to be similar the week of the retrieval I asked if they’d suggest canceling the cycle and they did not agree and I felt their professional opinion would be better than mine. This cycle had worse results than the first.
Age
33
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 4 Docs
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
0
0
How was your experience with Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
Absolutely predatory, careless, checked out, cold, no compassion. A factory farm for IVF clinics. He said he would check in with my OBGYN and other doctors and he did not. Infect they were unable to be in touch with him too. - I understand fertility IQ only checks negative reviews. Which is very upsetting because I feel after this I’ve found other negative experiences with him from other sources. I wish that negative reviews were as welcomes as the positive reviews . I wouldn’t have waisted a round of IVF with them.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
RUN
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
We originally had decided on RMA because of a specific doctor. Half way through or first failed cycle - when calling to let us know that no embryos made it - he also let us know he’d be leaving to start another clinic in Cali. Which was something everyone at RMA knew when we started our first cycle. They attempted to push us on to another doctor that I met with and felt very uncomfortable with and we had to insist on seeing Dr.Drews who was recommended to us as the “ best doctor at the clinic” - it was a battle to even have a choice in what doctor we saw after they roped us in. The first round I’d like to add was botched - medications were not ordered - lack of contact - only saw the first doctor three times from the entire cycle. He did nothing but read results from a paper. Doctor Drews acknowledged in our first meeting this mistakes that were made by the first doctor and assured us he’d give us a different protocol for the second round. During the second round it was nearly impossible to see Dr.Drews. He didn’t even call us to share our results that this round was not successful - our nurse did and told us if we wanted to know why we could schedule to see him. I called several times to get an appointment with him and was told I’d have to wait about a month to even speak with him. When we did get to see him he gave us absolutely no definitive answers - he blamed smoking ( Neither of us are smokers ) he said it could be from medications but absolutely not one answer as to why. He then proceeded to push doner eggs. We both stated that It’s not something we’d want to do. He continued to push and even said “ oh that’s what they all say I’m sure after a few years of trying unsuccessfully you’ll be back for the doner eggs”. I only saw/spoke doctor Drews twice during the entire cycle. Not available for questions, concerns, did not give any helpful information.
Describe the protocols Michael Drews used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
It was supposed to be a slow grow of my eggs. It was supposed to be a different result from the first cycle. When the results seemed to be similar the week of the retrieval I asked if they’d suggest canceling the cycle and they did not agree and I felt their professional opinion would be better than mine. This cycle had worse results than the first.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Our nurse was not from dr.drews team - she was the only one who was helpful in the entire clinic )
The primary nurse Christine was the only reason we trusted to stay for a second round. She was helpful but it also felt that she didn’t have time. She seemed to be the only one working in the clinic. I feel that if she had less on her plate our cycles would have been more successful. The ordering of medication was incorrect both cycles. The first cycle we confirmed the list of medications we had and that it was correct before we started. The day before we learned that it was not correct and had to order a trigger shot. The entire cycle was almost lost due to their lack of care or time. I partially blame the stressed RMA directly caused me for my first failed round.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths - they’re very good sales people and the look and cleanliness of the facility.
Weakness - compassion, organization, doctors availability. The fact that you will not likely see the same doctor twice in one cycle. It feels like a revolving door and you are on your own. No general information about what to do to have a successful cycle. Lack of explanation - they make you feel as if they don’t want to tell you much about what happened or they try to keep you in the dark - or they simply can’t answer you.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
The monitoring appointments were fine. The nursing staff and staff that took blood were lovely.
The doctors for monitoring were different everyday. One being the one I felt very uncomfortable with. No consistency at all
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey.
Very expensive. Our cycles were covered by our Insurance however we had to pay a very large sum for our genetic testing.
The day before we started our second cycle at about 2:30 in the afternoon we received a call from Jenna in finance telling me that we had no IVF coverage which was not true. We spoke with our insurance provider who also assured us our insurance was in place. My husband and I both had to leave our work early to spend over three hours on the phone with Jenna and our insurance yo convince them that we have coverage. The insurance agent even put us on a three way call to tell her we have been approved for the cycle. The insurance agent was even irritated by their issues. The mistake in the end was on their part. Surprise surprise. They tell you don’t be stressed and then tell you the day before a cycle you have no insurance. Absolutely incompetent.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
Failed to order proper medication for both cycles. Both times we had emailed our nurse with a list of the medications we did receive and we’re told that we had everything when in fact we did not. For the first cycle results we had to hunt down our first doctor on his last day with the clinic to get our results that had been sitting on his desk for days. For the results of our second cycle doctor Drews couldn’t even take 5 minutes to call and share the results or what went wrong himself. Our nurse called us and gave us the news in a quick 3 minute call and told us to schedule with him.
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6
3
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
—
6
3
she [Dr. Micheline Chu] was very detached from my care. I didn't feel she was creative and curtailing therapy specifically to me...I fell into one bucket and was prescribed the meds for that bucket. She didn't take genuine interest in me as an individual and curtailing therapy to me specifically. I was a number. I felt a little bit of care after a few failed cycles but I honestly don't know if it was "me" as an individual that she cared about or that she was disappointed she wasn't successful in her care...I pushed for different medications and I had much better success than the first. The second cycle I was on a microflare protocol and the third on a microflare protocol with clomid. I had the best cycle with the third.
Office visits [at RMA of New Jersey] are fast and efficient. They deal with such high volume that they have pretty good processes in place for funneling patients through on a daily basis. Weaknesses - You're a number. Neither physicians nor nursing staff will take genuine interest in you as an individual. That means your care protocol will come from one of a few predesignated buckets, unless you push for more. You will NEVER have access to your doctor directly. You will always have to speak to a nurse or set an appointment if you have a concern that you would like to speak to your doctor about. If you want someone to actually care about you as an individual this is likely not the clinic to go to.
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish, Latino
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
—
6
3
How was your experience with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
The very short answer is Dr. Chu is smart and friendly, IF and when you get to speak with her. But don't count on the warm and fuzzies or feeling like someone cares about you. She has great schooling and credentials. I didn't feel a sincere concern from her. I don't want to be mean but she was very detached from my care. I didn't feel she was creative and curtailing therapy specifically to me. I felt RMANJ had therapy protocols and I fell into one bucket and was prescribed the meds for that bucket. She didn't take genuine interest in me as an individual and curtailing therapy to me specifically. I was a number. I felt a little bit of care after a few failed cycles but I honestly don't know if it was "me" as an individual that she cared about or that she was disappointed she wasn't successful in her care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Challenge her. Do your research and be your own advocate. Ask her for different treatment options and her opinion on them. She won't think outside the box for your care so you have to seek it yourself and maybe she will agree on your thoughts and implement it. Set appointments and have her speak with you. Schedule the time otherwise she will be in a rush to get off the phone. I can't stress enough to ask questions and be your own advocate for creative care and testing otherwise you will fall into a protocol bucket and be successful or not.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
I felt like a number at RMANJ for the following reasons:
1. The first nurse I was assigned would literally sigh when answering my calls and on several occasions missed critical points in my care necessitating me to call and follow up.
2. Having had such a bad experience with the nurse I asked the doctor for her email. I was trying to improve the impersonal experience I was having with a grumpy nurse. Dr. Chu would never provide me her email let alone phone number. I had NO avenue to ever contact my doctor directly. All questions about my care had to go through a third party (nurse) who could care less about my care. I was one of the 200 patients she was dealing with at one time.
3. Of the three calls I received with my pregnancy test results NOT A SINGLE ONE was from my dedicated nurse. The calls always came from a complete stranger.
4. Nurses got changed mid-cycle without my opinion or consultation. I had three cycles and roughly six to seven nurses over that time. Most nurses at least let me know they were changing. One got promoted and never told me. I got a call from a random nurse the next day telling me she is my new nurse when I never even know I lost my last one.
IVF is a trying time and a lot of details are involved in your care. When patients are thrown around like a hot potato I think it's easy to miss key details; not to mention theres ZERO relationship made and you're literally a number.
Describe the protocols Micheline Chu used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
My first protocol I don't remember the name of but I will say that I did not get a whole lot of big follicles. Rather than cancel the protocol I was pushed through. Knowing what I know now I think that round should have been cancelled. We could have cancelled and tried again with another round of medications to see if the follicles would have come out bigger. I didn't and the cycle was a bit of a dud. The following two retrievals I pushed for different medications and I had much better success than the first. The second cycle I was on a microflare protocol and the third on a microflare protocol with clomid. I had the best cycle with the third.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Blair)
I don't remember all the "primary" nurses assigned to me throughout the course of my three retrieval cycles but here are the ones I dealth with most.
1. Blair - No longer with RMANJ - Atrocious, She would sigh when I called and lacked an sort of compassion whatsoever. This was impactful as it was my first cycle ever. She was also disorganized and missed key details in my care.
2. Josephine Z. - The best nurse I had in my entire experience at RMANJ. Kind, compassionate, friendly, smart and organized, She got pregnant and was out for a portion of my care but was excellent.
3. Merry D. - Smart, well versed in infertility experienced. I was disappointed when she got promoted and didn't take 30 seconds to email me that she would no longer be my nurse. I found that unprofessional.
4. So uninvolved I don't even remember her name.
5. Nicole B. - Friendly but unattached and didn't really care about my care. Just rather matter of fact and robotic providing instructions. Note: When receiving egg retreival and pregnancy test results I NEVER got a call from my primary nurse. It was always some random nurse. Literally every single time.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strength - They supposedly have a good lab. Their facility is impressive and the OR setting is nice and well equipped. I would try to plan/hope my procedures are during the week. The weekday nursing staff in their OR is much more professional than the weekend staff. Office visits are fast and efficient. They deal with such high volume that they have pretty good processes in place for
funneling patients through on a daily basis.
Weaknesses - You're a number. Neither physicians nor nursing staff will take genuine interest in you as an individual. That means your care protocol will come from one of a few predesignated buckets, unless you push for more. You will NEVER have access to your doctor directly. You will always have to speak to a nurse or set an appointment if you have a concern that you would like to speak to your doctor about. If you want someone to actually care about you as an individual this is likely not the clinic to go to.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring is done at certain times in the morning. Everyone shows up and the office runs through the cattle call. To be honest they are efficient and organized and it doesn't take too long. The nurses are friendly. The ultrasound may be a doctor or a PA. But it all goes quickly and efficiently.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey.
I paid cash and it's not cheap.
Describe Micheline Chu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Chu doesn't like transfering multiple embryos, at least for my age group. She said there is more risk.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
-Dr. Doherty did one of my transfers and it was a fiasco. He was rushed and the procedure was a bit of a mess.
- I asked for my results to be sent to a new clinic and it took like three requests before the entire thing was sent.
- I asked certain nurses to write a summary of certain action steps and they would just send me to medical records in order to not waste their time on little old me.
- I wasn't offered different creative options in my care
- I didn't have anything glaringly wrong so they didn't push for creative outside testing to figure out why we weren't getting ideal results. I had to push for different testing otherwise I was just pushed through.
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8
7
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
6 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained, Other
8
7
Protocols were not aggressive [with Dr. Shastri]. Medications were conservatively increased for me. This is understandable because when I first tried clomid for my first cycle, I developed a 40 mm cyst. Dr Shastri was afraid I would develop ovarian torsion so she cancelled the cycle...When I had my IUIs, Dr Shefali Shastri did not perform any of them...does have a great positive energy and great bedside manners...is compassionate and has a great positive energy. If she would perform all treatments for her patients, I would give her 10 out of 10.
Be prepared to receive treatment from other doctors [at RMA of New Jersey]. Research and be your own advocate...I wish they would have scheduled more monitoring because I felt there were a number of times where I ovulated early and by the time I received my IUI it was too late. My nurse said they don’t rely on at home ovulation predictor tests...Nurse Lynette was great. She explained everything very well. She accommodated me by calling me after 4 pm because I leave work at 4 pm. Or she would email me in case I was not able to be reached.
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Accountant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained, Other
8
7
How was your experience with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Shefali Shastri is compassionate and has a great positive energy. If she would perform all treatments for her patients, I would give her 10 out of 10. But because other doctors perform the treatments, I gave 8 out of 10.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
Don’t expect Dr Shefali Shastri to perform all of your IUIs or monitoring. Be prepared to receive treatment from other doctors. Research and be your own advocate.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
During monitoring with other doctors scheduled for that day, I felt like a number. When I had my IUIs, Dr Shefali Shastri did not perform any of them. Other doctors that I have never met before performed the IUIs. I felt like a number with the other doctors. I can tell they did not take the time to review my chart to get to know my case a little more. I understand they have other patients to tend to. However going through this emotional rollercoaster journey of fertility, I felt Dr Shastri should have been the one to perform my IUIs. There were a few times Dr Shastri did do the monitoring because she was scheduled for that day. Other than that, Dr Shastri does have a great positive energy and great bedside manners. I wish she did my IUIs. Maybe they would have worked.
Describe the protocols Shefali Shastri used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Protocols were not aggressive. Medications were conservatively increased for me. This is understandable because when I first tried clomid for my first cycle, I developed a 40 mm cyst. Dr Shastri was afraid I would develop ovarian torsion so she cancelled the cycle. I wish they would have scheduled more monitoring because I felt there were a number of times where I ovulated early and by the time I received my IUI it was too late. My nurse said they don’t rely on at home ovulation predictor tests.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Yes, Lynette Cardona)
Nurse Lynette was great. She explained everything very well. She accommodated me by calling me after 4 pm because I leave work at 4 pm. Or she would email me in case I was not able to be reached.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
One strength RMA has is that it’s organized. Some weaknesses of RMA is that other doctors will perform some of the services. You may not see your assigned doctor at all. Be your own advocate. Also, RMA does not have a patient portal. Although your nurse or other nurses, if your nurse is out, will contact you and let you know your results from monitoring, they won’t give you a print out of your results. The only way to get your medical records is by requesting a copy of your medical records and then paying for each page up to the max $50.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey.
I was lucky to have insurance cover all my IUIs, monitoring, HSG test, and endometrial biopsy. I had $50 copays for each visit. Mental counseling there was $175 fee paid directly to the Psychologist. This counseling session was required when using anonymous donor sperm. I believe it’s a higher cost when dealing with a known sperm donor. I had to pay $350 for genetic screening which RMA required I complete prior to starting the cycle. And then for each new donor sperm, I was required to do genetic counseling that fee was $75 each counseling session. And had to pay for donor sperm out of pocket. For my 6 IUIs, I calculated that we’ve spent a little over $10,000. My insurance covers IVF, but there’s a fertility mandate in NJ. This mandate requires me to complete a total of 12 failed IUIs before being required to cover IVF. Hopefully the law will be changed soon. My wife and I decided to do IVF at a different fertility clinic. They have a more affordable price for IVF. Just waiting for this Coronavirus shut down to end to start my cycle.
Describe Shefali Shastri's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I have not done IVF yet, but from my understanding RMA will only transfer 1 embryo.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Provided conflicting information
- Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
All IUIs were performed at the Basking Ridge location. During one cycle, a major mistake happened in their Basking Ridge lab. In my previous cycles, I had California Cryobank donor sperm. In this particular cycle, I had Fairfax Cryobank donor sperm delivered. I confirmed via email with RMA the donor sperm had come from Fairfax. However, the lab documented in my file as California Cryobank. RMA even called me to confirm the correct cryobank. But someone in their lab failed to correct the information on my file. When they thawed the sperm, they used California Cryobank’s thaw procedures instead of Fairfax Cryobank’s thaw procedures thus damaging donor sperm.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IVF, 4 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Tubal Blockage
10
10
I am always treated like I’m Dr. C’s top priority. She [Dr. Constantini-Ferrando] always wants to see me specifically when I went in for monitoring appointments....Dr. C truly has my best interests at heart and really takes my opinions into consideration. She is compassionate and empathetic. I trust her opinion in what treatment options she suggests.... My first cycle I did a micro-flare protocol. I was on 40 units of lupron daily with 450 gonal F.
Strengths: [at RMA of New Jersey] morning monitoring hours to accommodate working people, advanced technology, very organized, very flexible Weaknesses- not being able to find out embryo until a week after retrieval I suggest getting to monitoring right when they open, otherwise you’ll wait an hour or 2 to be seen.... Josephine is amazing. She got back to me within an hour or 2 always And always called me back during emergencies.
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
—
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IVF, 4 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Tubal Blockage
10
10
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. C truly has my best interests at heart and really takes my opinions into consideration. She is compassionate and empathetic. I trust her opinion in what treatment options she suggests. I know she works her hardest for me to have the best possible outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
At first she can seem blunt about the success rate, but she will do everything she can to get you a baby
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
I am always treated like I’m Dr. C’s top priority. She always wants to see me specifically when I went in for monitoring appointments.
Describe the protocols Maria Costantini-Ferrando used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
My first cycle I did a micro-flare protocol. I was on 40 units of lupron daily with 450 gonal F. I was a poor responder and only retrieved one egg. It did become a blast though. My second cycle i was on 300 gonal F and 75 menopur. I retrieved 2 eggs and one made it to blast. My third cycle I am doing the same menopur cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Josephine )
Josephine is amazing. She got back to me within an hour or 2 always And always called me back during emergencies. Unfortunately she went on medical leave and I got a fill in nurse who I am not crazy about. I don’t have a strong connection with her like I had with Josephine
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths: morning monitoring hours to accommodate working people, advanced technology, very organized, very flexible
Weaknesses- not being able to find out embryo until a week after retrieval
I suggest getting to monitoring right when they open, otherwise you’ll wait an hour or 2 to be seen.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring hours are between six and 7:30 AM. I suggest getting there right at six as it does fill up quickly and it’s first come first serve
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
I am not entirely sure because I have insurance.
Describe Maria Costantini-Ferrando's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I haven’t gotten to transfer yet bur I know she favors one embryo due to possible complications with multiple
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8
9
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
9
Dr. Shastri is hopeful but realistic. She was honest with us from the beginning and makes you feel like she is going to do everything in her power to get us to where we want to be.... We were going to start with an IUI but my insurance decided not to cover it when they saw I had a partially dilated tube. Dr. Shastri did a peer to peer with my insurance provider to try to justify the coverage... We started with the protagonist protocol taking the highest dose of Gonal f and low does HCG. I wasn’t reacting to the medication but we decided to keep going as my estrogen was slowly rising
The clinic [RMA of New Jersey] feels like a well oiled machine. They are organized and quick with their processes. They also offer additional resources like counseling and support groups. I was able to get a free counseling session as a patient and they referred me to a great counselor close to my apartment.... You can tell Dr. Shastri cares. She personally made phone calls when the news was not good. She continues to give us hope.
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
9
How was your experience with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Shastri is hopeful but realistic. She was honest with us from the beginning and makes you feel like she is going to do everything in her power to get us to where we want to be. Throughout our journey (which we are still on) she would take the time to explain all of our options, answer questions and give us her option.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
Do your research and go to your consultation with questions. She will take the time to answer all of them and not make you feel rushed.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Shefali Shastri at RMA of New Jersey?
You can tell Dr. Shastri cares. She personally made phone calls when the news was not good. She continues to give us hope.
Describe the protocols Shefali Shastri used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We were going to start with an IUI but my insurance decided not to cover it when they saw I had a partially dilated tube. Dr. Shastri did a peer to peer with my insurance provider to try to justify the coverage but they wouldn’t budge. We decided to move forward with IVF. We started with the protagonist protocol taking the highest dose of Gonal f and low does HCG. I wasn’t reacting to the medication but we decided to keep going as my estrogen was slowly rising. After 15 days we had one follicle that was looking good and we were planning on doing the retrieval since I have DOR and didn’t want to waste a good egg. Unfortunately at my last appointment my estrogen had gone down and Dr. Shastri didn’t want to put me under for just one egg that she didn’t think was viable anymore. She also was considerate of my insurance situation and didn’t want to use all of my coverage on the surgery that she wasn’t confident would yield the results we wanted. We took a break and are now in the process of trying the Lupron Flair protocol.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Jessica Garth )
Jessica is empathic, organized and on top of everything. She’s great.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic feels like a well oiled machine. They are organized and quick with their processes. They also offer additional resources like counseling and support groups. I was able to get a free counseling session as a patient and they referred me to a great counselor close to my apartment.
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10
10
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
10
10
Dr Rauch was extremely patient and understanding. She was empathetic and celebrated my successes as if they were her own. She was gracious and caring. I felt like I could ask her anything and she always gave me an honest response....We did an egg retrieval, PGS testing, and transferred 1 normal embryo. I’m currently 24 weeks pregnant and having a great experience thus far.
Even though RMA is a large practice, I never felt like a number.... The clinic was very organized and always called me to go over next steps.... The only thing I did not like was their method of putting you in touch with the doctor. When the doctor called me, it always came in on an unknown number and if I missed the call, I’d have to dial the nurse or receptionist and hopefully get them to transfer me to my doctor.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
10
10
How was your experience with Eden Rauch at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Rauch was extremely patient and understanding. She was empathetic and celebrated my successes as if they were her own. She was gracious and caring. I felt like I could ask her anything and she always gave me an honest response. Dr Rauch was hopeful that i would become
Pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. We did an egg retrieval, PGS testing, and transferred 1 normal embryo. I’m currently 24 weeks pregnant and having a great experience thus far.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eden Rauch at RMA of New Jersey?
Trust the process.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eden Rauch at RMA of New Jersey?
Even though RMA is a large practice, I never felt like a number. Dr Rauch always made me feel like i was her patient and even ensured that I was on her monitoring schedule.
Describe the protocols Eden Rauch used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I don’t entirely remember the exact protocol. We did injections of gonal f, menapur, ganirelix, along with a trigger shot. Once retrieval ended, we did estradiol 2x a day until transfer along with pio shots starting 5 days prior to transfer.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic was very organized and always called me to go over next steps. They have a finance department along with on call staff. The only thing I did not like was their method of putting you in touch with the doctor. When the doctor called me, it always came in on an unknown number and if I missed the call, I’d have to dial the nurse or receptionist and hopefully get them to transfer me to my doctor. It was only a problem if dr Rauch called me on her day off and was unreachable after missing her voicemail. Other than that, the clinic was great.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
It was efficient and well oiled machine. Never had to wait more than 20 mins even with a line of women in front of me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eden Rauch at RMA of New Jersey.
10k. My insurance covered up to 20k lifetime fertility coverage. But I paid co-insurance and the meds out of pocket so I could preserve some of the 20k max.
Describe Eden Rauch's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
We did single embryo transfer Bc my embryos were tested.
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10
10
Age
27
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 Embryo Freezing, IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
10
Even though RMA is huge, Dr. Chu was always genuinely happy to see me or talk to me and never rushed me out of the room. She always remembered me and the things we talked about.... Initially, I wanted to transfer 2 embryos at a time. Dr. Chu talked us out of this because of all the potential complications. I’m very young and healthy so it’s not worth the risk.... I did an antagonist protocol with max doses of each medication.
RMANJ is the best of the best. Their labs and techniques are the top in the world. I trust everyone on the team thoroughly. The biggest shock was how many people are at morning monitoring. At first, I felt like a number but once I kept going back, I got really comfortable and got to know the staff well.... They were quick and efficient overall. There’s a lot of people there, but it’s not that bad. I was always out in less than 30 minutes.
Age
27
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 Embryo Freezing, IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
She’s super nice and funny. She’s very thorough and happy to answer all questions. I didn’t get that experience from another doctor I consulted with at another clinic at all. I’ve always had full trust in Dr. Chu and her decisions during the IVF process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Just trust her. She knows what she’s doing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Even though RMA is huge, Dr. Chu was always genuinely happy to see me or talk to me and never rushed me out of the room. She always remembered me and the things we talked about.
Describe the protocols Micheline Chu used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I did an antagonist protocol with max doses of each medication. We did this because my ovarian reserve is diminishing rapidly. We also did ICSI because my husband has a very low sperm count.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Merry)
Merry is always super sweet and willing to answer any questions I have. She’s been with the practice since the start and is so well versed with everything. She’s been a wonderful help through this process.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMANJ is the best of the best. Their labs and techniques are the top in the world. I trust everyone on the team thoroughly. The biggest shock was how many people are at morning monitoring. At first, I felt like a number but once I kept going back, I got really comfortable and got to know the staff well.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
They were quick and efficient overall. There’s a lot of people there, but it’s not that bad. I was always out in less than 30 minutes.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey.
First cycle was covered by insurance aside from deductible. Our insurance changed and they did not cover our second egg retrieval cycle. It was around $20,000 out of pocket for everything. Transfer will be around $5,000.
Describe Micheline Chu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Initially, I wanted to transfer 2 embryos at a time. Dr. Chu talked us out of this because of all the potential complications. I’m very young and healthy so it’s not worth the risk.
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9
9
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Other
9
9
Dr. C[ostantini-Ferrando] and I clicked immediately; she respects that I’ve been through a lot of prior treatment, and appreciates that I’m an involved and informed patient. She takes my wants, needs, and thoughts into consideration and I really feel like we are all collaborating...has an excellent bedside manner; she’s compassionate and obviously cares a lot about her patients, but she also doesn’t blow smoke up your ass! She’s been very blunt about her opinions regarding our treatment outcome, and didn’t hesitate to say she wasn’t sure about some things. She also didn’t oversell RMA’s capabilities vs our old clinic, which made me trust her even more.
We commute in from NY, and then work in NYC — so it was a pleasant surprise that RMA had extra early monitoring hours! It didn’t mess with our schedules except that we had to leave the house earlier...The wait times weren’t excessive, and we generally saw the same NP for ultrasound...Everyone I’ve dealt with has been exceedingly professional, friendly, and warm — from nurses, to phlebotomists, to coordinators. The facilities are also really nice — like, unexpectedly so! I especially appreciate how responsive and open the finance team is — they provided us with a print out of ALL the financial information we could possibly need upon our consultation, and we got to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable representative a few days after our consultation. She’s been responsive via phone and email, and always explains everything in detail.
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Other
9
9
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. C has an excellent bedside manner; she’s compassionate and obviously cares a lot about her patients, but she also doesn’t blow smoke up your ass! She’s been very blunt about her opinions regarding our treatment outcome, and didn’t hesitate to say she wasn’t sure about some things. She also didn’t oversell RMA’s capabilities vs our old clinic, which made me trust her even more.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Come prepared with your questions, and what you want out your appointment. She can hold your hand, but you’ll get more out of her time and expertise if you come to the table with expectations and questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. C and I clicked immediately; she respects that I’ve been through a lot of prior treatment, and appreciates that I’m an involved and informed patient. She takes my wants, needs, and thoughts into consideration and I really feel like we are all collaborating.
Describe the protocols Maria Costantini-Ferrando used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
The first thing she said to us (after seeing our disastrous-for-my-age IVF results) was: why are you still using this donor? He’s not your husband! Love the bluntness.
We did indeed switch donors, and did an antagonist protocol (instead of MDLF); the rationale was that I’m not a poor responder, but we had a mysteriously awful blastocyst rate — she thought the Lupron and/or long stim time could be compromising egg quality. There was also a possibility that the donor sperm was not good.
She also immediately tested my thyroid, because my day 3 values were weird — and I was hypothyroid, so she put me on synthroid. We tested my fasting insulin on a whim, and discovered I had severe insulin resistance (no PCOS), so she started me on metformin.
My most recent egg retrieval was fewer eggs than prior, but from 12 eggs we tested 4 embryos (PGS and PGD) and have 3 PGS normal unaffected!
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Vileena)
I’ve dealt mostly with Vileena, my dedicated nurse (but the other nursing staff have been excellent as well).
Vileena is extremely responsive via phone or email, and has always treated me with respect and compassion. She too understands that I’m a VERY involved patient who knows what’s happening with my treatment, and doesn’t dumb down information for me. She’s also really personable and truly cares about me and my spouse as PEOPLE, not just patients.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is a well organized machine. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been exceedingly professional, friendly, and warm — from nurses, to phlebotomists, to coordinators.
The facilities are also really nice — like, unexpectedly so!
I especially appreciate how responsive and open the finance team is — they provided us with a print out of ALL the financial information we could possibly need upon our consultation, and we got to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable representative a few days after our consultation. She’s been responsive via phone and email, and always explains everything in detail.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
We commute in from NY, and then work in NYC — so it was a pleasant surprise that RMA had extra early monitoring hours! It didn’t mess with our schedules except that we had to leave the house earlier (it’s a 45 minute drive).
The wait times weren’t excessive, and we generally saw the same NP for ultrasound (sometimes Dr. C was there instead!)
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
We have insurance coverage and have already met our OOP maximum, but I believe our insurance cost is about 10k
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
10
Dr Costantini always took the time to answer my questions. She would spend ample time on the phone with my husband and I for questions and always spent time with us during our ultrasounds. She would come in early to see me specifically for special days and procedures...has some of the best bedside manner that i have ever seen in a physician. She never made me feel that she didn’t have my best interests in mind. She brought peace and positivity at an otherwise trying time.
Eve [nurse at RMA of New Jersey] was a light through this dark process. She was reliable with her communication and would always call when she said she would. She would explain everything in detail to me. She would listen to all of my questions and even listened when I would cry. She is simply the best...Morning monitoring was from 5:45am-7:30am at patient convenience. It was first come, first serve. However, it would get very busy and wait times could be up to 90 minutes.
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Costantini has some of the best bedside manner that i have ever seen in a physician. She never made me feel that she didn’t have my best interests in mind. She brought peace and positivity at an otherwise trying time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Trust her and her recommendations thoroughly, she has the same end goal in mind that you do
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Costantini always took the time to answer my questions. She would spend ample time on the phone with my husband and I for questions and always spent time with us during our ultrasounds. She would come in early to see me specifically for special days and procedures.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Evelina Torres)
Eve was a light through this dark process. She was reliable with her communication and would always call when she said she would. She would explain everything in detail to me. She would listen to all of my questions and even listened when I would cry. She is simply the best.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths: Communication, Organization, Success Rates, Doctor always completes ultrasound. Everyone was always friendly. The phlebotomists were excellent, always drew blood painlessly and quickly.
Weaknesses: Very busy, long wait times for morning monitoring
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Morning monitoring was from 5:45am-7:30am at patient convenience. It was first come, first serve. However, it would get very busy and wait times could be up to 90 minutes.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
I had excellent insurance throughout my treatment. My IVF cost use about 2,000. dollars.
Describe Maria Costantini-Ferrando's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic would only transfer one embryo due to the completion of PGD testing
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
I had a nurse provide me with incorrect dosing information compared to my Doctor with regards to trigger shot for IVF retrieval. I had to call the on-call physician at 9pm for clarification which was provided.
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5
6
Age
32
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
5
6
We did ivf [with Dr. Treiser] because of low morphology. I was on Gonal-F amongst other injections for egg retrieval. We used ICSI and did pgs testing recommended by the doctor because of my husbands genes...I only saw her twice during my treatment she was nice. She gave me hope but things didn't turn out how she thought they would. I was given no explanation as to why most of my embryos didn't make it. Just simply that they didn't.
I started the journey [at RMA of New Jersey] assigned to one nurse a month or so into the process when I tried calling her I was told by the front office staff that she no longer worked there. My new nurse seemed to come in and throw a bunch of things at me that the other one never mentioned. I could never get her on the phone when I called but she would always return my voicemails. Sometimes she would give me all my numbers from bloodwork and sometimes she wouldn't.
Age
32
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
5
6
How was your experience with Susan Treiser at RMA of New Jersey?
I only saw her twice during my treatment she was nice. She gave me hope but things didn't turn out how she thought they would. I was given no explanation as to why most of my embryos didn't make it. Just simply that they didn't.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Susan Treiser at RMA of New Jersey?
Do your research ask questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Susan Treiser at RMA of New Jersey?
I was treated good but felt like they could have explained things better as the process went along.
Describe the protocols Susan Treiser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We did ivf because of low morphology. I was on Gonal-F amongst other injections for egg retrieval. We used ICSI and did pgs testing recommended by the doctor because of my husbands genes.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey.
I started the journey assigned to one nurse a month or so into the process when I tried calling her I was told by the front office staff that she no longer worked there. My new nurse seemed to come in and throw a bunch of things at me that the other one never mentioned. I could never get her on the phone when I called but she would always return my voicemails. Sometimes she would give me all my numbers from bloodwork and sometimes she wouldn't.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
They are supposedly one of the highest rated clinics with the most pregnancies and highest babies born. My one and only surviving embryo didn't make it to transfer. So I can't comment on that. The monitoring hours were from 6am to 8am to accommodate working schedules. I start at 6:50am so sometimes it was a little tight for me but they were always pretty fast first thing in the morning.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
It worked out for me because I tried to be one of the first ones there when it opened so it always went pretty quick. I went one time maybe an hour or so later and there were a lot of people there but even so didn't have to wait in the waiting room for too long.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Susan Treiser at RMA of New Jersey.
Our insurance covered $15,000 but on top of that we paid $15,300 out of pocket including medicines (over $8,000 one time and the rest was split up) up front before we could continue.
Describe Susan Treiser's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I was told they only transfer one embryo at a time because its safer and less risks.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
My nurse was away for a week so another nurse called me with blood levels. She told me my estrogen was a certain number when my nurse came back she told me a much lower number. When I asked about it I found out the other nurse told me the wrong number. Also, my first nurse said my initial bloodwork came back good but when the second nurse came in she saw something else that required further testing.
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8
8
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
8
He [Dr. Molinaro] emailed me after our consult and at other points during treatment and called me to discuss our options once my eggs were stimulated and we could see I still repeated what I had done previously and only had about 3 large follicles. He really looked at our situation and gave us his honest opinion and statistics as to why he thought that way....He advised us that our money might be better spent with donor eggs, but we wanted to try one cycle with my own eggs with him. And he said he was willing to help us do that, but we didn’t have very high odds.
Advocate for yourself with billing and your nurse [RMA of NJ]. I feel like things could have been missed if I didn’t speak up to my nurse....There were times I left messages or sent emails and didn’t hear back until I followed up again a day or 2 later with another form of communication, usually the opposite of what I had last done, email or phone call. Then I would finally hear back. These were usually questions that were not immediately urgent like a medication question for that day, but I still was surprised at times when I didn’t hear back in 24 hours.
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
8
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Molinaro came highly recommended from several women I knew that had gone to him and had success. However all of them had insurance coverage. He had much more compassion and better bedside manner than the doctor I saw prior to him, but he was almost twice the cost for me without insurance. He did explain, in a way he can’t work miracles and can only work with what I bring him and given the 3 cycles I had at dr before him being a low responder, he couldn’t guarantee anything. He advised us that our money might be better spent with donor eggs, but we wanted to try one cycle with my own eggs with him. And he said he was willing to help us do that, but we didn’t have very high odds. About 15% chance. Verses 60% chance with donor eggs.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
They are quick to recommend donor eggs. I think it is because they want to help you have success, but it’s then very daunting to look into the egg donor process. So much more complicated than IVF with your own eggs.
Ask him any questions you have. He will give you a compassionate and honest answer.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
He emailed me after our consult and at other points during treatment and called me to discuss our options once my eggs were stimulated and we could see I still repeated what I had done previously and only had about 3 large follicles. He really looked at our situation and gave us his honest opinion and statistics as to why he thought that way.
Describe the protocols Thomas Molinaro used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
For my case where I had been unexplained infertility, but now DOR. (Low AMH and high FSH) Primed with estrace pill at end of my natural cycle leading up to IVF cycle. Gonal F and lupron and low dose HSG stims. Trigger shot Novarel.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Amy)
There were times I left messages or sent emails and didn’t hear back until I followed up again a day or 2 later with another form of communication, usually the opposite of what I had last done, email or phone call. Then I would finally hear back. These were usually questions that were not immediately urgent like a medication question for that day, but I still was surprised at times when I didn’t hear back in 24 hours. I gave them the benefit of doubt. I’m not the type a person who calls repeatedly and one day if it’s not an emergency. As my cycle progressed I did feel a little more at ease with her. They were quick to get things in order so that I could pay before starting a cycle or moving to the next part. But then once I didn’t make it to transfer and I had questions about what we could do next and deciding if we would do donor egg or what we would do I feel like it went back again to pretty irresponsive and days in between my emails and questions.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Advocate for yourself with billing and your nurse. I feel like things could have been missed if I didn’t speak up to my nurse. Doctors are very thorough and perform the ultrasounds every morning bright and early, I switched between the Freehold and Eatontown office so that I could have Dr. Molinaro as many mornings as possible. About twice I had other doctors. So that was comforting to have my doctor looking at my ultrasound and not just a technician to get to ask him little questions and a feel for things each day and then wait on bloodwork for final instructions later that day from nurse.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
6am to 8/8:30 I believe. I stuck to earlier times (6-7) so I could get home before my husband left for work and to get my child ready for school. The waiting room in Eatontown was often very full but it did move pretty quickly; Freehold there was hardly ever a wait for ultrasound or bloodwork.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey.
$15,300 for retrieval ICSI and genetic testing, for their agreement with Aetna which does not cover IVF.
Transfer would have been $4,500 more.
My medications were covered, minimal copay.
Describe Thomas Molinaro's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
They strongly encourage genetic testing and single embryo transfer. Of our three embryos all fertilized and 2 made it to day six blastocyst and then were sent to testing; both were found to be abnormal. So we never moved onto transfer.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
I didn’t have a medication that I needed at the start of my cycle, so I had to make a same day trip to pharmacy 1 hour away.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
Dr. Costantini definitely makes me feel like a human. She is very patient and thorough. Never makes me feel rushed. You would think she has all the time in the world.... My husband and i had a lot of questions and she never made us feel rushed and was very patient even when we may have repeated ourselves. I admire her confidence when telling us what approach she believe would be best for us. She doesn’t sugar coat things but at the same time has excellent bedside manner.
They [RMA of New Jersey] are very organized and I don’t have any comments on weaknesses because I can’t think of any. Only advice I would give is to get there early on mornings you have to go in for lab work and/or ultrasounds. It’s walk in only and the hours are 5:45-7:30 and by 5:45 there are usually at least 15 people already there. Get there closer to 5:30 unless you have plenty of time.... Eve was extremely kind and compassionate. Also very thorough when calling with test results and always kept me posted on what’s next.
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
I have had a wonderful experience with Dr. Costantini thus far. She’s extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and patient. My husband and i had a lot of questions and she never made us feel rushed and was very patient even when we may have repeated ourselves. I admire her confidence when telling us what approach she believe would be best for us. She doesn’t sugar coat things but at the same time has excellent bedside manner. I truly believe that she is the best at what she does.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Make sure you ask her to outline every possible option for you. She explained all the procedures to me at length.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Costantini definitely makes me feel like a human. She is very patient and thorough. Never makes me feel rushed. You would think she has all the time in the world.
Describe the protocols Maria Costantini-Ferrando used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Dr. Costantini was very honest in her advice for us. IVF would be our best option. My husband and I weren’t ready to do that right away as our insurance does not cover any cost. She was extremely understanding and patient. We decided to try clomid and TI in the meantime but are now ready to move on to IVF with her help.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Eve Turner)
Eve was extremely kind and compassionate. Also very thorough when calling with test results and always kept me posted on what’s next.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
They are very organized and I don’t have any comments on weaknesses because I can’t think of any. Only advice I would give is to get there early on mornings you have to go in for lab work and/or ultrasounds. It’s walk in only and the hours are 5:45-7:30 and by 5:45 there are usually at least 15 people already there. Get there closer to 5:30 unless you have plenty of time.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
So far, everything has been covered. IUI and IVF are not though and it will be about $4,000 for IUI and $28,000 for IVF
Describe Maria Costantini-Ferrando's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I very much admire the fact that she prefers eSET. I understand the risks of multiples and the strain it could have on my body and trust her completely.
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9
10
Age
31
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
9
10
Dr. Kaser is very patient and kind.l had a lot of questions for him and he was able to answer all of them during our appointment. He performed my saline sonogram and my initial consult sonogram. He walked me through the whole IVF process then circled back to my immediate next steps....IVF- saline sonogram to confirm presence of fibroids, scar tissue,etc. Sema4 genetic testing to confirm my partner and I are not carriers for the same diseases. Nutritional consult for healthy lifestyle. IVF egg retrieval medications
RMANJ has Lots of locations, caring and understanding staff, high live birth success rate. Would love if all locations had weekend hours, but we were able to make all of our appointments within reason. They are very open with information and data. The finance department is probably the weakest department, not as sensitive to the large sum of money, ask you to do a lot of calls to your own insurance.... Monitoring would be in the early morning hours
Age
31
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Consultant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
9
10
How was your experience with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Kaser is very patient and kind.l had a lot of questions for him and he was able to answer all of them during our appointment. He performed my saline sonogram and my initial consult sonogram. He walked me through the whole IVF process then circled back to my immediate next steps.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Educate yourself too, while Dr Kaser will answer your questions, make sure you know all of your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Kaser and my nurse have been so patient in answering all of my questions (which took an hour and a half before signing my consents) and keeping regular contact during my care.
Describe the protocols Daniel Kaser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
IVF- saline sonogram to confirm presence of fibroids, scar tissue,etc. Sema4 genetic testing to confirm my partner and I are not carriers for the same diseases. Nutritional consult for healthy lifestyle. IVF egg retrieval medications: Gonal F, lodose HCG, cetrotide. Pregnyl and lupron trigger. 13 eggs retrieved, 11 mature.
PCOS treatment- blood test and sonogram, confirmed and prescribed me metformin.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Kim Sorochen)
Kim would call me and answer any email questions right away. There are several departments, one for meds, one for financial, etc. She wouldn't pass me around unnecessarily and helped me during med delivery, etc.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMANJ has Lots of locations, caring and understanding staff, high live birth success rate. Would love if all locations had weekend hours, but we were able to make all of our appointments within reason. They are very open with information and data. The finance department is probably the weakest department, not as sensitive to the large sum of money, ask you to do a lot of calls to your own insurance.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring would be in the early morning hours, everyone who arrives gets seen in the order they arrive. It was never a long wait. I needed to lay down for blood draw they always put me in a room for this. Some of the monitoring doctors would be a little rushed and not explain the measurements or calculations in the sonogram
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey.
Insurance covered most of my treatment. Embro cryopreservation and genetic testing were not covered ($5k). And probably another $1-2k for copays, medication, etc.
Describe Daniel Kaser's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
RMA does single embryo transfer for younger patients who have not undergone a cycle before
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10
10
Age
25 - 27
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
He’s calm and positive and very respectful of the patient. He [Dr. Rybak] genuinely cares about your situation and takes the time to talk you through each step. When things don’t turn out as expected he calls to console the patient and help plan for the future cycles and discusses how he will adjust for next round. He doesn’t have an ego which many doctors do have he listens to the patients requests and makes sure you feel 100% comfortable with each step of the process.
They are extremely organized nice and efficient. The staff [RMANJ] is so friendly and they remember each patient. The only downside is during morning monitoring the people by the front desk who are not nurses can get a little loud when they’re talking about their daily things like what they did the night before etc. Patients there that early in the morning want it to be quiet. It’s a sensitive situation so loud laughing and talking isn’t appropriate.
Age
25 - 27
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
He’s calm and positive and very respectful of the patient. He genuinely cares about your situation and takes the time to talk you through each step. When things don’t turn out as expected he calls to console the patient and help plan for the future cycles and discusses how he will adjust for next round. He doesn’t have an ego which many doctors do have he listens to the patients requests and makes sure you feel 100% comfortable with each step of the process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
Ask any question you have because he’s willing to answer even the most mundane ones so take advantage of his knowledge.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
He really cares and spends time explaining and makes the patient comfortable
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Julie Cochran )
My nurse was excellent with coordinating my fertility schedule with my life schedule. She allowed me to ask anything and everything and always responded quickly.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
They are extremely organized nice and efficient. The staff is so friendly and they remember each patient. The only downside is during morning monitoring the people by the front desk who are not nurses can get a little loud when they’re talking about their daily things like what they did the night before etc. Patients there that early in the morning want it to be quiet. It’s a sensitive situation so loud laughing and talking isn’t appropriate. None of us want to be there and dealing with infertility to begin with especially not at those early monitoring hours.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring hours are early morning and it’s first come first serve. The wait can be long at times but generally it’s before a holiday weekend or a Friday. Only once I had a pa do my ultrasound and she didn’t know what she was doing and I cried on the table in pain (during stims for retrieval) the doctor had to redo the test. From then on I made a point to tell them only a doctor can go near me. The staff was understanding and never sent that pa in again.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey.
Full price of ivf
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
7 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
10
10
Starting with our initial consult, Dr. Franasiak made us feel like more than a number, and like actual people. He had great bed-side manner, yet was always up front with us in regards to what we were facing with Secondary Unexplained Infertility. He was always understanding of our feelings, and justified our frustrations with the lack of answers the tests/treatments/results were able to provide. When we decided it was best for me to take a break from treatments, we had a discussion with Dr. Frasnasiak about same.
RMA runs like a well-oiled machine! One time however, my orders did not go through for blood work/ultrasound. It was quickly resolved within a few minutes.... Another aspect that we really enjoyed/appreciated about RMA, is that we had our own nurse, and she was AMAZING! She always expressed genuine concern about how we were doing, and offered her assistance in whatever we needed along the way.... RMA had comparable charges to the previous clinic we went to.
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
7 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Starting with our initial consult, Dr. Franasiak made us feel like more than a number, and like actual people. He had great bed-side manner, yet was always up front with us in regards to what we were facing with Secondary Unexplained Infertility. He was always understanding of our feelings, and justified our frustrations with the lack of answers the tests/treatments/results were able to provide. When we decided it was best for me to take a break from treatments, we had a discussion with Dr. Frasnasiak about same. He reassured us that everything was done by all parties in an effort to conceive a baby, and that all progressed "as it should." He also stated that if we felt it was in my best interest to take some time to ourselves, it was understandable and that if we ever decide to continue with treatment, he will be there to assist us.
Although the three treatment (IUI) cycles we went through did not result in a pregnancy, my husband and I were very glad that we chose Dr. Franasiak at RMA, and that they were a part of our journey. We highly recommend him to anyone in the area trying to conceive a baby!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Franasiak was extremely knowledgable about infertility and the procedures and treatments of same. Although it was initially difficult for me to remain calm during the treatment cycle, I quickly learned how educated he is and that I needed to put my full trust in him. He is very smart and was aware of our case in great detail. Let the doctors do their job, and in doing so it is (or was for us) easier to remain more calm throughout the treatment cycle.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Starting with our initial consult, Dr. Franasiak made us feel like more than a number, and like actual people. He had great bed-side manner, yet was always up front with us in regards to what we were facing with Secondary Unexplained Infertility. He was always understanding of our feelings, and justified our frustrations.
Another aspect that we really enjoyed/appreciated about RMA, is that we had our own nurse, and she was AMAZING! She always expressed genuine concern about how we were doing, and offered her assistance in whatever we needed along the way. We went to a previous infertility clinic and did not receive anywhere near the same personal care.
Describe the protocols Jason M. Franasiak used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We previously completed four treatment cycles at another clinic, to no avail. Three of which I was prescribed Clomid, and the final one we used Gonal-F. Dr. Franasiak started my first treatment cycle with Gonal-F and had increased my dosage to 100 mL, which was higher than we had previously been prescribed. My follicles developed at different rates each time however, Dr. Franasiak kept a close eye on same. That being said, I did not use Gonal-F for the same number of days each cycle. A few times we were asked to come in a couple days in a row, rather than every other day. This was for Dr. Franasiak's reassurance that all was happening as planned, and to prevent over development of my follicles and any other potential issues.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Beth Harley)
We really enjoyed/appreciated that we had our own nurse, and she was AMAZING! Beth was always available to talk with, and if she was unable to answer, she always returned our call in a timely fashion. She also had very good bed-side manner, in addition to a positive attitude which was always so pleasant, especially when I was having a rough time/day. One time in particular we thought we would not receive our medication in time. Beth sat down with us, listened to the concerns we expressed and reassured us that all would work out; that we would find a way regardless of what needed to be done. Her calm and confident disposition assisted me in calming down as well. I called her after we suspended our care with RMA, as I had a few questions. We engaged in conversation for a decent amount of time. She expressed genuine concern about how we were doing, in addition to other matters. Never once did she attempt to rush me off the phone, or display any negativity in the amount of time it took to address/resolve our concerns. We went to a previous infertility clinic and did not receive anywhere near the same personal care.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Overall, we were very happy with the clinic. Although there were a few very nice lab techs, there were also a few that were not. I usually tried to make light of the situation, as early morning appointments are not always fun, and I am not a fan of needles. In making said conversations with the lab techs, some of their demeanors expressed as though they were not interested in engaging in conversation, or that their statements were "forced." Since we suspended our treatments however, RMA has moved to a new and much larger facility. Having said that, they may have more lab techs now which would allow patients to engage with a more diverse amount of employees.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey.
My husband and I have very good insurance. Although our specialist copay is $5, when reviewing the EOBs/claims, RMA had comparable charges to the previous clinic we went to.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
RMA runs like a well-oiled machine! One time however, my orders did not go through for blood work/ultrasound. It was quickly resolved within a few minutes.
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10
10
Age
32
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Other
10
10
We first went to our consult with Dr. Thomas Molinaro and he wanted to know everything in our past, he explained EVERYTHING, and made me feel so much more comfortable with the treatments we were about to undergo.... He is very compassionate, well educated, and has great bed side manner. He made me feel so comfortable with everything and gave me a sense of confidence that everything was going to work out well. He explained everything to great extent and made sure I understood each process.
Everyone [RMA of New Jersey] was very nice and explained things extensively. We got all the paperwork we needed. Everyone we came in contact with was compassionate and make sure we understood everything we needed to. We barely had a wait and were back with the doctor almost immediately.... We first went to our consult with Dr. Thomas Molinaro and he wanted to know everything in our past, he explained EVERYTHING, and made me feel so much more comfortable with the treatments we were about to undergo.
Age
32
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Other
10
10
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
He is very compassionate, well educated, and has great bed side manner. He made me feel so comfortable with everything and gave me a sense of confidence that everything was going to work out well. He explained everything to great extent and made sure I understood each process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
You will not regret it. I was so nervous before hand and once we sat with him it all went away.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
We first went to our consult with Dr. Thomas Molinaro and he wanted to know everything in our past, he explained EVERYTHING, and made me feel so much more comfortable with the treatments we were about to undergo. He made sure I understood everything and gave me a sense of confidence that everything was going to go well. It has been a long road so far and for the first time I feel like things are going somewhere. Insurance is covering only $1,000 and we have every opportunity to shop around for cheaper treatment but as comfortable he made us feel I would find a way just to continue to see him. I would recommend him to anyone I know who is struggling with fertility!
Describe the protocols Thomas Molinaro used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I have been on letrozole for 3 cycles with my OBGYN and he wants me to do one or two with him so he can monitor me. He explained the difference with IUI/injections and IVF with PCOS.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Lauren)
She explained everything and was very compassionate
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Everyone was very nice and explained things extensively. We got all the paperwork we needed. Everyone we came in contact with was compassionate and make sure we understood everything we needed to. We barely had a wait and were back with the doctor almost immediately.
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9
9
Age
22 - 28
Treated
2013 - 2019
Success with this Doc
9 Eggs Frozen
Treatment
2 Egg Freezing (cancer)
Diagnosis
Cancer, Diminished Ovarian Reserve
9
9
Dr. Bergh has great bedside manner. He remembered me from my initial visits five years prior and offered great support as I decided between two paths to motherhood.... Dr. Bergh gave me hope for fertility preservation after cancer, even while being honest about my limited chances. He clearly explained each part of the process and what it meant for my future. He brought compassion and humor when my news wasn’t what I was hoping for and helped me navigate my next steps.
This [RMA of New Jersey] is a big clinic but I still felt like I was followed by my primary team and only saw different doctors than my primary doctor while at monitoring appointments. It was fairly easy to get an appointment and each step was coordinated well.... The morning monitoring was super convenient. You could get in early, jump from ultrasound to bloodwork and be out the door in time for work.... The morning monitoring was super convenient. You could get in early, jump from ultrasound to bloodwork and be out the door in time for work.
Age
22 - 28
Treated
2013 - 2019
Success with this Doc
9 Eggs Frozen
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 Egg Freezing (cancer)
Diagnosis
Cancer, Diminished Ovarian Reserve
9
9
How was your experience with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Bergh gave me hope for fertility preservation after cancer, even while being honest about my limited chances. He clearly explained each part of the process and what it meant for my future. He brought compassion and humor when my news wasn’t what I was hoping for and helped me navigate my next steps.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Arrive with questions and a notebook. He will advise you of what notes to take from your consultation so you can remember everything from your visit.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Bergh has great bedside manner. He remembered me from my initial visits five years prior and offered great support as I decided between two paths to motherhood.
Describe the protocols Paul Bergh used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I had to do two separate egg retrieval’s as my first med protocol did not stimulate me well enough. This was a challenge due to my low AMH and ovary recovering from cancer surgery. The second protocol produce three times more eggs and was much more successful.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Alana)
Alana was such a comforting part of this whole process. She was quick to call with results and answer questions, always eager to help. She even called to check in months after my fertility preservation.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
This is a big clinic but I still felt like I was followed by my primary team and only saw different doctors than my primary doctor while at monitoring appointments. It was fairly easy to get an appointment and each step was coordinated well.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
The morning monitoring was super convenient. You could get in early, jump from ultrasound to bloodwork and be out the door in time for work.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey.
My fertility preservation was largely covered by a grant for cancer patients.
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10
10
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
Dr Molinaro is straightforward but kind. He isn't pushy in his recommendations and goes through all your options so you feel like you actually have a say in the process.... Ask all your questions - Dr. Molinaro knows it all and don't be afraid to ask about alternative options and what he's seen be successful/unsuccessful. He's looking at understanding the full picture here of your story so that you can have a good outlook.
This [RMA of NJ] is a well-oiled machine. Everything is really efficient from the nursing team, to the financial coordinator to the staff on the day of your egg retrieval/transfer. You can tell that they work really hard at understanding the process so they can get people through and do things right. I'd love to have some sort of patient portal to view all my bloodwork but can see where that make some patients crazy. I love that I get a call from my nurse within 3-4 hours of doing bloodwork and know exactly what's next for my protocol.
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Latino
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
I love that when I go to see Dr. Molinaro that he tells me the next steps right there- I don't feel like I have to wait for him to make a decision. We've had a few setbacks but he's called to check-in and offer support every time and I can ask him about different options to try and trust that he knows exactly what to do to make sure that we get over the finish line. I've already recommended him to two friends.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Ask all your questions - Dr. Molinaro knows it all and don't be afraid to ask about alternative options and what he's seen be successful/unsuccessful.
He's looking at understanding the full picture here of your story so that you can have a good outlook.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Molinaro is straightforward but kind. He isn't pushy in his recommendations and goes through all your options so you feel like you actually have a say in the process. His office is very friendly and I'm always able to get a hold of someone no matter what. That's a huge differentiator here. Knowing that my nursing team understands what I need during this process too.
Describe the protocols Thomas Molinaro used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I was on an agonist protocol with low dose HCG and Follistim. 10 units of low dose HCG and 275 of Follistim. I triggered with Lupron. I know that after egg retrieval, they did some sort of calcium addition to help with egg fertilization which helped a lot. We did a freeze-all cycle and had PGS testing done which resulted in 7 normal blastocysts. First transfer cycle- we transferred one embryo which resulted in an early miscarriage.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Amy)
Amy is great. She's quick to respond to all my questions and is through in explaining the process for me. The rest of the nurses at the clinic are fantastic too!
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
This is a well-oiled machine. Everything is really efficient from the nursing team, to the financial coordinator to the staff on the day of your egg retrieval/transfer. You can tell that they work really hard at understanding the process so they can get people through and do things right.
I'd love to have some sort of patient portal to view all my bloodwork but can see where that make some patients crazy. I love that I get a call from my nurse within 3-4 hours of doing bloodwork and know exactly what's next for my protocol.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Most days I could get in and out in 20 minutes. I've waited as long as 45 minutes to get done, however, once you know those busy times, you can maneuver your schedule a bit to adjust. It never derailed my morning.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey.
PGS testing, Embyro storage fees. All the rest was charged and covered by insurance
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9
10
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
10
Dr Bergh took the time to talk to me individually and explain the treatment process and why he was opting to do that process over others....Dr Bergh was very candid with me and told me "how it was". He didn't sidestep anything because it was uncomfortable, he just said it in a blunt yet respectful manner. After I had a bad reaction to the medicine the first round, he worked with me to figure out a plan and continues to do so afterwards.
The clinic [RMA of NJ] is definitely a baby making machine, so it is very regimented. I enjoy the process however it is not for everyone. I think there could be a bit more explanations during procedures and some more time spent with patients. It seems as if the phlebotomists are all very different and not all care for the patient and it is shown by how they draw the blood.... Jackie has been a god-send during this process. She has a very upbeat personality and is always willing to talk or answer any questions I may have.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
10
How was your experience with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Bergh was very candid with me and told me "how it was". He didn't sidestep anything because it was uncomfortable, he just said it in a blunt yet respectful manner. After I had a bad reaction to the medicine the first round, he worked with me to figure out a plan and continues to do so afterwards.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Don't see him if you want someone to hold your hand, he will just tell you how it is and keep going.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Bergh took the time to talk to me individually and explain the treatment process and why he was opting to do that process over others.
Describe the protocols Paul Bergh used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I am on track to do 4 medicated IUI cycles and if they do not take, move forward with IVF. First IUI I was given 50mg Gonal-F and then was increased to 150mg with an Ovradrell trigger shot. After starting the Gonal-F, my migraines that I have had since a teenager were uncontrollable. Reaching out to Dr Bergh regarding this, he switched my medicine to Clomid, 50mg for the second cycle. If the 4 IUI's do not take, I will meet with him beforehand to discuss the treatment options for IVF due to the necessary medication.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Jackie)
Jackie has been a god-send during this process. She has a very upbeat personality and is always willing to talk or answer any questions I may have.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic is definitely a baby making machine, so it is very regimented. I enjoy the process however it is not for everyone. I think there could be a bit more explanations during procedures and some more time spent with patients. It seems as if the phlebotomists are all very different and not all care for the patient and it is shown by how they draw the blood.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey.
unknown
Describe Paul Bergh's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
n/a
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10
10
Age
40
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr Kaser is compassionate and has great bed side manner. He took on my infertility case after 1 failed and 1 ectopic cycle. He was thorough and took his time with me. He is honest and down to earth...I received medical advice from an infertility specialist through a 3rd party program. Dr Kaser reviewed my report with me and incoporated some of the protocol in my cycle. He's also collaborated with other doctors at RMA on my case to have a second set of eyes assist with a very complicated case.
I feel that all doctors at RMA that I have met with are strongly against multiple embryo transfers. Yet Ive had 3 failed transfere with pgs tested embryos. We may consider putting in 2 if my 4th transfer fails...is a big organization and each department has their own responsibilities. My doctor and nurse communicate well and are on the same page. The finance department seems to be stretched too thin. It takes them a long time to reply to billing questions yet when you have to pay up front for a cycle they have a sense of urgency. The finance department lacks compassion and understanding of what the patients are going through. I would require special training for all finance or anyone for that matter who talks to patients. RMA should also invest is bringing on more support for the Finance department.
Age
40
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Kasee is a great listener. He reviews all my records prior to meeting with me and always shows up prepared. He is a great colloborator. My situation is complicated because both my partner and I are healthy, no issues, except my age of 39. I received medical advice from an infertility specialist through a 3rd party program. Dr Kaser reviewed my report with me and incoporated some of the protocol in my cycle. He's also collaborated with other doctors at RMA on my case to have a second set of eyes assist with a very complicated case.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Do you research because Dr Kaser is a professional who wants his patients to be at the table making decisions with him. Come prepared with questions, he is very patient and will answer all your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Kaser is compassionate and has great bed side manner. He took on my infertility case after 1 failed and 1 ectopic cycle. He was thorough and took his time with me. He is honest and down to earth.
Describe the protocols Daniel Kaser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I was under Dr. Kaser's care for my 3rd FET. He had me take my estrace pills vaginally to increase the lining quicker and the standard progesterone dosage. Prior to the cycle he performed an ERA and endometrial biopsy to ensure we were transfering on the right day and there was no infection. Unfortunately my 3rd FET resulted in a negative pregnancy test and we will be changing the protocol significantly for my 4th
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Marissa Katzman)
Marissa has been with me since day 1 which is May 2017. She is professional, organized and consistent. She is compassionate and just great at what she does. Her communication skills are strong. She listens carefully, answers all questions and if she does not know the answer follows up. She communicates both on email and phone and has a sense of urgency when needed.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is a big organization and each department has their own responsibilities. My doctor and nurse communicate well and are on the same page. The finance department seems to be stretched too thin. It takes them a long time to reply to billing questions yet when you have to pay up front for a cycle they have a sense of urgency. The finance department lacks compassion and understanding of what the patients are going through. I would require special training for all finance or anyone for that matter who talks to patients. RMA should also invest is bringing on more support for the Finance department.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey.
With just Dr Kaser about 15,000
Describe Daniel Kaser's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I feel that all doctors at RMA that I have met with are strongly against multiple embryo transfers. Yet Ive had 3 failed transfere with pgs tested embryos. We may consider putting in 2 if my 4th transfer fails.
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8
9
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Other
8
9
He [Dr. Doherty] reviewed our results with us thoroughly, explained what steps we would take, and what each step entailed. He made changes as needed throughout each treatment and really seemed to study our case. He was very positive every time we met with him and made me feel hopeful. ... While taking follistism, too many eggs developed and Dr. Doherty made the decision to lessen the amount of medication I was taking so that we would not risk the chance of having multiples.
Visiting the Freehold RMA clinic has become part of my daily routine. The staff are amazing and make you feel comfortable. They try to get you in and out of the office as quickly as possible and listen to all of your needs. ... My nurse Kira was the best communicator throughout my infertility treatment process. She called me after every visit with updates and next steps, which was at least one a week!
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Other
8
9
How was your experience with Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
I had never had a male doctor before Doctor Doherty. He made my husband and I feel comfortable right from the first visit. He reviewed our results with us thoroughly, explained what steps we would take, and what each step entailed. He made changes as needed throughout each treatment and really seemed to study our case. He was very positive every time we met with him and made me feel hopeful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
After many morning monitoring visits, I became a familiar face to the nurses and staff. They greet me with a smile, call me by my name, and answer all of my questions.
Describe the protocols Leo Doherty used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
My husband and I have undergone four iui cycles with no luck yet. While taking follistism, too many eggs developed and Dr. Doherty made the decision to lessen the amount of medication I was taking so that we would not risk the chance of having multiples. Only the strongest follicles survived and we were able to continue with our iui cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Kira Nickerson )
My nurse Kira was the best communicator throughout my infertility treatment process. She called me after every visit with updates and next steps, which was at least one a week! As a teacher, it is difficult for me to answer my phone at any time during the day, so Kira would always ask for the times that I am most available or leave me detailed voicemails and a number to call her back with any questions that I had. She was understanding, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Visiting the Freehold RMA clinic has become part of my daily routine. The staff are amazing and make you feel comfortable. They try to get you in and out of the office as quickly as possible and listen to all of your needs.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey.
For our iui cycles, insursance covered most of the cost. We just had to pay co-pays for each visit and medication costs. Our upcoming ivf cycle is going to cost us around $7300.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
8
8
Age
42 - 45
Treated
2016 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Eggs, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
8
8
Dr. Franasiak was always willing and available to answer questions or concerns, even returning phone calls late at night. He has a very empathetic bedside manner.... Dr. Franasiak is caring and gentle. He uses the best available evidence to assist him in his decisions and is willing to research for additional treatments that may assist pregnancy. He is thoughtful and I believe he is making the best decisions ossible with regards to my needs and my care
RMA has a large set of resources available due to it's size but then sometimes appointments can be hard to get and you may have to travel a distance for some treatments depending on how close you live to the main center. They have very educated and capable staff but I often found it difficult to get someone directly on the phone.... Egg donor/retrieval cost approximately $25,000. Embryo transfer was approximately $5000.
Age
42 - 45
Treated
2016 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Eggs, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
8
8
How was your experience with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Franasiak is caring and gentle. He uses the best available evidence to assist him in his decisions and is willing to research for additional treatments that may assist pregnancy. He is thoughtful and I believe he is making the best decisions ossible with regards to my needs and my care
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Ask as many questions as you can think of and write them down as prep for meeting with the doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Franasiak was always willing and available to answer questions or concerns, even returning phone calls late at night. He has a very empathetic bedside manner.
Describe the protocols Jason M. Franasiak used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We started with egg retrieval immediately as he didn't feel IUI was an option for me. He tried egg retrieval twice but then felt it wouldn't be ethical to continue trying as I was a "low responder." We moved onto an egg donor which initially produced a pregnancy. I was offered acupuncture on day of transfer. The miscarriage occurred after my discharge from fertility care. Now they have placed me on probiotics/prebiotics in prep for my next transfer cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Samantha Columbo)
Samantha was the most understanding and compassionate nurse I have met through this process. She addressed every concern and question I had immediately, never making me wait long for information. She also allowed me to provide suggestions about how I wanted my care to be carried out and assisted in adjusting things when I requested it.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA has a large set of resources available due to it's size but then sometimes appointments can be hard to get and you may have to travel a distance for some treatments depending on how close you live to the main center. They have very educated and capable staff but I often found it difficult to get someone directly on the phone.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Morning monitoring was always much earlier than I needed it to be before work. Most of the time, I had a minimal wait period in the waiting room but on occasion they got backed up.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jason M. Franasiak at RMA of New Jersey.
Egg donor/retrieval cost approximately $25,000. Embryo transfer was approximately $5000. All appointments with ultrasounds were $500 and doctor's consult was $250 each time.
Describe Jason M. Franasiak's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
My doctor prefers single embryo transfers due to evidence indicating it is equally successful and less harmful to the baby and the mother.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
I made sure to stay on top of certain things such as scheduling appointments or getting prescriptions because on a rare occasion, it would be missed. But they always addressed the issue if I brought it to their attention.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
9
9
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained
9
9
Dr. Rybak is a very kind and knowledgeable person. He seemed to really care and exuded positive energy. He makes the patient feel comfortable and hopeful that their experience will be a success. He asks a lot of questions and is thorough in his answers. He presents as very invested in his patients and is extremely compassionate.... I came from other fertility doctors so he reviewed by file and determined IVF was the best choice for me. He did a saline ultrasound and determined my uterus posed a problem for future pregnancy so he made sure I had that taken care of before starting treatment.
The clinic [RMA of NJ] is well organized and the front desk staff are warm and friendly. They are a well oiled machine. They always return phone calls promptly. Christina is in the finance department and she was very helpful and thorough.... Unfortunately they do not offer any discount or deal for people like myself who have no infertility coverage. They connect you with a pharmacy that offers a discount but the price of meds is still great. I am just starting IVF
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained
9
9
How was your experience with Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Rybak is a very kind and knowledgeable person. He seemed to really care and exuded positive energy. He makes the patient feel comfortable and hopeful that their experience will be a success. He asks a lot of questions and is thorough in his answers. He presents as very invested in his patients and is extremely compassionate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
Have questions you would like to ask written down in advance.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey?
He is extremely personable and warm. He draws pictures and explains thoroughly to ensure you understand. He is also very empathetic.
Describe the protocols Eli Rybak used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I came from other fertility doctors so he reviewed by file and determined IVF was the best choice for me. He did a saline ultrasound and determined my uterus posed a problem for future pregnancy so he made sure I had that taken care of before starting treatment. I was hesitant to start since I am a self pay patient and he was very patient and understanding.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Julie Cochrane)
The nurses are very thorough, especially Julie who was assigned to me. She was always prompt in returning my calls and would listen to all of my concerns. She is clearly well versed in all things fertility and is very efficient in keeping tabs on what I should be doing and checking in with me.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic is well organized and the front desk staff are warm and friendly. They are a well oiled machine. They always return phone calls promptly. Christina is in the finance department and she was very helpful and thorough.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eli Rybak at RMA of New Jersey.
Unfortunately they do not offer any discount or deal for people like myself who have no infertility coverage. They connect you with a pharmacy that offers a discount but the price of meds is still great. I am just starting IVF and expect to pay around 30, 000 which is more than my yearly salary as a teachers assistant!
Describe Eli Rybak's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
n/a
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9
10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
9
10
Dr. Fischer was extremely kind, answered all my questions, scheduled extra phone calls when I wanted to, and was also extremely positive even when we received what I thought was discouraging news. She pointed out reasons for hope and optimism and was encouraging the whole way.... We did the strongest protocol ("maxed out") due to my low AFC and AMH, which meant that I took hcg with Follistim 450. Then I took cetrotide for the trigger shot.
The clinic [RMA of New Jersey] was well organized and clearly thought of the patient when designing the space. The wait room was huge, so even though there was always a lot of people there, you really didn't feel like cattle (as I've heard other clinics feel like) and it's comfortable with reasonable wait times. Everyone was really nice.... My nurse was nice. The only problem was, she had a variable schedule and I was often having to be in contact with other nurses in order to figure things out. So there was a little confusion on who to contact when, but overall it was fine.
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
9
10
How was your experience with Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
I really liked Dr. Fischer as my doctor. She was warm, patient, reassuring, and supportive. The only question I had was whether her lack of experience was going to impact anything (she only recently started practicing). But in terms of bedside manner, she was wonderful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and make sure you understand the process and what to expect. Dr. Fischer is more than happy to answer all of your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Fischer was extremely kind, answered all my questions, scheduled extra phone calls when I wanted to, and was also extremely positive even when we received what I thought was discouraging news. She pointed out reasons for hope and optimism and was encouraging the whole way.
Describe the protocols Catha Fischer used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We did the strongest protocol ("maxed out") due to my low AFC and AMH, which meant that I took hcg with Follistim 450. Then I took cetrotide for the trigger shot.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Jandee)
My nurse was nice. The only problem was, she had a variable schedule and I was often having to be in contact with other nurses in order to figure things out. So there was a little confusion on who to contact when, but overall it was fine.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic was well organized and clearly thought of the patient when designing the space. The wait room was huge, so even though there was always a lot of people there, you really didn't feel like cattle (as I've heard other clinics feel like) and it's comfortable with reasonable wait times. Everyone was really nice.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
The monitoring visits were quick and easy. For the most part, it did not feel like a "cattle call." The wait room is big, so it doesn't feel crowded, and they kept it moving.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey.
For embryo freezing, it was about $18,000 including ICSI and CCS. Then I paid another $4,000 for meds, but that turned out to be covered by insurance.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
I was doing some of my monitoring visits at a different clinic, which was closer to my home. There were two mornings that I showed up and my orders were not in their system, which meant a lot of phone calls and waiting around to figure it out. One of those times I believe it was the other clinic's fault, but one time the nurse had forgotten to send them over.
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10
10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IVF, 4 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
—
10
10
after poor results at another clinic. Dr. Molinaro put me on a stimulation protocol that worked much better. After two stimulation cycles and a frozen transfer I got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby...He is very approachable and will take the time to discuss options and answer questions...Estrogen priming protocol for stimulation which worked very well. He also put me on supplements to help with egg quality...He recommended single embryo transfer - which I agree with 100%.
Even though RMANJ is a large group and I mostly went to Basking Ridge for monitoring, I never felt like a number. During the IVF process I got to interact with different Doctors, nurses and staff. Everybody was very nice and respectful...Lauren [nurse] was excellent. She responded to my questions quickly, followed up in a timely manner and always provided clear instructions...it would never take long. It was run very efficiently and the hours were very convenient.
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Latino
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IVF, 4 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
—
10
10
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Molinaro had a great bedside manner and positive attitude. IVF is a difficult journey and he made it all much easier. He was also very realistic - yet very tactful when setting expectations. He answered all my questions promptly and was great at explaining the more "technical" aspects of the treatment in a way I could easily understand.
I came to RMANJ after poor results at another clinic. Dr. Molinaro put me on a stimulation protocol that worked much better. After two stimulation cycles and a frozen transfer I got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
You can trust he will do his best to help you. He is very approachable and will take the time to discuss options and answer questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Molinaro had a great bedside manner and positive attitude. IVF is a difficult journey and he made it all much easier. He was also very realistic and tactful when setting expectations. He answered all my questions promptly and was great at explaining the more "technical" aspects of the treatment in a way I could easily understand.
Even though RMANJ is a large group and I mostly went to Basking Ridge for monitoring, I never felt like a number. During the IVF process I got to interact with different Doctors, nurses and staff. Everybody was very nice and respectful.
Describe the protocols Thomas Molinaro used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Estrogen priming protocol for stimulation which worked very well. He also put me on supplements to help with egg quality. After two stimulation cycles and a FET I got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Lauren)
Lauren was excellent. She responded to my questions quickly, followed up in a timely manner and always provided clear instructions.
When she was on vacation the other nurses that covered for her were all great.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
After having experienced treatment at two of the top fertility clinics on my home state, I could tell that the quality of care of RMANJ was much better. They are a large practice but I never felt like a number. They were very well organized and wait times for monitoring appointments were rarely long. As part of a treatment cycle I interacted with different doctors/nurses and it all seemed very well coordinated.
In my case the rate of embryos making it to day 5 was also much better than at other clinics - a testament to the quality of the lab and lab staff.
They are one of the top fertility research centers in the world and it shows on their success rates.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
I mostly went to Basking Ridge for monitoring and it would never take long. It was run very efficiently and the hours were very convenient.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey.
Treatment was covered by insurance which was billed about 17K per stimulation cycle (including PGT and ICSI) and 5K for FET transfer.
Medications were about 6K per stimulation cycle.
Describe Thomas Molinaro's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
He recommended single embryo transfer - which I agree with 100%.
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10
10
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
I always liked to know exactly what was going on-levels, numbers, the result each medication would achieve, etc...She [Dr. Constantini-Ferrando] was empathetic to that, and that made me feel most comfortable...you may not see [Dr. Constantini-Ferrando] very frequently, particularly when it comes to the mundane frequent monitoring...When our first transfer failed, we did an "all in" approach, adding steroid, anti-histamine, aspirin etc. She also did a biopsy and a scratch, which made me feel like we were doing everything we possibly could to achieve the pregnancy.
Each of the nurses on the team [at RMA of New Jersey] were truly wonderful-so involved and patient. Eve and Vileena were great to work with as well. I would have no reservations working with their dream team again...[Monitoring was] First come, first served. Monday and Friday are particularly bad days, but other times you could be in and out fairly quickly...Each department was very professional as well- different departments always called when they said they would.
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Talking to and working with Dr. Costantini made us feel like we were finally heading in the right direction! The knowledge and obvious experience, as well as the bed side manner, was such a relief. Especially after seeing another doctor who did not have a similar approach. I always liked to know exactly what was going on-levels, numbers, the result each medication would achieve, etc. I think it helped me to feel partially in control of a situation that we had no control over. She was empathetic to that, and that made me feel most comfortable. You can tell she's a mom in her caring approach!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
That you may not see your doctor very frequently, particularly when it comes to the mundane frequent monitoring.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey?
Such a compassionate doctor, with warm bedside manner. Being a mother and a parent is important to her, and obviously translates so well to the work that she does in infertility. I find this perspective to be important with infertility patients who are yearning to become parents themselves, through all of the challenges.
Describe the protocols Maria Costantini-Ferrando used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We were fortunate to just have one IVF retrieval that yielded great results. When our first transfer failed, we did an "all in" approach, adding steroid, anti-histamine, aspirin etc. She also did a biopsy and a scratch, which made me feel like we were doing everything we possibly could to achieve the pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Josephine)
Each of the nurses on the team were truly wonderful-so involved and patient. Eve and Vileena were great to work with as well. I would have no reservations working with their dream team again.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
I'd be lying if I said morning monitoring wasn't dreadful, ughhhh. Even if you get there as early as 5:30, you can still be waiting for an hour+. For how big of a clinic RMA is, you really do receive individualized care and I think they do a great job of not making anyone feel like just a number. It can be intimidating looking for a fertility clinic in the beginning, especially going in blindly. I think utilizing a place like RMA and their expertise would give anyone the best shot at success. Each department was very professional as well- different departments always called when they said they would.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
First come, first served. Monday and Friday are particularly bad days, but other times you could be in and out fairly quickly. I'd try to get there early, but sometimes it wouldn't make a difference. Totally worth it if you know that you'll be seeing your doctor that day-I think they have scheduled morning monitoring days.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Maria Costantini-Ferrando at RMA of New Jersey.
Shotty insurance coverage for IUIs left us with owing around 3k. Neither one of us have IVF coverage, so we had to take out a loan via lending club for the cycle, and paid for meds out of pocket.
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10
10
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
Dr. Fischer put me on Gonal F and other injection medications for my egg retrieval...after my egg retrieval I did a genetic screen test on all my embryos, she then froze the rest of the good ones and during my transfer she transferred only one healthy embryo and I am now pregnant!...is a sweetheart, always so kind and positive. I never felt a negative vibe from her...was always speaking to me as if my IVF was going to work, she would always re-assure me that everything will be ok, she said in the end, I will have a beautiful family and she was right!
I also chose to do genetic embryo testing [at RMA of New Jersey] which was not covered by insurance and I paid $5,000.00 out of pocket for that...Everyone at the clinic is amazing. The receptionist girls are great, very friendly, always remember you by your first name. Early monitoring employees are also so nice. You begin to establish a friendly relationship with everyone which is nice. I can't comment on any weaknesses of the clinic. Sometimes the monitoring are quick sometimes it takes longer. The clinic gets very busy especially in the morning.
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Catha Fischer was always speaking to me as if my IVF was going to work, she would always re-assure me that everything will be ok, she said in the end, I will have a beautiful family and she was right!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
Trust her. She is very smart and knows what she is doing. When she tells you "it'll be ok" believe me, it will.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Catha Fischer is a sweetheart, always so kind and positive. I never felt a negative vibe from her.
Describe the protocols Catha Fischer used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Dr. Fischer put me on Gonal F and other injection medications for my egg retrieval I cannot recall them all, after my egg retrieval I did a genetic screen test on all my embryos, she then froze the rest of the good ones and during my transfer she transferred only one healthy embryo and I am now pregnant!
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Sarah Robinson)
Sarah is amazing. She always called me so fast with my results and never minded that I e-mailed her with a bunch of questions that I had. She always answered all my e-mails and questions. She is so GOOD!
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Everyone at the clinic is amazing. The receptionist girls are great, very friendly, always remember you by your first name. Early monitoring employees are also so nice. You begin to establish a friendly relationship with everyone which is nice. I can't comment on any weaknesses of the clinic. Sometimes the monitoring are quick sometimes it takes longer. The clinic gets very busy especially in the morning.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Catha Fischer at RMA of New Jersey.
I had very good health insurance and my entire IVF cycle was 100% covered, the only thing I paid for were my co-pays for medications which in total I paid approximately $200.00. I also chose to do genetic embryo testing which was not covered by insurance and I paid $5,000.00 out of pocket for that.
Describe Catha Fischer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
If the doctor says single embryo transfer is what's best, I would follow her protocol.
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5
3
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids
5
3
Dr Chu ultimately recommended that I have my fibroid surgically removed before doing any embryo transfer. She does not perform this surgery herself, so she referred me to another provider for this. I did not feel comfortable undergoing this surgery therefore I decided to get a second opinion.... She was very involved and each time I visited the clinic I got to speak with her in person. She speaks very quickly but it felt like that was just her personality.
Weakness: In the morning for monitoring, patients sit in the hallway lined up outside the door of the clinic [RMA of NJ] - it's sad/uncomfortable seeing these women sitting in a dimly light hallway on the FLOOR.... Strengths: I found it relatively easy to get in touch with Dr Chu and her staff when I had questions. They answer emails quickly.... There was no fee for the consultation. I paid several hundred dollars for the HSG procedure
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids
5
3
How was your experience with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Chu ultimately recommended that I have my fibroid surgically removed before doing any embryo transfer. She does not perform this surgery herself, so she referred me to another provider for this. I did not feel comfortable undergoing this surgery therefore I decided to get a second opinion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Be prepared for her to speak very quickly and give you a lot of information. Bring a notepad and write things down since there is too much to remember at once. If she (or anyone else) recommends surgery, get a second opinion to be sure.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
She was very involved and each time I visited the clinic I got to speak with her in person. She speaks very quickly but it felt like that was just her personality. I never felt rushed by her, and she took the time to answer all of my questions in detail.
Describe the protocols Micheline Chu used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
She recommended doing a cycle of IVF for egg retrieval and PGS testing first to make sure I even have good embryos first, then proceeding with fibroid removal prior to doing any transfers. Because I was very hesitant to have fibroid removal surgery, she did give me an alternate option to do egg retrieval and transfer one embryo to try, but told me that if it fails she would not recommend doing any additional transfers until the fibroid is removed. I choose not to proceed with Dr Chu and went elsewhere.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Rhonda Minot)
Rhonda is well versed in infertility treatment, however she could come off abrasive at times. I do think it was coming from a place of care/concern, but my husband had a very difficult time with her style of communication.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Weakness: In the morning for monitoring, patients sit in the hallway lined up outside the door of the clinic - it's sad/uncomfortable seeing these women sitting in a dimly light hallway on the FLOOR. The Englewood NJ office does not to retrievals/transfers, so patients have to travel to southern NJ for those procedures.
Strengths: I found it relatively easy to get in touch with Dr Chu and her staff when I had questions. They answer emails quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey.
There was no fee for the consultation. I paid several hundred dollars for the HSG procedure to evaluate for tubal blockage (which indeed there was). The bloodwork was covered by insurance so I only paid the co-pay for that part.
Describe Micheline Chu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
I did not get this far, but she told me she does eSET.
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10
10
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
Dr.Doherty told us we had to do ivf if insurance covered it. We did ivf and the retrieval but due to insurance not covering the extra testing we did not test the eggs. We had two chemicals with only 1 embryo left. Dr. Doherty had me do biopsy and put me on synthroid for a thyroid problem I had developed. He also had me on doxyclycine and had us do another retrieval to test. We got 4 embryos that came back all healthy and normal and we finally prepped for our 3 transfer which we are now 8 weeks 5 days pregnant!!! :)
Kira [nurse at RMA of New Jersey] was compassionate and always tried her best. She contacted me as quickly as she possibly could...Strengths are that everyone is kind and compassionate and they really feel bad for you and want to help. Weaknesses are the financial department as they messed a few things up and my doctor and nurse had to help us figure it out...never made me feel like a number but as a patient in desperate need of help. I am currently pregnant and so excited because of them.
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Leo was compassionate and understanding always. There were days where I was so upset and I did feel like a few times I took it out on him he did nothing but calm me down and do his best to make sure everything was ok, I am still in shock of the fact that I graduated last week!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
He will help you and make it work! It takes time and patience as a patient.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Doherty was an unbelievable doctor while I was under his care, there were days when I wanted to give up and he pushed me through it all. As well as my nurse Kira Nickerson. They both never made me feel like a number but as a patient in desperate need of help. I am currently pregnant and so excited because of them.
Describe the protocols Leo Doherty used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Dr.Doherty told us we had to do ivf if insurance covered it. We did ivf and the retrieval but due to insurance not covering the extra testing we did not test the eggs. We had two chemicals with only 1 embryo left. Dr. Doherty had me do biopsy and put me on synthroid for a thyroid problem I had developed. He also had me on doxyclycine and had us do another retrieval to test. We got 4 embryos that came back all healthy and normal and we finally prepped for our 3 transfer which we are now 8 weeks 5 days pregnant!!! :)
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Kira Nickerson)
Kira was compassionate and always tried her best. She contacted me as quickly as she possibly could.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths are that everyone is kind and compassionate and they really feel bad for you and want to help. Weaknesses are the financial department as they messed a few things up and my doctor and nurse had to help us figure it out.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Leo Doherty at RMA of New Jersey.
It was affordable our insurance covered mostly everything needed.
Describe Leo Doherty's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
No as much as a I wanted multiples transferred at once he reassured me it was not safe due to my age and my body structure.
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10
10
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
Dr. Molinaro took the time to get to know my husband and I and to listen to what we had experienced and what we wanted. He always took the time to explain each fertility option and listened and answered all questions and concerns. He always followed up and checked in for the good and bad. He called personally and talked me through some very difficult times...He was there with us every step of the way explaining everything in detail and treating us with compassion, understanding and patience. Going through this process you need a doctor who not only knows the fi
have access to a patient portal where you can email your nurse, doctor and financial coordinator. RMA from the first visit sets it up so that a member of their team is there to navigate you through each step. This is so helpful in such an emotional process. RMA has morning monitoring hours that made it so easy to receive treatment without having to take off of work too often and still getting to work in time!
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
My husband and I were referred to Dr. Molinaro (Dr. M) by a friend that had nothing but amazing things to say. From the moment we met Dr. M we knew he was the doctor for us and from that moment he never let us down. The fertility journey is a rollercoaster of emotions and thanks to Dr. M we didn’t have to navigate that journey on our own. He was there with us every step of the way explaining everything in detail and treating us with compassion, understanding and patience. Going through this process you need a doctor who not only knows the field and best course of treatment for you but who also listens and hears you and understands how difficult and emotional each decision and step can be and Dr. M is that doctor. I couldn’t say enough amazing things about him. My husband and I are forever thankful to him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Molinaro is extremely knowledgeable about the field. Don’t ever hesitate to ask any question no matter how crazy you think it may sound. He will be able to give you a research based thorough answer that will leave you with the knowledge to make you decision. Never hesitate to reach out to him. He will always find time to get back to you and his responses show the time and care he takes in his role as your doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Molinaro took the time to get to know my husband and I and to listen to what we had experienced and what we wanted. He always took the time to explain each fertility option and listened and answered all questions and concerns. He always followed up and checked in for the good and bad. He called personally and talked me through some very difficult times.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Samantha Ribaudo)
Samantha is amazing! She is caring, compassionate and understanding. She gets back to you immediately and always call you right away with updates and next steps. She was so helpful in navigating all of the different procedures and medications including ordering meds, how to use the meds and any questions I had on any part of the process! This journey is emotionally difficult and Samantha held my hand through the whole process. She was alway there to answer a question (no matter how crazy) or help calm me in moments of fear or sadness and she shared in the times of excitement!! She is the absolute best!!! I couldn’t have done this without her!!!
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is a wonderful clinic. I loved that I was provided with a nurse that would help me navigate my way through this journey. That was beyond helpful. You also have access to a patient portal where you can email your nurse, doctor and financial coordinator. RMA from the first visit sets it up so that a member of their team is there to navigate you through each step. This is so helpful in such an emotional process. RMA has morning monitoring hours that made it so easy to receive treatment without having to take off of work too often and still getting to work in time!
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring hours were so convinent and really helped because I did not have to miss work or go in late.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey.
My insurance covered the majority of treatment. I had to pay for PGS testing out of pocket.
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10
10
Age
30 - 35
Treated
2014 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
10
After a disappointing miscarriage, she was so reassuring and generous with her time. ... Dr. Hong changed my protocol to be more similar to what I did for my retrieval in 2014 which included follistim, ganirelix, and pregnyl, which thickened my lining enough for transfer. ... Dr. Hong is very bright and quick thinking, yet she also takes the time to get to know you personally. ...
The level of information and speed of procedures, scheduling, finance, etc. always amazed me. ... I saw a variety of doctors and nurses for morning monitoring, but after awhile of being there [RMA of New Jersey] you interact with the same people enough that it becomes comfortable. I had my favorite "blood girl" and the front desk receptionist knew my name without signing in. ...
Age
30 - 35
Treated
2014 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
—
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
During my first round at RMA (which was very straightforward and successful), I was treated by another doctor who has since left. However, Dr. Hong did my HSG and my retrieval, both of which I was incredibly nervous for. When I returned to RMA several years later for my second child, I requested to see Dr. Hong because of the compassion she showed me and the warmth and friendliness of her approach. Dr. Hong is very bright and quick thinking, yet she also takes the time to get to know you personally. After a disappointing miscarriage, she was so reassuring and generous with her time. She changed the approach and made sure to personally perform my transfer. The amount of times she went out of her way to connect with me and attend to my concerns was what made her stand out in my mind.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
Absolutely request to see Dr. Hong if you want a mix of warmth, knowledge, and accessibility.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Hong without a doubt treated me like a human...and not just a human, but one she wanted to help and see happy. She always talked to me about my individual situation and not how it compared with anyone else's or any statistics. She took the time to call me outside of her work time and reassure me when I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
Describe the protocols Kathleen Hong used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
In 2018 I went back to RMA to use my frozen embryos. We initially tried estrogen pills to build my lining, but that was unsuccessful. Dr. Hong changed my protocol to be more similar to what I did for my retrieval in 2014 which included follistim, ganirelix, and pregnyl, which thickened my lining enough for transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Danielle Burke)
My nurse Danielle was just as valuable throughout this process as Dr. Hong - truly when you're at RMA you spend more time communicating directly with your nurse, so Danielle's role was huge. She called me frequently and quickly with results, updates, and sometimes even just a reassuring check-in. Danielle felt like my biggest cheerleader - someone who wanted to see me be successful. She helped me understand each new medication or protocol and was so incredibly patient with my many questions and concerns.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is amazing at what they do. Yes, it gets crowded (especially on weekends and holidays), but that's because they are the best. I saw a variety of doctors and nurses for morning monitoring, but after awhile of being there you interact with the same people enough that it becomes comfortable. I had my favorite "blood girl" and the front desk receptionist knew my name without signing in. The level of information and speed of procedures, scheduling, finance, etc. always amazed me.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
As mentioned earlier, it does get crowded on weekends and holidays. The earlier you go within the window the better.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey.
I was very fortunate that my costs were almost entirely covered by insurance.
Describe Kathleen Hong's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
We were only ever interested in a single embryo transfer, so this worked well with Dr. Hong's and RMA's preferences.
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2
3
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
—
2
3
After my initial consultation and all the blood work and testing [with Dr. Michael Drews], I was ready to get started. The doctor had my assigned nurse (who was lovely) call to tell me that the doctor wanted me to lose 20 to 25 lbs before starting IUI. They set me up with their nutritionist on staff, who was also lovely. After I lost almost 20 lbs, I was told I was close but not quite there. During the almost two years that I wasted trying to lose weight (which eventually all was gained back) the doctor never once scheduled a meeting or call to check in. I wasted two years and i did not have two years to waste.
We did not get to the first IUI because a week before I would have started the process, my assigned nurse [at RMA of New Jersey] called to say that I had to lose weight. I was not even given the option of proceeding...She [nurse] was wonderful. Very sweet and compassionate and responded quickly to emails...I felt that during the waiting period while I was trying to lose weight, I fell off their radar. Even the nurse stopped following up with any frequency after a while. I had to cancel a nutritionist appt because I was sick and then I never heard back from her even though I had reached out.
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
—
2
3
How was your experience with Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Drews was very knowledgeable and was kind even though he did not have a great bedside manner. He was confident which made me feel positive. However, he also didn't seem to have time for me and did not do any follow up. I basically didn't see or hear from him after my initial visit, one subsequent visit and the HSG.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
Call early and follow up more frequently. You have to be proactive if you want to see him or hear from him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey?
After my initial consultation and all the blood work and testing, I was ready to get started. The doctor had my assigned nurse (who was lovely) call to tell me that the doctor wanted me to lose 20 to 25 lbs before starting IUI. They set me up with their nutritionist on staff, who was also lovely. After I lost almost 20 lbs, I was told I was close but not quite there. During the almost two years that I wasted trying to lose weight (which eventually all was gained back) the doctor never once scheduled a meeting or call to check in. I wasted two years and i did not have two years to waste.
Describe the protocols Michael Drews used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We were going to try a few rounds of IUI since my test results were great and I seem to have an unexplained infertility. Dr. Drews suggested that I use something other than Clomid because of my age (I was 37 at the time). He said that Clomid doesn't work as well for people my age - I later used Clomid and responded well to it. We did not get to the first IUI because a week before I would have started the process, my assigned nurse called to say that I had to lose weight. I was not even given the option of proceeding.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey.
She was wonderful. Very sweet and compassionate and responded quickly to emails.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
I felt that during the waiting period while I was trying to lose weight, I fell off their radar. Even the nurse stopped following up with any frequency after a while. I had to cancel a nutritionist appt because I was sick and then I never heard back from her even though I had reached out.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Drews at RMA of New Jersey.
It was mostly co-pays with some additional costs for the HSG. Around $2,000 total.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
6
6
Age
31
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained
6
6
Dr Chu was very informative but not always the most compassionate. After my 1st failed IUI with her (3rd failed overall at that point) I asked about changing medications or protocols and she did not find it necessary. After my next IUI with her failed, I again asked from a change or if we could do some more diagnostics and was finally heard and repeat labs were drawn.... I was not offered any other diagnostics or protocols other than just moving on to IVF.
RMA is a large clinic so it was pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle. I did have good communication with my nurse and was able to speak with Dr Chu when I wanted to.... Getting to morning monitoring very early is crucial if you want to get in and out in a timely fashion. I showed up 25 min before the office opened and still would be waiting in a line for the doors to open....Julie was my primary nurse and was very good at getting in contact with me via phone calls or email.
Age
31
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained
6
6
How was your experience with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Chu was very informative but not always the most compassionate. After my 1st failed IUI with her (3rd failed overall at that point) I asked about changing medications or protocols and she did not find it necessary. After my next IUI with her failed, I again asked from a change or if we could do some more diagnostics and was finally heard and repeat labs were drawn. We increased my dose of gonal-f the next round but still were not successful. I do not have IVF coverage but still after each failed IUI, I was asked if I wanted to move forward with IVF. I felt this was a little insensitive. I was not offered any other diagnostics or protocols other than just moving on to IVF.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
She is very educated and informative but doesn't always have a lot of compassion so do not take it personally. Also, dont be afraid to advocate for yourself and things you may want explored further.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
RMA is a large clinic so it was pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle. I did have good communication with my nurse and was able to speak with Dr Chu when I wanted to.
Describe the protocols Micheline Chu used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
When seeing Dr Chu I was still considered "unexplained infertility". I did 3 rounds of IUI with gonal-f. First round, I did gonal-f 50mg with blood work and ultrasound monitoring every few days, followed by 2 days of IUI once follicles were deemed "mature." Second round, we followed the same protocol and dose of gonal-f. After our second round failed, I was begging for more diagnostics to try and see why it hasnt worked. They redrew the same day 3 labs as when we first started and we moved forward with another IUI. This round we did increase the gonal-f to 75mg followed by 2 back to back IUIs but again it failed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Julie Cochrane)
Julie was my primary nurse and was very good at getting in contact with me via phone calls or email. She did show compassion and was very helpful throughout the process.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
It is a very large clinic so morning monitoring is very crowded. However, the doctors and staff are professional and know what they are doing. Getting to morning monitoring very early is crucial if you want to get in and out in a timely fashion. I showed up 25 min before the office opened and still would be waiting in a line for the doors to open.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey.
I have insurance coverage for unlimited IUIs and diagnostics and just had to pay co-pays for my visits.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
8
8
Age
40
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
4 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
8
8
Dr. Jurema was very caring, but RMA is huge so I only saw/talked with him a few times and was assigned a nurse who I spoke to much more frequently. Dr. Jurema was willing to try a few options my previous doctor wasn't such as ERA test which showed I needed more exposure to progesterone. Unfortunately even those additional things didn't prevent us from having another miscarriage and we moved on to a reproductive immunologist who could help us with recurrent losses.
RMA is huge so you can, esp. during morning monitoring very much feel like just a number there. On the other hand, they have an on site lab so if you go to the main office you can get monitoring results earlier in the day (before 10am) and their monitoring starts at 6am and is open on weekends.... Both nurses were extremely helpful. Even after moving to the next clinic and having RMA for outside monitoring christine has continued to be super helpful in setting up monitoring appointments and providing encouragement.
Age
40
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
8
8
How was your experience with Marcus Jurema at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Jurema was very caring, but RMA is huge so I only saw/talked with him a few times and was assigned a nurse who I spoke to much more frequently. Dr. Jurema was willing to try a few options my previous doctor wasn't such as ERA test which showed I needed more exposure to progesterone. Unfortunately even those additional things didn't prevent us from having another miscarriage and we moved on to a reproductive immunologist who could help us with recurrent losses.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Marcus Jurema at RMA of New Jersey?
Positive attitude and compassionate care go a long way to making you feel comfortable so if they are what you are looking for Dr. Juerma will be a good doctor for you. His protocols, however, were to maximize number of eggs retrieved without much of a focus on quality.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Marcus Jurema at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Jurema was very caring and compassionate and took the time to explain the reasoning behind choices. For example when I was concerned about options on the paperwork about embryo storage he called me and talked me through it.
Describe the protocols Marcus Jurema used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Menpur, Follistim, ganirelix, lupron trigger
49 eggs, 46 were mature", 33 fertilized, 14 made it to blast, and 7 were genetically normal
1 FET - miscarried a little over 6 weeks
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: First Erika, then Christine when she was on extended leave)
Both nurses were extremely helpful. Even after moving to the next clinic and having RMA for outside monitoring christine has continued to be super helpful in setting up monitoring appointments and providing encouragement.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is huge so you can, esp. during morning monitoring very much feel like just a number there. On the other hand, they have an on site lab so if you go to the main office you can get monitoring results earlier in the day (before 10am) and their monitoring starts at 6am and is open on weekends.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring hours start at 6am and I usually arrived at 5:45. Even still there were sometimes 2-3 people ahead of me and the few times I arrived later than that there was a very long wait.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Marcus Jurema at RMA of New Jersey.
Insurance paid for some of our care and we had a family friend help with the remaining amount
Describe Marcus Jurema's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Recommened eSET as we had 7 genetically normal embryos though several were lower graded. Said grades didn't matter due to testing normal
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
37
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids, Other
10
10
He [Dr. Kaser] was a nice doctor. He knew what steps and procedures I needed in order for me to have a successful IVF cycle process. He knew what medications I needed to take in order to increase my chances of getting pregnant with less chances of having a miscarriage. ... The 1st month was the diagnostic month, where they ran tests on me and my husband. Next, he removed my uterine polyps.
That you have to be at your appointments before 7:30am, with some flexibility. ... The window was between 6am to 7:30am. The nurse coordinator would email me a monthly cycle itinerary. ... They [RMA of New Jersey] are very thorough with blood work and examinations on a weekly basis. I did have a phlebotomist hit a nerve while tying to draw blood. Overall, the staff was friendly and nice to be around. ...The nurse coordinator, Hillary, would return my phone calls in a timely manner and answer all of my questions.
Age
37
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Black or African-American
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
He was a nice doctor. He knew what steps and procedures I needed in order for me to have a successful IVF cycle process. He knew what medications I needed to take in order to increase my chances of getting pregnant with less chances of having a miscarriage.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
To make sure they know how many injections they will have to take and how many office visits they will have to go to per cycle. Find out how much out of pocket costs they will have to pay for upfront.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
The nurse coordinator, Hillary, would return my phone calls in a timely manner and answer all of my questions.
Describe the protocols Daniel Kaser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
The 1st month was the diagnostic month, where they ran tests on me and my husband. Next, he removed my uterine polyps. Then he put me on injectable hormones for the egg retrieval. Then I had the egg transfer and I got pregnant right away. He monitored me for the next 8 weeks to make sure that embryo was growing correctly through the beginning of my pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Hillary Silva)
Hillary was a good communicator and answered all of my concerns. She would update me with all of my blood work results promptly and schedule me for all of my weekly appointments.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
That you have to be at your appointments before 7:30am, with some flexibility. They are very thorough with blood work and examinations on a weekly basis. I did have a phlebotomist hit a nerve while tying to draw blood. Overall, the staff was friendly and nice to be around.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
The window was between 6am to 7:30am. The nurse coordinator would email me a monthly cycle itinerary.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey.
Over $5,000 out of pocket
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10
10
Age
36
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
Dr. Werner was very compassionate, knowledgeable and professional. She was always very thorough when laying out options and treatment plans and never pushed me in any direction ... I went straight to IVF with ICSI given some male infertility issues we had, in addition to my struggles with PCOS. ... She was always checking in on how I was feeling and never made me feel rushed or unimportant. Her bedside manner is incredible - she genuinely took setbacks as hard as I did. I felt like she really fought for me throughout the process.
The clinic [RMA of NJ] is very efficient and runs very well. Even with many people in the office, monitoring hours always went smoothly. The office is very clean and is employed with many sweet professionals who genuinely care about outcomes. ... She [nurse] always answered my questions and was very prompt at obtaining information from the doctor when I requested it. ... Also, results were always received so quickly - my nurse was always touching base with me.
Age
36
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$500K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Werner was very compassionate, knowledgeable and professional. She was always very thorough when laying out options and treatment plans and never pushed me in any direction - she always told me she would support my choices. She made it easy for me to make the decisions that were right for me. She was always checking in on how I was feeling and never made me feel rushed or unimportant. Her bedside manner is incredible - she genuinely took setbacks as hard as I did. I felt like she really fought for me throughout the process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey?
Not to feel shy to ask questions. Dr. Werner will always give you her full attention and she wants to make sure her patients are informed.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Marie Werner at RMA of New Jersey?
The office is very efficient - but each time I met with a doctor or nurse - they took the time to speak with me, to provide answers and to comfort me. Also, results were always received so quickly - my nurse was always touching base with me.
Describe the protocols Marie Werner used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I went straight to IVF with ICSI given some male infertility issues we had, in addition to my struggles with PCOS. After my first egg retrieval, after genetic testing, I only had 1 viable embryo, so my husband went to a urologist and then we did a second retrieval after he had a tese procedure done. That resulted in two viable embryos. With three embryos, we decided to transfer the strongest one in January 2019. I am currently almost 10 weeks pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Samantha Ribaudo)
My nurse was amazing. She was so prompt with emails and calling with results, really took the time to show me how to use some of the medications and spent one morning with me when I was very emotional - she took time out of her schedule to listen to me, give me a shoulder to lean on and acted as a friend when I needed it. She always answered my questions and was very prompt at obtaining information from the doctor when I requested it.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic is very efficient and runs very well. Even with many people in the office, monitoring hours always went smoothly. The office is very clean and is employed with many sweet professionals who genuinely care about outcomes.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
There were many people but it was a well oiled machine. I was typically in and out within 20 minutes.
Describe Marie Werner's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
My understanding was the SET was a bit more effective, and that is all my insurance would cover, so a multiple embryo transfer was never really discussed. Also, given my age, I don't think I would have elected for a multiple embryo transfer.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
32 - 39
Treated
2011 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
I saw him [Dr. Bergh] only at the beginning of each cycle, as well as when one embryo miscarried. He was compassionate throughout. It was always clear that he was the guiding force behind all the decisions. All decisions were made by him, even if he didn't see me and was using other doctor's notes to make those informed decisions. My actual meeting with him was lengthy and comprehensive, and I felt listened to.... We went through IVF with ICSI.
RMA NJ has many satellite locations, which makes it easier to get to. The main location in Basking Ridge is beautiful and the rooms are very private, which is nice. They offer complementary protocols, like acupuncture, during the transfer, which makes it easier. The waiting times can be long if it's a busy morning, though if you get there really early, you can avoid that. They have great success rates and will work with you
Age
32 - 39
Treated
2011 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 15 Docs
Treatment
IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
I saw him only at the beginning of each cycle, as well as when one embryo miscarried. He was compassionate throughout. It was always clear that he was the guiding force behind all the decisions. All decisions were made by him, even if he didn't see me and was using other doctor's notes to make those informed decisions. My actual meeting with him was lengthy and comprehensive, and I felt listened to.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
He is a great doctor and very knowledgeable and you will be in good hands.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Bergh took the time to discuss all options and answer my questions patiently. I was assigned a specific nurse who was always available for me specifically. I felt very much like my team knew me and my situation.
Describe the protocols Paul Bergh used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We went through IVF with ICSI. The retrieval was successful but Dr. Bergh was concerned that I would hyperstimulate, so he took the time to explain why he wanted to freeze all the embryos and do a frozen transfer in 6 weeks. Though it was disappointing to me, he really helped me understand why. And then the transfer of two embryos was successful, though one miscarried at 5 weeks, and Dr. Bergh was there to help me. The first frozen cycle used Lupron to set up the cycle. The second cycle went with my natural period. Both transfers resulted in a live birth. I have a son and a daughter now and we are very thankful.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Rhonda Minot)
The nurses are assigned to each patient, so you feel like a person, not a number. My nurse was patient with me and tried to do what she could to help me.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA NJ has many satellite locations, which makes it easier to get to. The main location in Basking Ridge is beautiful and the rooms are very private, which is nice. They offer complementary protocols, like acupuncture, during the transfer, which makes it easier. The waiting times can be long if it's a busy morning, though if you get there really early, you can avoid that. They have great success rates and will work with you to make it financially feasible.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
I sometimes waited a long time to be seen. If I got there early, I got seen earlier. They did try to hurry things along by getting blood done and then waiting for ultrasound after, but if it was a busy morning, I waited for over an hour.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Paul Bergh at RMA of New Jersey.
At the beginning of my first IVF cycle, I signed up a special program through ARK, where I paid roughly $21,000 for 2 fresh and 2 frozen cycles until I conceived. It was so relieving to know that if one didn't work, I wouldn't have to shell out tons more to try again. In the end, we used one fresh and one frozen cycle for my son. I think we spent another $4500 for PGD, which was fortuitous because of my 15 embryos, 5 were abnormal and I am so relieved I didn't have to live through a miscarriage from transferring an abnormal embryo.
Describe Paul Bergh's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Dr. Bergh encouraged one embryo though he allowed me two in my first transfer. He said he would pick the best embryo from those available to make it most likely to succeed.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
In my third attempt to start a cycle, I went on birth control pills to bring on my period. My period came and I went for monitoring but my numbers weren't right. I went a few more times and no one explained why the numbers kept being wrong. Finally, after my fifth visit, another doctor told me that I was clearly in the wrong part of the cycle and there was no point to come back until I had another period. I wish that the other doctors or the nurse had told me that earlier on. I had to travel from my summer home and it was an expensive waste of time. Dr. Bergh had wanted me to follow even after that, but I felt burnt out by that time. Still, this was a minor mishap and I am very grateful to them for the good they did.
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8
7
Age
40
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Tubal Blockage
8
7
She [Dr. Maguire] seemed caring and she always discussed her plan in terms of research. She tried to provide honest recommendations based on my situation. She doesn't really take a holistic approach. There was some information that she could have provided earlier in the process that could have helped my outcome.... While she was good about explaining the diagnostic process and my diagnosis she did not really explain why she used the protocol and what she was trying to accomplish with each drug.
The clinic [RMA of NJ] functions like a well oiled machine in terms of the process. Completing the diagnostic test, egg retrieval and transfer.... There isn't a holistic approach. They do not ask about supplements and so I don't know if taking or not taking supplements impacted by results. They did not give me enough time to search for an affordable pharmacy which meant I used a recommended pharmacy. Glen Rock pharmacy is not managed well and not professional and and it caused a lot of added stress
Age
40
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Tubal Blockage
8
7
How was your experience with Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
She seemed caring and she always discussed her plan in terms of research. She tried to provide honest recommendations based on my situation. She doesn't really take a holistic approach. There was some information that she could have provided earlier in the process that could have helped my outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
Research and ask question. Ask why she is choosing some drugs over others.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey?
She seemed to care about my situation and outcome. She followed-up a couple of times after the cycle failed. There doesn't seem like there is a lot of customization of protocols. Its not really a holistic approach to fertility treatment.
Describe the protocols Marcy Maguire used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
High level of follistim, hCG and lupron. While she was good about explaining the diagnostic process and my diagnosis she did not really explain why she used the protocol and what she was trying to accomplish with each drug. I ended up with a lead follicle. Talking to others an reading articles, there may have been a better way to handle the lead follicle to allow other follicles to catch up.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Rachel)
She tried to follow-up in timely manner. I had quite a few questions as the cycle progressed and she answered them throughly and explained why she provided the answer. Sometimes the transfer of information did not go smoothly when she was out of the office and another nurse was in charge of my case.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic's monitoring hours were convenient. The clinic functions like a well oiled machine in terms of the process. Completing the diagnostic test, egg retrieval and transfer. They assigned modules before the egg retrieval that would have been helpful to review while completing the diagnostic tests so that i had a better sense of what would happen next and that could have helped me figure out more questions to ask in regards to my care. There isn't a holistic approach. They do not ask about supplements and so I don't know if taking or not taking supplements impacted by results. They did not give me enough time to search for an affordable pharmacy which meant I used a recommended pharmacy. Glen Rock pharmacy is not managed well and not professional and and it caused a lot of added stress. In addition, I felt the same way about GeneScreen for genetic counseling. For a professional and renowned institution one would think they were have more professional partners/affiliations .
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
A times there were a lot of patients during monitoring hours. However, I always tried to arrive relatively early and I never had to wait too long. It was relatively close to my job so their hours in conjunction with my work hours worked well. On most days I did not have to wait long unless they were having staffing issues. However, West Orange does not have Saturday hours which is very inconvenient; all patients have to go to Basking Ridge and the wait is a little longer because everyone who goes to their other clinics are funneled to one facility.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Marcy Maguire at RMA of New Jersey.
I do not recall; it was a lot.
Describe Marcy Maguire's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
n/a
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
The person who called my prescription to the pharmacy did not use my doctor's name and it caused confusion with the follistim discount. There was a slight communication breakdown at times when my nurse was out of the office.
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10
10
Age
40 - 41
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
10
10
Dr. Hong is very approachable and easy to talk with. She was very helpful in explaining everything and taking the time to answer our questions until we were satisfied. She comes across to me as very research/fact based and practical, which is why I think we immediately liked working with her. She has a lot of energy, but is also caring and sensitive. I appreciate the ability to be able to speak with her directly on the phone even in between appointments. Our treatment plan changed a few times and she proactively called me to explain the rationale behind each decision. She performed almost all of my monitoring visits and also performed my embryo transfer. I always felt in good hands, both clinically and compassion-wise.
When having ultrasound monitoring in Basking Ridge [RMA] on the weekends, I never knew which doctor I would be seeing and that experience was a bit too cold and 'assembly line' for me...I appreciate that they have a long line of patients to monitor each morning, but the doctors need to also appreciate that fertility patients aren't just a number. We need a little extra TLC at each interaction, after all we are having a probe stuck up our vagina (!!) and worried about every step of the way in trying have a baby. One doctor in particular - Ashley Tiegs (I believe she was a Fellow) - was very cold, literally in and out, blurting out some information, never even made eye contact with me. That was the one and only truly negative experience that I ever had at RMA.
Age
40 - 41
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
10
10
How was your experience with Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Hong is very approachable and easy to talk with. She was very helpful in explaining everything and taking the time to answer our questions until we were satisfied. She comes across to me as very research/fact based and practical, which is why I think we immediately liked working with her. She has a lot of energy, but is also caring and sensitive. I appreciate the ability to be able to speak with her directly on the phone even in between appointments. Our treatment plan changed a few times and she proactively called me to explain the rationale behind each decision. She performed almost all of my monitoring visits and also performed my embryo transfer. I always felt in good hands, both clinically and compassion-wise.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
Ask as many questions as you have until you are comfortable and fully understand your course of treatment. You will be well taken care of.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Hong has a really nice approach and 'bedside manner' - each interaction that we've had has been a reassuring experience. She's very detailed and takes time to explain everything and answer questions. She's highly approachable, kind, and responsive, even in between appointments. She called me directly when it was needed to explain any major change in my treatment plan.
Describe the protocols Kathleen Hong used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
When we first consulted with Dr. Hong, she reviewed several treatment strategies with us. We already had frozen embryos in storage from our first IVF cycle, but they were still at Boston IVF. We wanted to try for another child using only these frozen embryos (we were not interested in pursuing any further IVF cycles). She explained several available options, and ultimately we decided that we would ship our embryos to RMA NJ (the most expensive shipping of my life!!). We would then do an embryo thaw to perform CCS, in order to rule out any unviable embryos. Next the viable remaining embryos would be frozen again in preparation for FET. We also discussed option for knowing the sex. I would undergo a natural (unmedicated) cycle. I didn't even know that natural cycles were an option with FET! I was very happy about this. Although it required more monitoring leading up the time of ovulation (many 6am appointments!!), the bonus was that I didn't have to take any medications aside from the trigger shot and then progesterone (vaginal suppository). Only one injection! It was so much easier than my previous fresh IVF cycle. Right before our embryos shipped, Dr. Hong called me in a panic because she had just been discussing our case with the embryologist who realized in my medical records that our former IVF cycle was the result of conventional IVF, not ICSI. You cannot do CCS with conventional IVF embryos! We were initially very disappointed to hear this, but rebounded quickly and decided to pursue the FET cycle without any genetic testing, just letting nature take its course so to speak. Ultimately we got very lucky. The first natural cycle FET led to pregnancy, and our baby girl was born at 41 weeks on 11/30/2018.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Dayna Browning)
I only had one in person interaction with Dayna, the rest were all phone calls, but each one has been very positive. She is highly energetic, optimistic, and empathetic. She is very responsive and takes the time to explain each step and answer my questions. She has exceeded my expectations for nursing support at a clinic as huge as RMA NJ.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Strengths - Essentially it's a one stop shop for almost anything you need as part of your fertility treatment. I even had an outpatient surgery (hysteroscopy and polyp removal) under RMA and the care I experienced was excellent. I was very impressed with the high level of coordination between departments and the communication and responsiveness - everything from medical and nursing consultations to finance to embryology. It was a seamless experience for me as the patient, which is not always easy to come by!
Weaknesses - I always had to drive to Basking Ridge for blood work/monitoring on the weekends. Also when having ultrasound monitoring in Basking Ridge on the weekends, I never knew which doctor I would be seeing and that experience was a bit too cold and 'assembly line' for me...I appreciate that they have a long line of patients to monitor each morning, but the doctors need to also appreciate that fertility patients aren't just a number. We need a little extra TLC at each interaction, after all we are having a probe stuck up our vagina (!!) and worried about every step of the way in trying have a baby. One doctor in particular - Ashley Tiegs (I believe she was a Fellow) - was very cold, literally in and out, blurting out some information, never even made eye contact with me. That was the one and only truly negative experience that I ever had at RMA.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kathleen Hong at RMA of New Jersey.
We received financial counseling from the first consultation. The ballpark cost that we were originally expecting for thawing/refreezing/CCS testing of embryos (none of which would be covered by insurance) would be approx. $6550. In addition, we would be paying for the courier to move our embryos from Boston to NJ = approximately $800.
The FET cycle itself was expected to cost $4,475 + upwards of $1600 for medication. My insurance would offset some of this cost.
Describe Kathleen Hong's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Dr. Hong was very clear from the beginning that we would do a single embryo transfer. I didn't challenge it.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Lost paperwork
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
The only odd experience I had was (unfortunately) right at my first interaction, when I was seeking a new patient appointment. The coordinator that I spoke to on the phone walked me through a basic intake assessment. I explained that I already had embryos frozen from our first IVF cycle, and that these were stored in Boston. We were interested in moving the embryos and seeking consultation for FET here in NJ. The coordinator asked whether or not our IVF cycle had involved ICSI - and said something like if we had NOT performed ICSI, that we might not even be eligible at RMA to do FET. I asked her to elaborate, provide more explanation so that I could understand better. She then sort of skirted around it and said that we should just have the med records and embryology reports from Boston sent over so the doctor could review. That comment however nagged at me, and so I pressed for more information during our interim email exchanges (leading up to my first consultation with a RE). It was important for me to understand more about the ICSI relationship to FET, as I didn't want to waste my time seeing the RE if we couldn't use our already frozen embryos in storage. She never would answer me directly. In the end, I still don't know what that was all about nor how it would have been relevant. In my opinion, she should never have said anything at all along those lines, especially if she wasn't prepared to provide relevant, factual information!
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10
10
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr Morris made us feel like we were her only patients, it was always a very personal experience. When we first began the fertility process we were nervous and unsure what to expect, we chose Dr Morris because her RMA video was very relatable and we were not disappointed. While she is very direct and to the point she managed to do it in a way with such compassion.... We ended up doing injectables and IUI, Dr. Morris felt they would be the most effective for our situation and she was right.
The clinic [RMA of NJ] was awesome I have no negative things to say, the facility was beautiful the staff was always friendly and there hours were tremendously accommodating. We could get early appointments so our treatments never effected our work life.... Michelle was AMAZING! I have no other words but wonderful things to say about Michelle, she was compassionate, straight forward, and always on top of my medical care. I know she had a lot of others to deal with but I felt like I was her number one priority all the time.
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Jamie Morris at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Morris made us feel like we were her only patients, it was always a very personal experience. When we first began the fertility process we were nervous and unsure what to expect, we chose Dr Morris because her RMA video was very relatable and we were not disappointed. While she is very direct and to the point she managed to do it in a way with such compassion. Her staff was the same way, when we graduated from RMA back to our regular doctor I remember feeling a bit sad because we would miss dealing with her and her team. As we look to have our second we wouldn’t hesitate for a minute going back to RMA with Dr Morris
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jamie Morris at RMA of New Jersey?
Rely on her and her staff they are great and don’t loose hope!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jamie Morris at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Morris, Nurse Michelle and her staff were wonderful. We always understood the path for our treatment and her calm understanding and teams constant communication made a very intense process as stress free as possible.
Describe the protocols Jamie Morris used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We ended up doing injectables and IUI, Dr. Morris felt they would be the most effective for our situation and she was right. I really appreciated how she did not push IVF even after the first few IUIs didn’t work.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Michelle Lowe)
Michelle was AMAZING! I have no other words but wonderful things to say about Michelle, she was compassionate, straight forward, and always on top of my medical care. I know she had a lot of others to deal with but I felt like I was her number one priority all the time.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
The clinic was awesome I have no negative things to say, the facility was beautiful the staff was always friendly and there hours were tremendously accommodating. We could get early appointments so our treatments never effected our work life.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jamie Morris at RMA of New Jersey.
My husband dealt with the financial aspect of the care. The billing department was easy to deal with from what I recall.
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10
10
Age
41
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
Dr. Kaser was wonderful in every way. He diagnosed me with PCOS after two previous doctors had missed this. Once my infertility was treated using an appropriate intervention for PCOS I got the result I had hoped for. Dr. Kaser went above and beyond in all regards showing true compassion and concern. He answered all my questions thoroughly. Working with him was such a pleasure that my husband even commented that he wished Dr. Kaser could deliver our baby as well.
Friendly, pleasant, personable. All staff is friendly and accommodating. RMA of NJ, Marlton sets a very high bar, they make every other clinic experience I have had look poor by comparison.... So responsive and compassionate. I felt that she [nurse] was with me every step of the way. She made the experience manageable and easy to navigate. Any and all of my questions and concerns were answered within 24 hours, usually less. My insurance gave me a hard time and she helped me with that. Cannot say enough good things about Beth!
Age
41
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Kaser was wonderful in every way. He diagnosed me with PCOS after two previous doctors had missed this. Once my infertility was treated using an appropriate intervention for PCOS I got the result I had hoped for. Dr. Kaser went above and beyond in all regards showing true compassion and concern. He answered all my questions thoroughly. Working with him was such a pleasure that my husband even commented that he wished Dr. Kaser could deliver our baby as well.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
You are so fortunate to be working with such a fantastic doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr. Kaser took the time to explain the process and answer all my questions no matter how trivial. He was personable, had a great sense of humor throughout the process and I knew that he genuinely cared.
Describe the protocols Daniel Kaser used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
Protocol was a PCOS specific protocol which resulted in the greatest number of viable embryos at day 5 from a retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Beth)
Amazing!!!! So responsive and compassionate. I felt that she was with me every step of the way. She made the experience manageable and easy to navigate. Any and all of my questions and concerns were answered within 24 hours, usually less. My insurance gave me a hard time and she helped me with that. Cannot say enough good things about Beth!
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
Friendly, pleasant, personable. All staff is friendly and accommodating. RMA of NJ, Marlton sets a very high bar, they make every other clinic experience I have had look poor by comparison. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
easy, quick, usually no wait
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Kaser at RMA of New Jersey.
approximately $2,500 out of pocket and well worth every penny!!!!
Describe Daniel Kaser's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
Very thankful that he advised only a single embryo transfer given the higher risk for complications for multiple embryo transfers.
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9
10
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
6 IUI
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
9
10
If you don’t mind straight forward advice and no fluff - yes. [Dr. Micheline Chu] smart and to the point...so far, has been great. I appreciate her candor. Although, I wish I could get ahold of her directly verses having to call my nurse, wait for a response then speak through the nurse. But, that’s RMA’s policy not the doctor’s...Dr. Chu and the rest of the team at Englewood do their best to treat you like a “human”.
RMA can feel like a cattle call. I do not find monitoring hours to be convenient...The AM time frames are exhaustingly early and strict. There is no wiggle room in their schedule because they see so many patients in a day. Just know you’ll be there 3+ times a week before dawn, and there will still be a line...RMA can be very clinical - you do feel like a number there. Dr. Chu and the rest of the team at Englewood do their best to treat you like a “human”.
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
6 IUI
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
9
10
How was your experience with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
Dr Chu, so far, has been great. I appreciate her candor. Although, I wish I could get ahold of her directly verses having to call my nurse, wait for a response then speak through the nurse. But, that’s RMA’s policy not the doctor’s.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
If you don’t mind straight forward advice and no fluff - yes. She’s smart and to the point. You need to understand what type of doctor you need prior to joining RMA. If you need more emotional support Dr. Cosantini may be a better fit, and she’s in the same location.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey?
RMA can be very clinical - you do feel like a number there. Dr. Chu and the rest of the team at Englewood do their best to treat you like a “human”. Honestly, it depends on my mood. Many times I’m frustrated that I am there, dealing with this situation and there really is no amount of personable care that would make it feel less sterile. It’s the situation in itself that makes the process feel like this. I don’t believe Dr. Chu is responsible for my feelings though.
Describe the protocols Micheline Chu used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
I’ve done only medicated IUIs all according to our plan - but extended quantity wise due to Insurance requiring a “lesser vs. more” clause.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Lisa)
There were times I was frustrated by the nursing situation. Many times RMA runs like a well oiled Machine And you are expected to just trust your team. That is not my personality, and I like knowing the details and reasoning for each procedure/medicine adjustment. After explaining this and requesting my documented paperwork - I received more explicit detailed messages and feel happier about the situation. I also recently received a new nurse assignment and appreciate her style much more than my original assigned nurse.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA is the best in NJ. They have the best birth rates and I know three people who have beautiful babies because of their care.
RMA can feel like a cattle call. I do not find monitoring hours to be convenient since I still must travel a ways regardless of location. The AM time frames are exhaustingly early and strict. There is no wiggle room in their schedule because they see so many patients in a day. Just know you’ll be there 3+ times a week before dawn, and there will still be a line. I’m getting used to it though.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Micheline Chu at RMA of New Jersey.
Insurance covered some, but I did hit my deductibles. I also suspect I will hit my next year deductible as well.
Describe Micheline Chu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
No experience here
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New Jersey?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of New Jersey.
Basking Ridge once failed to document my medicated cycle. They also misplaced my bloodwork for DNA testing but later found it.
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10
10
Age
41
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI, 4 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
10
10
Out of all the doctors I've worked with at four different clinics Dr. Molinaro is the only one that provided his direct email address and was reachable by phone without having to go through many people. When things were time sensitive, Dr. Molinaro always replied to emails promptly (usually within the same day) or called back on the same day.... It's clear to me that he really wants his patients to feel both physically and emotionally healthy.
Monitoring appointments were very organized and well run and wait times were much shorter than I experienced at other clinics. During our treatment cycles we went to many RMA locations for monitoring and experienced this same level of efficiency.... RMA-NJ's greatest strength is that they are successful. At the end of the day this should be the number one factor in choosing a fertility clinic. But as you peel back the onion you realize that they are successful because they are uniquely strong in so many areas.
Age
41
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European, Latino
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Graphic Designer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
4th of 4 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, 4 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
My experience with RMA and Dr. Molinaro was exactly what I was looking for after settling for less at other clinics and with other doctors. One thing that immediately stood out to me was that he was reachable. He gave us his direct email address, which may seem like a small thing but for us this was very different than what we experienced at other clinics. Dr. Molinaro has a lot of confidence in his clinic and in their protocols but he was always patient with answering my questions and listening to my concerns. I am someone who wants to understand everything that's going (so that I can then let go and trust the process) so it was helpful that he was willing to answer questions and talk through things. It's clear to me that he really wants his patients to feel both physically and emotionally healthy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Trust him but ask questions. He'll patiently answer them and put you at ease.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Molinaro at RMA of New Jersey?
Out of all the doctors I've worked with at four different clinics Dr. Molinaro is the only one that provided his direct email address and was reachable by phone without having to go through many people. When things were time sensitive, Dr. Molinaro always replied to emails promptly (usually within the same day) or called back on the same day. I was able to put my trust in Dr. Molinaro which was a relief after the experiences I had with doctors at other clinics.
Describe the protocols Thomas Molinaro used in your cycles at RMA of New Jersey and their degree of success.
We did an Antagonist protocol with estrogen priming which included Estrace for 10 days (during the luteal phase) leading up to CD1. Low dose HCG starting on CD1, Gonal F (or Follistim) starting on CD3, Ganirelix (or Cetrotide) starting on CD8, Omnitrope (HGH) for last few days before retrieval.
- The rational for estrogen priming with Estrace was to facilitate a more gradual and coordinated growth of follicles.
- The low dose-HCG is a much less expensive alternative to Menopur. We were given the option of Menopur or low dose HCG and we picked low dose HCG because of the cost (and had better results).
- The Gonal F (or Follistim) was used to stimulate the follicles to grow
- The Ganirelix (or Cetrotide) was used to prevent ovulation while stimulating.
- The Omnitrope (HGH) was an add-on (optional) which we added to improve egg quality. The jury is still out on it but we had success in the two cycles where we used it (and failure in the 2 cycles where we didn't) so I think it's worth trying.
With this protocol we had more eggs retrieved, more fertilized eggs, more blasts, and more PGS/CCS euploid embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Beth)
Beth is highly competent, organized, knowledgeable, and responsive. When we met with her at the consultation she provided her direct email address and direct phone number so I knew I could always reach her if I need to. She has been great at answering our questions and walking us through the process and guiding us on what to expect every step of the way. She has been supportive of us through the ups and downs, the worries, the hopes and the fears. When Beth is not available or out of the office the other nurses have also been responsive and communicative. RMA-NJ is a well oiled machine and you never feel like you're treatment is slipping through the cracks. Everyone on the team knows what's going on.
Describe your experience with RMA of New Jersey.
RMA-NJ's greatest strength is that they are successful. At the end of the day this should be the number one factor in choosing a fertility clinic. But as you peel back the onion you realize that they are successful because they are uniquely strong in so many areas.
Some strengths:
- Excellent at communication (via phone and email)
- Centralized records that the medical team can access so that information is shared
- Innovative: They conduct research and trials so they are always pushing for innovation and new approaches,
- Convenient: They have a lot of locations in NJ and you can monitor at any of them
- Flexible: This is so important if you are out of state, like we were. They will work with you and make the process seamless
- Excellent doctors
- Competent, knowledgeable, and organized nurses
- CCS/PGS lab in house (they donated the CCS lab that they developed to a non-profit and it's located at their headquarters)
- Highly skilled embryologists
Minor weaknesses:
- I don't love their email system but this is a problem with many clinics. It worked out ok for us though.
- There isn't an online portal to get results information and I like to have all the information during my cycles so that I can follow along. My nurses were happy to provide this to me though. I wouldn't want to trade interaction with my doctors and nurses for a portal, though.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of New Jersey.
Monitoring at RMA is quite early in the morning (6-7:30 am) which was sometimes hard for us because we were coming from out of state and typically arriving very late at night the night before. But, early mornings are an integral and expected part of the IVF process so we adapted. Monitoring appointments were very organized and well run and wait times were much shorter than I experienced at other clinics. During our treatment cycles we went to many RMA locations for monitoring and experienced this same level of efficiency.
Describe Thomas Molinaro's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New Jersey.
With PGS/CCS euploid embryos our clinic transfers one embryo
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