How was your experience with Jaime Vasquez at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN?
He is from South America so he is slightly difficult to understand at times but I feel like he knows that so he was careful to speak clearly and slowly when explaining things.
He doesn't get right "done to business" when you meet with him. He takes time to make sure you're comfortable, chit chats for a while about himself and his family, which I appreciate because I believes that build trusts. He also asks friendly and honest questions, which even further builds trusts.
He's a Christian, which I didn't know beforehand but that definitely sealed the deal for us. At the same time, he only became open about that after we told him we were Christian so I don't think he would push his beliefs as such on anyone.
He considered our thoughts and opinions on different matters but was firm in telling us his scientific opinions, which helped us decide on a few things.
His bedside manner is spot on.
He talks quiet a lot and pauses for thought and affect.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jaime Vasquez at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN?
Don't open up a conversation if you're interested in getting out of his office fast. And don't ask too many questions about his stories... He's a sweet man but he'll talk your hear off!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jaime Vasquez at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN?
As a nurse myself, I know how patients can blend together and how necessary it is and sometimes more difficult it is to make sure to put forth the extra effort to treat a patient like a human and not a number.
Once I became an IVF patient, even though I saw several people during my visits, I had the contact number of one person - the IVF coordinator - who I knew I could call anytime. She was the person who made all of my appointments for us, she did all of our education, and she was who called us with the great news after the transfer.
When she called to check in tell me my numbers from that day's tests and or change my dosage, I never had to remind her of what was going on with me. She remembered my history, my present, and my goals. I know she had 10+ patients at that same time, yet she made me feel like I was her one and only.
Also, Dr. V himself took careful and generous time to speak with me every time I was at the clinic for anything other than an egg count and blood draw. Not only did he answer all my questions, he made sure I felt comfortable before jumping right into "business as usual". I never felt like I was being rushed around.
Years later, we're back again for our another cycle, trying to conceive our second child, and I saw the birth announcement up on the wall that I sent them from our first child. Framed and everything. I know birth announcements are all over the walls there (main reason I mailed them one!) but it still made me feel special to see my own son's announcement.
Describe the protocols Jaime Vasquez used in your cycles at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN and their degree of success.
Unfortunately, it was almost 3 years ago when we were going through our first cycle for our first child (we're starting our first cycle with our second child in May), so I don't remember a lot of specifics. A lot of injections. A lot of needles. A lot of blood draws and ultrasounds. 33 eggs were removed. 18 were fertilized, 11 embryos were successful. We transferred 2 fresh embryos and froze the other 9. One embryo took and our son just turned 2 years old on April 1st, 2017!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN.
One nurse handled the small initial stuff each visit: weight, blood pressure, etc. She was sweet, fast, and efficient.
Then a tech would draw my blood. Best sticker I've ever had! Thank goodness too because I had so many blood draws, I couldn't keep count!
Then an ultrasound tech performed my egg count ultrasound. She was very respectful and gentle. She took careful time counting and measuring so I was confident in her findings.
Then my IVF coordinator would call by the end of the day to tell me my numbers from that day's visit and tell me my dosage change if there was one (Dr. V would review my numbers and change my dosage as necessary). She would then tell me when I needed to come back for another round of blood draws and ultrasound. She was always efficient because she had plenty more patients to call, but made sure I understood the dosage I would be taking that night and the following day. I was never left questioning my next move.
Describe your experience with The Center for Reproductive Health of TN.
No weaknesses! I honestly can't think of anything I would change about the clinic overall - unless it would be to move it closer to my town! It's currently 2 hours away.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN.
Monitoring appointments were very efficient and well planned out. The longest I had to wait was 15 minutes but I was usually in there and out within 15 minutes!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jaime Vasquez at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN.
One cycle, without genetic testing, including all medications and supply as well, costs about $18,000 when it was all said and done.
Describe Jaime Vasquez's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Center for Reproductive Health of TN.
Dr. V highly suggested transferring at least 2 embryos. The embryologist at Dr. V's clinic doesn't allow transferring less if genetic testing wasn't performed. We didn't do genetic testing in 2014 so we did in fact transfer 2 embryos. This time (May 2017) we did have the genetic testing done on all 9 remaining embryos and are only transferring 1, which is allowed.