How was your experience with Daniel Potter at HRC Fertility?
Strengths: intelligent, high success rates, skill
Weakness: lack of compassion, lack of time, consistently late (staff members had even candidly shared this with me), poor response time, flat affect.
Dr. Potter has opened a Infertility Clinic in China in the past year. As a result, I believe he is spread “way too thin”. Procedures and communication, that I believe should be done and or shared by an MD is instead done by his staff. Considering the amount of money I have paid to the clinic, I had higher expectations. For example, I had questions for Dr. Potter at one point and was told I could not communicate with him because he was in China. Another example, I had very sensitive PGS testing results, and his ultrasound tech delivered the results rather than him. Another time, I paid an additional $100 for a 15 minute meeting with him (in which he was an hour late for), regarding a treatment plan for which I had already paid $20k+ for. These instances made me feel that his primary interest was money making vs me as a patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Daniel Potter at HRC Fertility?
He is an intelligent infertility specialist. However, do not expect that he will ever be on time, you will always wait at least an hour or more with every encounter with him. Do not expect hand-holding, or compassion. He is a bookish, matter-of-fact type. Communication in my opinion is poor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Daniel Potter at HRC Fertility?
With every encounter I had with Dr. Potter, he was at least 1+ hour late (consultation, surgeries, personal meetings). During our initial encounter (consultation) he failed to make eye contact, introduce himself, and the facility. We had selected him anyway, because he discussed a treatment plan that I felt was custom to my situation, and with that I was impressed. At one point, I intentionally called him out for being late, and I did not receive an apology, rather a poor excuse. Despite my dissatisfaction, I still proceeded with care as I told myself, I didn’t care about bedside manner as long as I had results. I also felt that I didn’t have a choice but to proceed as I had already made an out of pocket cash payment in full.
Describe the protocols Daniel Potter used in your cycles at HRC Fertility and their degree of success.
I had a uterine septum Dr. Potter corrected prior to any egg retrievals or potential transfers, with good outcome.
He initiated a insulin resistant/metformin protocol, even though my GTT yielded normal results. This was in response to me yielding a low number of eggs during the first retrieval. It did not improve the outcome for my second retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at HRC Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Natalija Matic )
Natalija was my care coordinator, but not a nurse. She was an ultrasound tech. She seemed skilled and knowledgeable in her role. However, I also felt she was “spread way too thin”. Her role overlapped with that of Dr. Potter. I think a lot of what should be his responsibility fell onto her lap, just simply because he didn’t have the time for it. I actually never worked with a nurse from the clinic (only surgery center) during my whole treatment there.
Describe your experience with HRC Fertility.
Communication is adequate. Better than Dr. Potter’s response time. They are compassionate and apologetic for Dr. Potter’s consistent tardiness. They are proficient in their roles.
Sometimes communication is great and sometimes it is very poor. For example, one time I had a time sensitive question, and did not get a response until the next day. I felt that it should not have been my responsibility to follow up, but had I not, I would not have gotten the information I needed.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Daniel Potter at HRC Fertility.
Approx $20k for 2 retrievals, transfer, labs and US
$2k for hysteroscopy/septal repair
Approx $8-10k for medications
Describe Daniel Potter's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at HRC Fertility.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at HRC Fertility?
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at HRC Fertility.
Most recently, I had requested medical records be sent to my primary physician, using the correct “authorization to release medical info” form. I faxed the form and specifically spoke with someone who said they would handle it within 2-5 business days. 2 months later, my physician had not received it. Upon my second follow up call, it was finally sent over.
Another time, about 5 months ago, I was sent an outside lab bill in which I had paid OOP. The finance department said they would follow up and call me back. A week later I did not receive a call. I filed a concern to the manager of the department regarding the follow up. This issue still has not been resolved.