How was your experience with Emily Evans-Hoeker at Carilion Clinic?
When asking questions, at times, Emily would not give a concrete answer. It seemed she would recommend one option, and then turn around and recommend a different option as best. This left the patient confused and feeling as though an expert, professional opinion was not given on which way to continue treatment. Often, it felt as though she were just reciting book facts or giving generalized statements, and not focusing and relating information on you as the individualized patient. Lastly, it seemed that she had too many commitments and was pulled in too many different directions. I did have an appointment have to be rescheduled by the office due to it conflicting with a lecture commitment she had. Last treatment cycle, I also called on the day of my cycle to continue with another round of an IUI with injectables. The scheduler tried to schedule me too late in my cycle than what is recommended for injectables. I questioned this, and the scheduler put me on hold to verify. I was correct, and the scheduler confirmed this, but informed me that I would not be able to continue with this, as Emily was going to be out on vacation and the provider filling in was not qualified to perform monitoring and IUI with injectables. I was told I would have to sit this month out due to this and wait and continue next month. I was devastated and felt this was not acceptable treatment and was very insensitive to those battling infertility, as timing each month is crucial and patients count down to this obsessively. I finished the phone call, barely holding back the tears. I was later called and told Emily had been contacted and said I could go back to oral medication this cycle and continue injectables next time. However, this was not my treatment plan or optimal for me, as this treatment option had been unsuccessful many times and oral medications caused cysts for me. She recommended moving on from this, as it was not best for me, but when was not available wanted to revert back to something that was not working for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emily Evans-Hoeker at Carilion Clinic?
Ask many questions and continue asking until you get a definite answer/one you are comfortable with, and be sure you are alright with seeing an RE at a clinic with only one RE. So, when she is out of the office different providers may have to see you, often times one who is just an OBGYN and not an RE.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emily Evans-Hoeker at Carilion Clinic?
Front staff (especially Celia) were friendly, respectful, and encouraging. However, it always seemed there were too many patients in and out like an assembly line for one RE. Sometimes, it seemed the RE had to be reminded of your individual treatments, as though your care wasn't reviewed before appointments, or the RE was treating too many to keep track of each couple's care.
Describe the protocols Emily Evans-Hoeker used in your cycles at Carilion Clinic and their degree of success.
I tried Clomiphene Citrate with plans of following with an IUI. However, at my midcycle scan, she stated that I ovulated early and it was too late for an IUI to be completed. After that, I moved on from Clomid to Letrozole with plans for IUI. Many cycles I tried 2 Letrozole pills (2.5 mg each) with IUI. No positive pregnancy test resulted. I then tried Tamoxifen, which did not result in a positive result either. I then tried Letrozole (2.5 mg) 3 pills a day. No positive result achieved either. Many times the oral medication caused cysts to form; many treatment cycles had to be cancelled and no fertility medications taken due to cyst formation. I also had to take birth control many months to try to get rid of the cysts. I tried one cycle with Gonal-F and IUI. This also resulted in a negative pregnancy test.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Carilion Clinic.
The nursing staff were friendly and warm. I personally got the feeling they were rooting for a positive outcome for you, more than I felt
it from the RE.
Describe your experience with Carilion Clinic.
This clinic needs more than one RE on staff, maybe even one that worked and was available for procedures on weekends.
Overall, wait times were not horrible; however, there were sometimes when the wait time was 30 minutes or more.
The office atmosphere did seem clean, but could have been more personalized and not so impersonal feeling.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emily Evans-Hoeker at Carilion Clinic.
My insurance did not cover fertility related costs. Each scan was $163. Each IUI was $260. My last round of injectable medications cost almost $800.
What specific things went wrong at Carilion Clinic?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Carilion Clinic.
When first scheduled with this clinic and for my first IUI, I saw Leslie Peterson NP. However, I scheduled my appointment next cycle and showed up for this appointment and was told she no longer worked there, and that Emily Evans-Hoeker RE would now be handling my care. I feel the professional handling my care was critical information and if changed, I should have been notified. Emily informed me that letters should have been sent out but had not yet. I did end up receiving one many weeks later.
Also, I was blindsided by calling to continue with Gonal-F and IUI only to be told I could not do so that month due to Emily being out of the office, and the provider filling in was not qualified to do this. To me, the clinic and RE owe it to patients to make sure this does not happen and a qualified professional is at the clinic to provide each patient with appropriate and designated care at all times. Those dealing with infertility know how devastating the waiting and hoping are each month.