Joseph Sanfilippo
UPMC Magee
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Nurse email
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Not available by personal cell phone
Medical SchoolRosalind Franklin U
ResidencySUNY
FellowshipU of Louisville
Youngstown
900 Sahara Trail
Youngstown, OH 44514
412-641-1000
Bower Hill
1082 Bower Hill Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
(412) 641-1600
Magee
300 Halket St., Suite 5150
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 641-1600
Wexford
9000 Brooktree Rd.
Wexford, PA 15090
(412) 641-1600
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14 assessments
2
3
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
2
3
[Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo] wanted me to start weight watchers and did a full blood work up. Nothing was concluded from the blood work....He just told me to lose weight. He looked at my chart and said it could be endometriosis but he didn’t want to test for it as I have a severe reaction to some anesthesia and he did not want to risk it...He then wanted me to begin with an aggressive letrozole dosage for an iui cycle. We also did vaginal sonograms and HSG...I only saw Dr. Sanfillipo once during 3 years of treatment. Everything was automated. I felt like they were running a machine and I was just another part going through the steps...He did not give me any insight as to why I was infertile. He wanted me to try iui and see what happened.
Doctor Nps
The nursing staff [at UPMC Magee] was my main point of contact. They are the best thing about the clinic but again I just felt like a number and I was being rushed through the process like everyone else...The cost was higher than their clinics. An iui cycle out of pocket was around $1800 with all medication and testing...The clinic was very easy to find. I like the use of the app to communicate quickly. The clinic was clean. The semen donation room was more like a suite and was very comfortable for my husband. I was seen quickly after signing in and never had to wait more than a few minutes in the waiting room.
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
2
3
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
I only met with him once in three years. He just told me to lose weight. He looked at my chart and said it could be endometriosis but he didn’t want to test for it as I have a severe reaction to some anesthesia and he did not want to risk it.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Do not get your hopes up. Be prepared to feel like you are being processed. He did not give me any insight as to why I was infertile. He wanted me to try iui and see what happened.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
I only saw Dr. Sanfillipo once during 3 years of treatment. Everything was automated. I felt like they were running a machine and I was just another part going through the steps.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
Dr. Sanfillipo wanted me to start weight watchers and did a full blood work up. Nothing was concluded from the blood work. He then wanted me to begin with an aggressive letrozole dosage for an iui cycle. We also did vaginal sonograms and HSG.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff was my main point of contact. They are the best thing about the clinic but again I just felt like a number and I was being rushed through the process like everyone else.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic was very easy to find. I like the use of the app to communicate quickly. The clinic was clean. The semen donation room was more like a suite and was very comfortable for my husband. I was seen quickly after signing in and never had to wait more than a few minutes in the waiting room.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
The cost was higher than their clinics. An iui cycle out of pocket was around $1800 with all medication and testing.
Describe Joseph Sanfilippo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at UPMC Magee.
None.
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10
10
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
5 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
10
Dr. Sanfillipo and his staff have always been wonderful. Dr.Sanfillipo is always kind and takes the time to make sure he answers any questions you have... is always very thorough in all of my appointments. He is also very candid about any health risks that I might encounter during treatments, which I appreciate. He never makes me feel like any of my questions are stupid...Healthy diet and weight is very important to him...I am currently trying to lose weight before we try the clomid again with IUI. Dr. Sanfillipo did not recommend injectables without IVF for me due to the high number of immature follicles on each of my ovaries during my 5 cycles. I found this frustrating at times but I appreciate that safety is always his number one concern.
The nursing staff [at UPMC Magee] is fabulous. I am not easy to draw blood from and they would remember me. One nurse in particular was better at getting blood from me and she always made sure to grab me. Everyone is very kind...I have not had any bad experiences with this clinic. From billing to staff, everything has been great. It can be difficult to get to with traffic. It's in the city, so you just never know how long it takes to get there. They have always been understanding when I've been stuck in traffic. They also work around my work schedule.
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
5 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfillipo is always very thorough in all of my appointments. He is also very candid about any health risks that I might encounter during treatments, which I appreciate. He never makes me feel like any of my questions are stupid.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Healthy diet and weight is very important to him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfillipo and his staff have always been wonderful. Dr.Sanfillipo is always kind and takes the time to make sure he answers any questions you have.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
We used femara with an ovidrel shot for 4 cycles without ovulation. We then tried 1 clomid/ovidrel cycle during which I did have one small follicle and ovulation, but did not get pregnant. I am currently trying to lose weight before we try the clomid again with IUI. Dr. Sanfillipo did not recommend injectables without IVF for me due to the high number of immature follicles on each of my ovaries during my 5 cycles. I found this frustrating at times but I appreciate that safety is always his number one concern.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff is fabulous. I am not easy to draw blood from and they would remember me. One nurse in particular was better at getting blood from me and she always made sure to grab me. Everyone is very kind.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
I have not had any bad experiences with this clinic. From billing to staff, everything has been great. It can be difficult to get to with traffic. It's in the city, so you just never know how long it takes to get there. They have always been understanding when I've been stuck in traffic. They also work around my work schedule.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
With my insurance, each femara cycle was roughly $150.00. My initial testing was around 500.00
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0
0
Age
—
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IUI, 7 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
0
0
He [Dr. Sanfilippo] did not take the time to review my extensive infertility records prior to our visit. Despite my going through IVF elsewhere 6 prior times (I had moved from another state), he went the basics of IVF with me. He did not provide any personalized care and I felt he was reciting a script that he uses for all his patients, but especially for first time IVF'ers. He was a poor communicator and I would not recommend at all.... He had not even reviewed my records beforehand.
They [UPMC Magee] lacked compassion and knowledge. They may be ok for someone trying IVF for the first time. However, be prepared to advocate for yourself and play phone tag with the staff....Nursing was highly variable. I will say that I had one good experience with a nurse, who was kind and compassionate. However, more of my interactions were negative where the nurses made it feel like I was bothering them.... They were not knowledgeable and felt they were disorganized.
Age
—
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
—
Income
—
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 7 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
0
0
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo was not knowledgeable compared to other RE's that I have worked with. He was not compassionate or willing to take ownership of his patients. It was a very impersonal visit with him reciting what seemed like a script. He had not even reviewed my records beforehand. It was an overall terrible experience. I would never do an IVF cycle with him or his staff. I had a special request, and they were unable to make any accommodations despite the circumstances. They definitely did not show any compassion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Go elsewhere if you can.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
He did not take the time to review my extensive infertility records prior to our visit. Despite my going through IVF elsewhere 6 prior times (I had moved from another state), he went the basics of IVF with me. He did not provide any personalized care and I felt he was reciting a script that he uses for all his patients, but especially for first time IVF'ers. He was a poor communicator and I would not recommend at all.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
He gave me very generic recommendations, and did not provide specifics at our consultation because he did not even formulate a plan.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Nursing was highly variable. I will say that I had one good experience with a nurse, who was kind and compassionate. However, more of my interactions were negative where the nurses made it feel like I was bothering them. They were not knowledgeable and felt they were disorganized. They were slow to call back, and sometimes never called back.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
I have cycled 2 other places for IVF, and would NOT recommend this clinic. They lacked compassion and knowledge. They may be ok for someone trying IVF for the first time. However, be prepared to advocate for yourself and play phone tag with the staff.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
n/a
Describe Joseph Sanfilippo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at UPMC Magee.
n/a
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
27 - 30
Treated
2016 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
10
Dr. Sanfilippo has amazing bedside manner. ... He also will go over your history at each visit to make sure HE stays caught up on changes and refreshes his memory for any specifics to you and your case. ... He takes the time needed at EACH visit to go over everything and always makes sure he answers any questions you have. He sees hundreds and it's refreshing to know he always has YOU on his mind during your visit.
They [UPMC Magee] are amazing all around. I have never had a bad experience there and I see them quite often. You are not a number and you should never be treated like one. Don't settle for less than you deserve. ... The ladies [nurses] in the office are always pleasant. They are organized and get everything situated before you're called back so that you may see your doctor as soon as they're able. ...
Age
27 - 30
Treated
2016 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo has amazing bedside manner. He takes the time needed at EACH visit to go over everything and always makes sure he answers any questions you have. He also will go over your history at each visit to make sure HE stays caught up on changes and refreshes his memory for any specifics to you and your case. He sees hundreds and it's refreshing to know he always has YOU on his mind during your visit.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Listen to him. He knows what he's doing. Do all the tests, they ARE necessary and he will find a treatment plan suited to you and your needs. He has a positive pregnancy test as his main goal when it is yours.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo is always very attentive to us. He sees hundreds of patients and had never treated us like a number. He realizes that each case and couple are unique and different in their needs/treatment and you can see he truly believes it.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
First you will have a sit down consultation with him and potentially one of his partners. He will go over your previous history and what you wish to accomplish in his care. He orders a full panel of blood work depending on your case (you'll also find out your blood type!). He then ordered a sonohysterogram (SHG) to check on uterus health. From there, he ordered a Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check on Fallopian tubes and more detailed uterus health. After all results, he goes over them with you during a follow up and together you make a plan of treatment. He then prescribed timed intercourse with either clomid or letrozole. We would do a few treatments of that and if nothing worked, we would do some monitored cycles with ultrasounds and continue from there.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The ladies in the office are always pleasant. They are organized and get everything situated before you're called back so that you may see your doctor as soon as they're able.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
If you have infertility, this is a GREAT place to get answers. They are amazing all around. I have never had a bad experience there and I see them quite often. You are not a number and you should never be treated like one. Don't settle for less than you deserve.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
Costs are average to above average for infertility treatments. He bills appropriately, it really depends on your insurance and what is covered. This is not his fault.
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10
10
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS, Other
10
10
When we started this process i was diganosed [by Dr. Sanfilippo] with endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. So I had to go see the oncologist before we could move on with my fertility treatment. After treatment for my precancer and lots of biopsies I got the ok to go back to the fertility treatments but only have 6 months to try...He goes though everything and explains everything that needs to be done, hes never in a rush to get to the next patient and always makes dure we understand evevything...
The nurses [at U of Pittsburgh] are always going above and beyond for us. When I call with questions they always have the reassuring answer for us...We recieved a paper with all the costs the day we went in for our fertility treatment, everything was very clear...As a patient I have been extremely happy with everything about this facility, not only did he find my precancer but treated it and I'm now on my way to fertility treatments...The entire staff tgere is so caring, and explains everything in great detail.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
He goes though everything and explains everything that needs to be done, hes never in a rush to get to the next patient and always makes dure we understand evevything. But its not just Dr. Sanfilipo but his entire staff that works together, if we have questions we cab call anytime and get an answer that same day, and we always have lots of questions. If tests need to be completed they always have room for us. The entire staff if so caring and we definitely aren't just a number in the patient world, we are there to help make our dream come true of having a baby and he is there to do everything in his power to make it happen. When we started this process i was diganosed with endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. So I had to go see the oncologist before we could move on with my fertility treatment. After treatment for my precancer and lots of biopsies I got the ok to go back to the fertility treatments but only have 6 months to try. This would be an absolute dream for us to get this grant and make our dreams come true.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Ask questions, they are there to give you the answers your looking for.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
The entire staff tgere is so caring, and explains everything in great detail.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nurses are always going above and beyond for us. When I call with questions they always have the reassuring answer for us.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
As a patient I have been extremely happy with everything about this facility, not only did he find my precancer but treated it and I'm now on my way to fertility treatments.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
We recieved a paper with all the costs the day we went in for our fertility treatment, everything was very clear, yet, very expensive.
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8
9
Age
17 - 29
Treated
2004 - 2016
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
9
When I would meet with him [Dr. Sanfilippo], he always had a good handle of my diagnosis and never confused me with other patients. He never seemed rushed to leave and move on to his next appointment. He is always willing to listen and answer all of my questions...I'm 29 with diminished ovarian reserve as a result of multiple surgeries to remove ovarian cysts..., I was told that my chances of success with a second IVF were less than 10%, but he understood I was still young so he would be willing to try again if I wanted to. He said it was time to start thinking about donor eggs as the alternative. I ended up deciding to use donor eggs and we are in this process right now.
Strengths- they [UPMC Magee] treat a lot of patients with complex diagnoses. They are honest about success rates and available options. They are willing to let you take lead on treatment if you really feel strongly. Weaknesses- communicationing with your doctor directly is very limited. They treat a lot of patients so beyond your care coordinator, most staff may not remember you...My care coordinators were always very accessible and available to answer my questions via email or phone...A single IVF cycle was around $12,000 plus medication. Donor IVF was $16,000 plus medication.
Age
17 - 29
Treated
2004 - 2016
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
9
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
He answers all of your questions honestly and without judgement. He is always willing to explain his thought process behind his choice of treatment. He's shown compassion when I've shown signs of pain during a procedure.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Don't be afraid to ask him anything and everything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
When I would meet with him, he always had a good handle of my diagnosis and never confused me with other patients. He never seemed rushed to leave and move on to his next appointment. He is always willing to listen and answer all of my questions.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
I'm 29 with diminished ovarian reserve as a result of multiple surgeries to remove ovarian cysts. We started with IUI since I was still young, but Sanfilippo made it clear he thought IVF would be our best bet. The IUIs failed.I was told to be cautiously optimistic once it was time for IVF. He chose a protocol designed for poor responders, but it didn't work. My cycle was canceled due to low response. Next, I was told that my chances of success with a second IVF were less than 10%, but he understood I was still young so he would be willing to try again if I wanted to. He said it was time to start thinking about donor eggs as the alternative. I ended up deciding to use donor eggs and we are in this process right now.
Describe your experience with your nurse at UPMC Magee. (Assigned nurse: Marti )
My care coordinators were always very accessible and available to answer my questions via email or phone.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
Strengths- they treat a lot of patients with complex diagnoses. They are honest about success rates and available options. They are willing to let you take lead on treatment if you really feel strongly.
Weaknesses- communicationing with your doctor directly is very limited. They treat a lot of patients so beyond your care coordinator, most staff may not remember you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
A single IVF cycle was around $12,000 plus medication. Donor IVF was $16,000 plus medication.
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7
6
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
18 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
7
6
Dr. Sanfilippo made sure to give details about your procedure and had a good bedside manner...He took into account all of our prior history and agreed that our best course of action was IVF. The only negative I have to say about Dr. Sanfilippo is his support staff is not good or organized which made our experience at the facility negative... listens to your concerns and will put you on a path that is specific to your needs. He did listen when we told him that we had been doing fertility treatments for years and just wanted to go straight into IVF without having to do anymore IUIs or medication cycles.
There were a ton of nurses on the nursing staff [at UPMC Magee] that made it difficult to ever see the same nurse twice...very unorganized and sometimes wouldn't even look at your chart before they spoke to you... I told the nurse I hadn't had a recent ultrasound and discovered they were using an old ultrasound to make decisions during the IVF cycle...The clinic is clean and capable of providing adequate care. Our experience there is not a good one. During our IVF, we had 31 eggs retrieved, 20 were mature and only 1 fertilized. The clinic didn't perform ICSI and at the time I had no idea what that was. I didn't fee like they were very aggressive in their approach.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 4 Docs
Treatment
18 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
7
6
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo was a great doctor who was unfortunately surrounded a poor support staff. Dr. Sanfilippo made sure to give details about your procedure and had a good bedside manner. We unfortunately had a lot of bad experiences at UPMC, but Dr. Sanfilippo was the only reason we kept going back. If Dr. Sanfilippo was at any other clinic, we wouldn't hesitate to see him again.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo listens to your concerns and will put you on a path that is specific to your needs. He did listen when we told him that we had been doing fertility treatments for years and just wanted to go straight into IVF without having to do anymore IUIs or medication cycles. He took into account all of our prior history and agreed that our best course of action was IVF. The only negative I have to say about Dr. Sanfilippo is his support staff is not good or organized which made our experience at the facility negative.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
There were so many nurses on staff nobody had any idea who you were even though I was in the clinic all the time. If you wanted to get in contact with a nurse, you had to call the "nurses line" and leave a message and wait for a call back from whichever nurse decided to call. The nurses never knew who you were, so if you don't keep detailed notes on your cycle, medication, ultrasounds, etc., the probability of the nurses knowing where you are in your cycle is slim.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
Dr. Sanfilippo suggested IVF with menopur and follistem injections. I was monitored with ultrasounds and bloodwork. The support staff (nurses) didn't perform an ultrasound and kept using an old one to determine future protocols. Once I realized what was going on, I brought it to their attention and they immediately got me in for a "fresh" ultrasound to monitor.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
There were a ton of nurses on the nursing staff that made it difficult to ever see the same nurse twice. In my experience, the nursing staff was very unorganized and sometimes wouldn't even look at your chart before they spoke to you.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic is clean and capable of providing adequate care. Our experience there is not a good one. During our IVF, we had 31 eggs retrieved, 20 were mature and only 1 fertilized. The clinic didn't perform ICSI and at the time I had no idea what that was. I didn't fee like they were very aggressive in their approach.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
My husband and I had a ton of bloodwork done and the cost was really high. The IVF was very expensive, but probably around the same as the national average.
Describe Joseph Sanfilippo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at UPMC Magee.
Dr. Sanfilippo was willing to do a multiple embryo transfer, however I only had one embryo to transfer.
What specific things went wrong at UPMC Magee?
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
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10
10
Age
31
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr. Sanfilippo was extremely thorough in explaining every step of the process for IUI's and IVF. He may have been a little more clinical in how he handled things but he always had our best interest in mind. He would also take into consideration our thoughts or requests during each cycle. When we found that we were receiving conflicting information from the time of our appointments to the time the nurses would call us with protocols my husband and I were ready to change doctors. When Dr. Sanfilippo found out about this he called me directly to address my concerns and we did not have a problem after that...
The [U of Pitt - Magee] clinic in general runs really well. As long as you are prepared for what can be a long road, the staff can become like a second family to you. After being with this clinic for awhile you get very spoiled in the fact that you get all your blood work on site as well as calls back each day with results. All retrievals and transfers are done in the same office as well which is nice because you work with the same faces that you have become familiar with. The only thing that was frustrating at times is that if you need to call the nurse line for a quick question, you have to leave a message and wait for a call back every time...
Age
31
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. Sanfilippo was extremely thorough in explaining every step of the process for IUI's and IVF. He may have been a little more clinical in how he handled things but he always had our best interest in mind. He would also take into consideration our thoughts or requests during each cycle. When we found that we were receiving conflicting information from the time of our appointments to the time the nurses would call us with protocols my husband and I were ready to change doctors. When Dr. Sanfilippo found out about this he called me directly to address my concerns and we did not have a problem after that.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Going into the appointment, know that he is very detailed in clinical terms.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
It was more with the nurses not being on the same page as Dr. S.. When this would happen I would get conflicting information which then made me feel like my specific case was not being taken into consideration. From this, I felt like I was receiving generic treatment.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
For the first IVF cycle we went with the lowest dose of medication which resulted in only 1 embryo that made it to freeze. For the second IVF, Dr. Sanfilippo increased the medication which resulted in 6 frozen embryos that made it to freeze. Unfortunately I do not remember the amounts of each medication.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Initially, the biggest problem we ran into was that we were not receiving the protocol for what we had discussed with the doctors. After that was addressed we did not run into any problems and each cycle was run extremely well without issue.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic in general runs really well. As long as you are prepared for what can be a long road, the staff can become like a second family to you. After being with this clinic for awhile you get very spoiled in the fact that you get all your blood work on site as well as calls back each day with results. All retrievals and transfers are done in the same office as well which is nice because you work with the same faces that you have become familiar with. The only thing that was frustrating at times is that if you need to call the nurse line for a quick question, you have to leave a message and wait for a call back every time.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
Before insurance each ultrasound was around $500. Medications for an IVF cycle were around $4,000 before insurance. A total IVF cycle with medications, retrieval, transfer is around $14,000 - $15,000 before insurance. Frozen embryo storage is around $500 per year.
What specific things went wrong at UPMC Magee?
- Provided conflicting information
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3
5
Age
38
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
3
5
Dr. S [Sanfilippo] clearly has a very busy schedule. My partner and I felt very rushed through our consultation and did not get thorough answers to any of our questions. I felt like rather than explaining treatment options to me and tailoring treatment to me as an individual, we were given binders and pamphlets to review on our own-with no opportunity for follow up....Dr. S does not have a very warm bedside manner and doesn't do a great job of listening or providing individualized care.
The clinic [UPMC] is located in a womans hospital, which is a welcoming atmosphere. They made a few errors with my treatment; forgetting medicines, poor or misleading instructions, allergies, etc. They also struggle with timely and clear communication. Again, they're very busy and it causes some issues.... All of the nurses are kind and compassionate. It can be very hard to get ahold of someone and even if you leave a message, they often do not get back to you for several days.
Age
38
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
3
5
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. S does not have a very warm bedside manner and doesn't do a great job of listening or providing individualized care. He comes across as very skilled, but as a new patient, I felt lost and like I was bothering him to ask questions or take up his time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Have a list of questions ready and do your research PRIOR to an appointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr. S clearly has a very busy schedule. My partner and I felt very rushed through our consultation and did not get thorough answers to any of our questions. I felt like rather than explaining treatment options to me and tailoring treatment to me as an individual, we were given binders and pamphlets to review on our own-with no opportunity for follow up.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
All of the nurses are kind and compassionate. It can be very hard to get ahold of someone and even if you leave a message, they often do not get back to you for several days.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic is located in a womans hospital, which is a welcoming atmosphere. They made a few errors with my treatment; forgetting medicines, poor or misleading instructions, allergies, etc. They also struggle with timely and clear communication. Again, they're very busy and it causes some issues.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
Still adding them up
What specific things went wrong at UPMC Magee?
- Lost paperwork
- Lost appointments
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Lost results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Tubal Blockage
10
10
Great experience with Dr Sanfillipo. He shows compassion and takes his time explaining everything. He explains things in ways for someone not in the medical field can understand, which I've found some doctors have difficulty doing. He took his time and listened to all of my questions and concerns. I never felt like I was asking a dumb question...Dr S took his time to explain every detail of our diagnosis and our best options. He was not in a rush to get out of the door. He was there to answer all questions and was very compassionate towards us
Be prepared to leave messages with every phone call [at UPMC Magee]. It's better to leave detailed messages so they can have answers for you when they return the call...Medications were 4K IVF was 12k...Dr S took his time to explain every detail of our diagnosis and our best options. He was not in a rush to get out of the door. He was there to answer all questions and was very compassionate towards us...We liked him so much we are sticking with him for round two.
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Tubal Blockage
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Great experience with Dr Sanfillipo. He shows compassion and takes his time explaining everything. He explains things in ways for someone not in the medical field can understand, which I've found some doctors have difficulty doing. He took his time and listened to all of my questions and concerns. I never felt like I was asking a dumb question. Yes, our first round was not successful but had nothing to do with him. My body did not respond the way we were hoping. We liked him so much we are sticking with him for round two.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand. He will take the time to explain everything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Dr S took his time to explain every detail of our diagnosis and our best options. He was not in a rush to get out of the door. He was there to answer all questions and was very compassionate towards us
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
Be prepared to leave messages with every phone call. It's better to leave detailed messages so they can have answers for you when they return the call.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
Medications were 4K
IVF was 12k
My insurance does not cover fertility treatments.
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5
5
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2010 - 2011
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
5
5
Depending on the fellow assisting Dr. Sanfilippo I felt more like a human. However, the entire proves was very much impersonal.... liked that he was honest, but did not like that my multiple miscarriages could not be explained as all my tests came back normal. Eventually, only after going through IVF treatment did we discover that the issue was Luteau Phase Defect and that the solution was simply to inject myself during the first trimester of pregnancy with progesterone.
The clinic [UPMC Fertility] is located at Magee. It is clean and easy to access....There is a large nursing staff used by a number of doctors. They tend to get to know the patients and as they do they warm up to us, but it takes a while....Depending on the fellow assisting Dr. Sanfilippo I felt more like a human. However, the entire proves was very much impersonal.
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2010 - 2011
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
5
5
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
I liked that he was honest, but did not like that my multiple miscarriages could not be explained as all my tests came back normal. Eventually, only after going through IVF treatment did we discover that the issue was Luteau Phase Defect and that the solution was simply to inject myself during the first trimester of pregnancy with progesterone. It was a lot of heartache to reach this conclusion, but ultimately I am now a mother of 1 and 9 months pregnant with my second. Both naturally conceived and maintained by injecting progesterone during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Leave no stone unturned, the simplest of solutions could be overlooked by the providers as they tend to focus so much on the more complicated factors.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Depending on the fellow assisting Dr. Sanfelippo I felt more like a human. However, the entire proves was very much impersonal.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
There is a large nursing staff used by a number of doctors. They tend to get to know the pacients and as they do they warm up to us, but it takes a while.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic is located at Magee. It is clean and easy to access.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
The costs are expensive, but luckily my insurance covered most of it.
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5
0
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
5 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
5
0
He [Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo] has good bedside manner and did treat us with much respect. I feel like he didn’t look into much more than it’s just unexplained infertility. After my Ivf failed and I miscarried the response was it was just bad luck we should try again. But we simply couldn’t afford it.
The nurses [at UPMC Magee] were rude and not very compassionate...Around 15k for Ivf and 2500 for each iui...The clinic does have an acupuncturist who is amazing and a great help to have on this journey. Appointments are typically early and there isn’t much wait times for lab draws and ultrasounds. The front desk staff can be rather rude...He [Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo] has good bedside manner and did treat us with much respect. I feel like he didn’t look into much more than it’s just unexplained infertility. After my Ivf failed and I miscarried the response was it was just bad luck we should try again. But we simply couldn’t afford it.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained, Other
5
0
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
He has good bedside manner and did treat us with much respect. I feel like he didn’t look into much more than it’s just unexplained infertility. After my Ivf failed and I miscarried the response was it was just bad luck we should try again. But we simply couldn’t afford it.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nurses were rude and not very compassionate.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
The clinic does have an acupuncturist who is amazing and a great help to have on this journey. Appointments are typically early and there isn’t much wait times for lab draws and ultrasounds. The front desk staff can be rather rude.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee.
Around 15k for Ivf and 2500 for each iui
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
26
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
We met with [Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo] only twice and I dealt with the nurses most of the time during my procedures and treatment...took time to explain my diagnosis and gave me the treatment options. He gave me time to ask all my questions and heard what I said and cleared all my doubts...I have PCOS and I was suggested to try Aggresive Letrozole IUI as it was the effective one
I went to UPMC Maggee Clinic and they were very good in taking care of the patients. I was treated good. Appointments were scheduled properly. I didnt have any mess up in that. Not much wait time. You have a self check in option and not much wait time...I dealt with the nurses most of the time during my procedures and treatment. They were so compassionate. When I have any questions I give them a call and they called me back within 1-2 hours from my call and clarify all my doubts.
Age
26
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Joseph Sanfilipo took time to explain my diagnosis and gave me the treatment options. He gave me time to ask all my questions and heard what I said and cleared all my doubts. I met him only twice and I dealt with the nurses most of the time during my procedures and treatment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Ask lot of questions. Don't hesitate in clearing your doubts. He will give you time to ask all your questions. Be prepared with all your questions before the appoinment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
Joseph Sanfilipo took time to explain my diagnosis and gave me the treatment options. He gave me time to ask all my questions and heard what I said and cleared all my doubts.
Describe the protocols Joseph Sanfilippo used in your cycles at UPMC Magee and their degree of success.
I have PCOS and I was suggested to try Aggresive Letrozole IUI as it was the effective one
Describe your experience with your nurse at UPMC Magee.
We met with Joseph Sanfilippo only twice and I dealt with the nurses most of the time during my procedures and treatment. They were so compassionate. When I have any questions I give them a call and they called me back within 1-2 hours from my call and clarify all my doubts.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
I went to UPMC Maggee Clinic and they were very good in taking care of the patients. I was treated good. Appointments were scheduled properly. I didnt have any mess up in that. Not much wait time. You have a self check in option and not much wait time
What specific things went wrong at UPMC Magee?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to convey critical information
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9
9
Age
32
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
9
9
I had scheduled a consultation, but with vivid19 was worried that it would be stalled indefinitely. I got a call from the nurse to set-up a video appointment even early then the originally scheduled. The dr [Sanfilippo] was knowledgeable and was able to walk me through the process including the next steps with us being in the current situation with covid19 and the stay home order in my state....I have a clear understanding of the upcoming steps and the nursing staff responded quickly to questions I had later.
They [UPMC] were able to adapt to tele health in light of covid19. I have not been to the facilities as of yet, but I am looking forward to it once the situation with covid19 situation clears up enough to allow me to and to move on to the next steps... I had scheduled a consultation, but with vivid19 was worried that it would be stalled indefinitely. I got a call from the nurse to set-up a video appointment even early then the originally scheduled. The dr [Sanfilippo] was knowledgeable and was able to walk me through the process
Age
32
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
9
9
How was your experience with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
I’m just getting started in the process, but the dr. Seems knowledgeable and competent. I I’m very hopeful that the process will be successful. I have a clear understanding of the upcoming steps and the nursing staff responded quickly to questions I had later.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Sanfilippo at UPMC Magee?
I had scheduled a consultation, but with vivid19 was worried that it would be stalled indefinitely. I got a call from the nurse to set-up a video appointment even early then the originally scheduled. The dr was knowledgeable and was able to walk me through the process including the next steps with us being in the current situation with covid19 and the stay home order in my state.
Describe your experience with UPMC Magee.
They were able to adapt to tele health in light of covid19. I have not been to the facilities as of yet, but I am looking forward to it once the situation with covid19 situation clears up enough to allow me to and to move on to the next steps
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