Michael Lydic

You don’t get to see the doctor a lot you deal with more of the nurses. Some nurses are there for a check and some are pretty good at they do and can tell they love what they do . A lot of times we did have to ask about the next steps and what was going on being that we’ve never done it before . But after the first cycle you pretty much get it . Weaknesses is the communication is all thur a portal you barely talk to somebody direct unless you go in for your ultrasounds and IUI/IVF. They don’t hound you on payments .

They were all very nice and compassionate. We really liked how optimistic and hopeful they are. This process can be so draining that’s it’s nice to have them always so positive and reassuring every time we came in. The only issue we had was once during an iui the nurse didn’t tell financial office to send in a prior authorization when they made the appointment. Luckily, finance office caught it and took care of it so it was still covered by insurance. The only other issue we ever had was couple times it took them a bit to respond to emails but that rarely was an issue for us.

In the face of “unexplained infertility”, I looked at multiple practices in the KC for guidance. Ultimately, KU was able to get us in the quickest. My husband works for KU so we both felt confident in the institution. Due to COVID, our initial meeting with the physician was via TH. He had a PowerPoint that seemed generic but provided a baseline understanding of options. I was instructed to come to the clinic for an initial ultrasound and lab work. I completed the US and was waiting to get my labs drawn when I received a notification via the app (the primary way the clinic communicates) that an additional lab was ordered. I asked the sonographer and the lab personal as to why but neither were able to provide insight. I was instructed to message the nurses via the app…I WAS SITTING IN THE CLINIC! I should have known then that communication was going to be a challenge but again, my husband works for KU and we think highly of the institution. After a failed medicated cycle and IUI, I messaged the nurses (messaging the doctor isn’t an option on the app), and asked for insight. The message I received back from the RN was the plan for another IUI cycle. There was no regard for my request, simply a med plan for a second IUI cycle. In reviewing the cycle, there was a med I had never heard of added. Because in the initial meeting (which for the record, was the only time we communicated with the physician in the 3.5 months we utilized the practice), the doctor had never mentioned this med, I sent a message and asked if I could get a call to get clarity. I wanted to understand what the med does, why it was ordered, and any side effects I should be aware of. I am a RN so I didn’t think it was too much to ask to receive basic education regarding a medication. When the RN called, she sounded annoyed. I understand it was a Sunday. I too was on-call for my nursing job so, I understand that it can interfere with one’s personal life but, that comes with being on-call. The nurse did explain what the medication does but when I asked why it was prescribed (did you notice something last cycle that indicated this med should be added or, is it is just the next medication in the toolbox), the nurse responded “it’s just what the doctor ordered.” I understand the essence of unexplained infertility, but I think it is a patients prerogative to understand why, even if the answer is “this is just the next shot in the dark.” I completed the cycle as prescribed and when I went in for IUI, this time a NP did the procedure (the first time, it was done but an RN). While there, I asked the NP if we could ask some questions. She was open to answering my questions and I thanked her saying “the communication hasn’t been the best and I just want to make sure that I understand my plan of care.” She became defensive and told me I should have messaged the nurses if I had questions. I told I did and she immediately said, “it is the volume of patients that we have here….years ago, I did everything from the counseling to the ultrasounds to the labs and now there is a sonographer, a lab tech, the nurses and things fall through the cracks because there are so many patients.” She proceed to tell me that she has “been doing this for a long time” and I, “ just need to trust the process because she is reviewing my records all the time.” Mind you, this encounter was the first time I had ever met, let alone communicated with, the NP. My husband equated the clinic to making us feel like cows being cycled through. That was my last straw. KU may be able to get to you in sooner than other practices in KC but, if you are looking for a fertility practice where you are valued as a patient, where discussion regarding your specific plan of care is ongoing, and where your questions are welcomed, I would encourage you to consider alternative options.

It is a clean clinic, easy to find, and most things are done through the patient portal, which I love. I will say it is fairly busy, so I liked to schedule early so it was not backed up. In addition, I always saw things and equipment getting wiped down as well as plenty of offices for examinations.

The clinic is well run. Every member of the staff I have met was full of love and empathy, and were there to hold your hand through really tough waters. Something I did not enjoy was that the main form of communication is through an online portal, so urgent matters can sometimes be lost.

The clinic as a whole is extremely clean and well maintained, the staff is usually very nice. The only thing that I would complain about is the check in process could use some updating to help things move a little smoother.

All clean, friendly staff, easy in and out. They seem just as compassionate as the nurses and Dr. Lydic. I have seen them help out with other patients young children and it is nice to have a staff there who cares.

They are timely, informative, and friendly. I can't say enough positive things about this clinic. I never had any negative situation from the time I checked in, to the time I left. The first visit I had, I knew I had phone he doctor I would continue to see until I had a successful pregnancy!

The clinic was very well organized. In general, you did not have very long waits. Sometimes earlier in the week, you might have a longer wait, due to everyone playing catch up from the weekend. The receptionist and front desk staff were friendly and genuinely caring about what is going on with the patients.

The clinic appointments are always on time and the receptionist at check in is very sweet. The clinic has fairly good business hours and I can usually get an appointment within a reasonable amount of time. Lab is onsite at one clinic location.

Strengths: very organized, good communication among team, a caring group of people all around Weaknesses: appointments were easy enough to book, but often booked out for several weeks/months for a consult

This clinic is AMAZING. Everyone here is SO friendly and caring - you aren't just a number. 10 out of 10 stars. If I ever had any questions, I sent a message through the patient portal and always heard back so quickly. When we had the transfer to our surrogate - everyone was so kind and caring.

They have great protocols in place during Covid -19. I do feel like their office is “crammed” and not the most warm inviting place but then again you don’t want to spend your whole day there but also want it to be comforting.

This clinic is respectful of the patients time and the wait time is minimal. Appointments are available on short notice and they will do their best to work around a time that is convenient for you. They are also open on Saturdays.

Overall I liked the clinic. They were always on time and were sensitive to my needs. They did struggle with having a lot of moving parts and there were a few things missed. I did appreciate that they utilized my insurance for what they could and provided pricing up front for the items that were not covered.

Pros: efficient at getting you scheduled and once you are in the system, it is a very smooth process with appointments and scheduling. Cons: you feel a little bit like a number. You don't see the same nurses every time and you'll talk to your RE maybe a 2-3 times during a cycle. Communication is always through a digital portal which adds to the feeling of distance -- like you can't talk to a real person when you have questions.

I never had to wait very long to be seen for appointment times at all. Getting lab work done in the clinic was quick and easy as well. I liked that the ER, Transfer, monitoring appointments, and blood work was all in the clinic. Most communication is on the portal, so if you’re a person who likes to call or communicate over the phone, it may be harder to get ahold of them. The ER care was very warm and welcoming! They made sure that I was well taken care of and comfortable.

This clinic is "professional" in the best sense. They seem to have clear processes in place that help patients through the treatment process. From in-take through treatment, I felt like they knew what was going on with my care and I didn't need to worry that I might be "falling through the cracks." I also appreciated that this clinic was connected to a university research hospital. That seemed to make a difference for my care as my doctor offered a brand new diagnostic test that hadn't even come to market yet, but that the clinical staff had recently had education on. The impression I got is that the clinic as a whole is dedicated to keeping up with the cutting edge of research and clinic practice, which I really appreciated.

The clinic is a great place to visit and receive treatment. The staff and doctors are very friendly and helpful. I appreciated receiving a quick pregnancy “tutorial” from the nursing staff before I was released from their care.

The clinic was great - Everyone is SO nice and it was so comforting going to a clinic where it is so easy to get in touch with the staff anytime you need anything. And they are so quick to respond which makes it even nicer.

My clinics strengths are timely responses to questions and very kind staff. The doctors are knowledgeable. My clinics weakness is making patients feel like a number at times. Care does not always feel personalized.

The clinic is easy to access right off a major highway. They do book out pretty far, so just be aware. They will have the first consult via video just to talk history and a plan of attack. I didn’t even visit the clinic until after we finished our first cycle of meds and were being seen for a sonogram scan to measure follicles. The only time I actually saw or spoke to the Dr was at the initial consult. Every other contact was a nurse or sonographer.

This clinic's strengths are communication, empathy, and process. The one weakness was that I had to deal with a lot of insurance problems on my own with little help from the clinic. They sent out a sheet of costs before insurance and I was basically on my own when issues came up outside of prior authorization.

Some people do not like the portal communication approach so I would be sure new patients understood that's their communication strategy. It worked for us and I do not consider it a weakness. The staff all around is their greatest strength. Everyone - front desk staff, the lab techs, the ultrasound techs, the nurses, and the doctors - were all great to us and extremely helpful. Scheduling treatment can sometimes be further out then you would like it to be, but that is out of most people's control, especially when getting treatment during Covid.