[Dr.] Sacks has a huge ego and when we mentioned we wanted to see Dr David in NY about immunological issues and adjunct alternative care, Sacks flipped out and was very rude to us. He is a good doc, but the ego comes with, and he is closed to immunological issues.
The [Columbia] office staff could care less about patients...if you are 42 or over, go to NY. DC labs can't handle older eggs. Check the SART stats to confirm my statement.
How was your experience with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. sacks is one of the best in DC. I would probably send people to Dr. Abbasid instead since she does immunological issues. Two big problems here: sacks has a huge ego and when we mentioned we wanted to see Dr David in NY about immunological issues and adjunct alternative care, Sacks flipped out and was very rude to us. A very bad experience. Second, if you are 42 or over, go to NY. DC labs can't handle older eggs. Check the SART stats to confirm my statement.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
See Dr. Abbasi instead, or prep yourself for a big ego and stupid, irrelevant conversations about restaurants and the fancy private club Sacks belongs to.... He is a good doc, but the ego comes with, and he is closed to immunological issues. Also, he thought I had a blocked tube while two other docs looking at the same photos disagreed with.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
The office staff could care less about patients. The doctor was good at first. Not later.
Dr. Sack's is willing to provide detailed information, response to questions, he'll respond to emails, he had endless consultations with me. I don't have any complaints about Dr. Sacks....The nursing staff seems overburdened. They frequently fail to return phone calls, to follow up with test results or to call with time sensitive information like when to begin medication.
I trust Dr. Sacks and that's the clinic's [Columbia Fertility Associates] primary strength from my perspective. They are not well organized at all....The nursing staff seems overburdened. They frequently fail to return phone calls, to follow up with test results or to call with time sensitive information like when to begin medication.
How was your experience with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sack's is willing to provide detailed information, response to questions, he'll respond to emails, he had endless consultations with me. I don't have any complaints about Dr. Sacks.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sacks does a good job of treating patients like humans, but the staff - both nurses and administration are completely incompetent. The routinely fail to call with directions about next steps for medications or results from tests.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Columbia Fertility Associates.
The nursing staff seems overburdened. They frequently fail to return phone calls, to follow up with test results or to call with time sensitive information like when to begin medication.
Describe your experience with Columbia Fertility Associates.
I trust Dr. Sacks and that's the clinic's primary strength from my perspective. They are not well organized at all.
What specific things went wrong at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sacks listened to what I had to say and was completely realistic with treatment options - he did not encourage me to proceed with treatments that were unnecessary. He gave me his email address which was wonderful and he personally responded to emails!...
You will not see him at every visit [at Columbia - DC], but trust that the nurses know what they are doing...
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
You will not see him at every visit, but trust that the nurses know what they are doing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sacks listened to what I had to say and was completely realistic with treatment options - he did not encourage me to proceed with treatments that were unnecessary. He gave me his email address which was wonderful and he personally responded to emails!
Describe the protocols Preston Sacks used in your cycles at Columbia Fertility Associates and their degree of success.
My treatment was very limited. I took chlomid and he monitored my ovaries during the process so that we timed intercourse correctly. It was very easy and worked!
Because he [Dr. Sacks] always took the time to talk, and worked within my natural cycle instead of pumping me full of hormones so I could be on his schedule... He clearly knows his stuff, and is confident in his work. We trusted him. The only thing is that he talks a whole lot!
I only had to wait once or twice. VERY efficient... I thought she [our nurse] was cold and disinterested. Other nurses were fantastic... he [Dr. Sacks] always took the time to talk, and worked within my natural cycle instead of pumping me full of hormones so I could be on his schedule.
How was your experience with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
He clearly knows his stuff, and is confident in his work. We trusted him. The only thing is that he talks a whole lot!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
be patient with his chitchat
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Because he always took the time to talk, and worked within my natural cycle instead of pumping me full of hormones so I could be on his schedule.
Describe the protocols Preston Sacks used in your cycles at Columbia Fertility Associates and their degree of success.
I don't remember but we only had to do one cycle and it was extremely successful
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia Fertility Associates. (Assigned nurse: Wendi)
I thought she was cold and disinterested. Other nurses were fantastic
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Columbia Fertility Associates.
I only had to wait once or twice. VERY efficient.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates.
Dr. Sacks very much knows what he is talking about, I just wish he would take the time to explain things to me as the patient. Infertility is a whole new (and scary!) experience for me, and it would have been nice to have had a full and complete understanding of what was going on, especially going through 4 failed cycles...Bring a notebook with questions. Otherwise, your appointment will last ~2 minutes and you'll have no idea what to expect next.
[Columbia Fertility Associates] Strengths - the phlebotomist is excellent. Warm, friendly and the only part of my appointments that I didn't mind. Weaknesses - AWFUL communication across the board. Rude front desk associates. Constantly made to feel like my questions were annoying. Can take days to get a return call even if you'll "hear from the nurse later today." Take your money and do not care.
How was your experience with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sacks very much knows what he is talking about, I just wish he would take the time to explain things to me as the patient. Infertility is a whole new (and scary!) experience for me, and it would have been nice to have had a full and complete understanding of what was going on, especially going through 4 failed cycles.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Bring a notebook with questions. Otherwise, your appointment will last ~2 minutes and you'll have no idea what to expect next.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
My doctor and nurses were constantly rushing out of the room without explaining ANYTHING that was happening. I had a chemical pregnancy and no one even bothered to walk me through what that was and why it may have happened to me. It was also impossible to ever have communication in-between visits.
Describe the protocols Preston Sacks used in your cycles at Columbia Fertility Associates and their degree of success.
Clomid and Ovidrel shot with timed intercourse, then bumped to Clomid and Ovidrel shot with IUI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Columbia Fertility Associates.
Awful communication. These folks are supposed to be the ones you can talk to and get answers from, but when you're actually able to get them on the phone you are rushed off as soon as possible. Always was made to feel like I was annoying them or wasting their time.
Describe your experience with Columbia Fertility Associates.
Strengths - the phlebotomist is excellent. Warm, friendly and the only part of my appointments that I didn't mind.
Weaknesses - AWFUL communication across the board. Rude front desk associates. Constantly made to feel like my questions were annoying. Can take days to get a return call even if you'll "hear from the nurse later today." Take your money and do not care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates.
IUI was ~$1,600 per cycle. My insurance does not cover most fertility treatments.
Describe Preston Sacks's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia Fertility Associates.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Columbia Fertility Associates.
Twice I had to be the one to call in for my bloodwork results, instead of having them call me. I also ended up starting Clomid on my own because the nurse failed to call me back on the day she was supposed to walk me through the process. I also requested my paperwork be mailed to me and am now at 3 weeks of waiting for that to happen - said it should be 3-5 days.
I believe that Dr. Sacks applies treatment strategies and protocols on an individualized basis...With me, he measured my AMH for several years and kept track of my fertility. When I felt ready to start treatments he presented various options to me (IUI, IUI with chlomid, IVF) and which were better suited to me. I followed his advice completely and became pregnant quickly...is an incredible, warm, kind and knowledgeable physician. Throughout the many years that he has been my doctor he has always treated me with respect and compassion. He has a positive attitude and a realistic outlook. He always takes the time to explain any procedures, possible outcomes and risks. I feel very fortunate to be under his care. I can tell that his staff like him and rely on his expertise as well. As a result of his treatment, I became pregnant.
The clinic [Columbia Fertility Associates] is very well located, center of DC and clean. The staff is very professional and accommodating for appointments. I found the nursing staff to be knowledgeable and quick to respond to emails and questions...I had an excellent experience as a patient of Doctor Sacks. He is kind and knowledgeable and caring. He always takes the time necessary to address any concerns and possible outcomes. I have always felt very informed and heard. My impression is that his experience is not simply limited to infertility issues, but general health and well-being of his patients. He really cares, there is no doubt.
How was your experience with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
I had an excellent experience as a patient of Doctor Sacks. He is kind and knowledgeable and caring. He always takes the time necessary to address any concerns and possible outcomes. I have always felt very informed and heard. My impression is that his experience is not simply limited to infertility issues, but general health and well-being of his patients. He really cares, there is no doubt.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
You can trust Dr. Sacks. He has your best interest at heart.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates?
Dr. Sacks is an incredible, warm, kind and knowledgeable physician. Throughout the many years that he has been my doctor he has always treated me with respect and compassion. He has a positive attitude and a realistic outlook. He always takes the time to explain any procedures, possible outcomes and risks. I feel very fortunate to be under his care. I can tell that his staff like him and rely on his expertise as well. As a result of his treatment, I became pregnant.
Describe the protocols Preston Sacks used in your cycles at Columbia Fertility Associates and their degree of success.
I believe that Dr. Sacks applies treatment strategies and protocols on an individualized basis. I feel this way because I know several women who have been treated by him, each with different needs and constitutions, and each were treated according to those needs. With me, he measured my AMH for several years and kept track of my fertility. When I felt ready to start treatments he presented various options to me (IUI, IUI with chlomid, IVF) and which were better suited to me. I followed his advice completely and became pregnant quickly.
Describe your experience with Columbia Fertility Associates.
The clinic is very well located, center of DC and clean. The staff is very professional and accommodating for appointments. I found the nursing staff to be knowledgeable and quick to respond to emails and questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Preston Sacks at Columbia Fertility Associates.
