Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
Dr. Robinson is very evidenced based, which I prefer so he may not agree or recommend some of the "fertility treatments (homeopathic)" that are said or could possibly improve fertility. But, if you have questions, ask. He will never make you feel stupid for asking. Or if there is something you want to try with your protocol, ask. He is always open to talking through things.
The [UT Medicine Fertility Center] clinic is one of the least expensive, if not THE least expensive in my area but with the type of care and coordination you receive from the providers and staff, you wouldn't know it. I have always received quality care from the UT Health and am happy to continue my journey with them. They have become an extension of my family over the last 8 months and I feel so fortunate to have found such a caring and compassionate team.
How was your experience with Randal Robinson at UT Medicine Fertility Center?
Dr. Robinson is not only smart and genuine, he is also very caring and compassionate. He is able to deliver good and bad news in ways that make you understand. Although the clinic has a busy case load, Dr. Robinson ensures he spends as much time with his patients as needed. I did not always see him for monitoring appointments but all of the providers at UT are amazing. I knew that Dr. Robinson was always behind the scenes making any necessary changes to protocols. He ensured he was the one that would do my egg retrieval and my embryo transfer. In my opinion, those are two very special moments during the process.
Dr. Robinson takes time to get to know his patients so he is able to best provide a good treatment plan. Options are provided and he explains potential risks and benefits, answers questions but ultimately left decisions up to me. He would always give his professional opinion but would never push any procedures or extras that weren't absolutely needed for my specific case.
He always thoroughly explained next steps and I never felt lost or had any misunderstandings with my protocols. I would 110% recommend Dr. Robinson to anyone looking for a warm provider with amazing bedside manner, who is not only very smart but also very patient as well.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Randal Robinson at UT Medicine Fertility Center?
Dr. Robinson is very evidenced based, which I prefer so he may not agree or recommend some of the "fertility treatments (homeopathic)" that are said or could possibly improve fertility. But, if you have questions, ask. He will never make you feel stupid for asking. Or if there is something you want to try with your protocol, ask. He is always open to talking through things.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Randal Robinson at UT Medicine Fertility Center?
Dr. Robinson and his nursing staff have some of the best bedside manner I have ever encountered with any provider. I work in healthcare and provide an high level of service to my patients and when I see a provider, I expect the same. Dr. Robinson and his team do just that. They go above and beyond to ensure that the patient (and partner) understand all recommended treatments as well as other possible options. Dr. Robinson always involved myself and my husband in our care and spent time with us answering questions. We never felt rushed and always left appointments feeling confident in next steps and the reasoning why we were doing something.
Dr. Robinson's staff of nurses are simply incredible. They provide a genuine, kind, and encouraging environment. They are there through the good, the bad, and the ugly. They celebrate with you and the mourn with you. All questions or concerns that may arise after appointments or in between appointments are answered quickly and with detail. They never made me feel like I was a bother or asking too many questions and, in fact, encouraged me to continue to ask questions, even if I thought that they didn't really matter.
Before my first retrieval, I was tested for COVID as part of the standard protocol. This was the day before my scheduled ER. Unfortunately, my test came back positive although I was completely asymptomatic. Obviously my retrieval was cancelled but Dr. Robinson went out of his way that same night and made a personal phone call to me. He offered to restart the cycle, without charging me (outside of the cost of medication, which he had no control over) once my isolation was over and my COVID had cleared. I went on to have a very successful retrieval a couple months later.
Dr. Robinson understands how important, stressful, emotional, and expensive infertility can be. He understands that we are people and not simply funding for the clinic. The clinic is one of the least expensive, if not THE least expensive in my area but with the type of care and coordination you receive from the providers and staff, you wouldn't know it. I have always received quality care from the UT Health and am happy to continue my journey with them. They have become an extension of my family over the last 8 months and I feel so fortunate to have found such a caring and compassionate team.
Describe the protocols Randal Robinson used in your cycles at UT Medicine Fertility Center and their degree of success.
I used a generic pharmacy out of Houston to save on cost. I was given options of overseas, name brand, or the generic.
I had a good AMH (5.3) for my age (39) so he prescribed microdose HCG and FSH. I stimmed for about 5 days before adding Ganirelex. I triggered on day 8 and had my retrieval on day 10. He was able to retrieve 16 eggs, 12 fertilized normally, and we were able to get 6, day 5 blastocysts and one, day 6 blastocyst. (4 good, 3 fair)
Describe your experience with your nurse at UT Medicine Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Yalanda)
There are no words to describe how thankful I am for all the staff. They answer questions on the portal, on average within a couple of hours. They have NEVER made me feel bad for asking so many questions and actually encourage it. They understand that this whole process is emotionally, financially, and physically exhausting. They truly care for their patients and genuinely want a positive outcome for their patients. They are always so understanding and caring and always know what to say. I have always felt so comfortable with them and love that they celebrate my wins and mourn my losses. They have become and extension of my family and I always look forward to seeing them.
Describe your experience with UT Medicine Fertility Center.
Before I was a patient, I had a very difficult time getting in touch with someone to answer my questions. This turned me off at first but I was encouraged to set up a consultation by people who received treatment at UT. I am so glad I did. After I became a patient of Dr. Robinson, communication was NEVER an issue. Making appointments and getting in touch with the staff was always very easy.
I will say that there was one fee that I was charged unexpectedly. I take blame for part of that because my insurance isn't the easiest to understand. I received a bill for a second HCG from Quest. Had I know I would be charged, I would have gotten the blood draw from my PCP.
Other fees that I did have to pay, I was notified about several days prior to the appointment so there were no surprises. They don't hide the cost of their services, so just ask.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Randal Robinson at UT Medicine Fertility Center.
The IVF bundle was $6,000. This included all monitoring, retrieval, and one transfer. I think the price has gone up to $6250 since 1/1/22. ICSI, freezing, and storage were all additional costs. ICSI is required for PG testing. Biopsy fees were $2000 to the clinic and additional cost to Cooper Genomics. After successful transfer, viability scans are $284 for self pay.
Describe Randal Robinson's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at UT Medicine Fertility Center.
This was something that was discussed with Dr. Robinson at my initial consultation. We weren't sure if we wanted to test our embryos so we agreed that if we did not, we would transfer two non-tested embryos. Because we opted to not test, we transferred two. I asked Dr. Robinson to choose the two that we transferred and he and the embryologist choose the two to transfer. We opted for 2 due to my age.
What specific things went wrong at UT Medicine Fertility Center?
- Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at UT Medicine Fertility Center.
After my retrieval, I received a day 1 and day 3 call at around 11:30 am both times. I was told I would be called on day 5, which was a Saturday. (The clinic is open on Saturday) By noon, I had not received a call but assumed it was because they were probably on a skeleton crew and would call me a little later. By 3pm, no call. So I sent a portal message. I did not receive a call or message on day 5 but on day 6 my nurse did message me through the portal and apologized. They received the embryologist report late and that's why I wasn't notified. I would have preferred to have been told I would be called day 5 OR 6 so I wasn't so anxious waiting for that call but I did appreciate the message on a Sunday.