How was your experience with Steven Palter at Gold Coast IVF?
Dr. Palter was a great doc to start. He was compassionate and treated us as humans and patients, initially. He was statistical, which I liked because that is how my brain thinks. He was honest, and we truly believe if he was skeptical about something he would tell us.
However as time went on and more and more people started coming to him, he started to appear more and more stressed and overextended. He hired another doc, who we LOVED (Dr.Maslow), but then she left shortly after. When we decided to go with an egg donor, we were required to see HIS psychologist, who when researched turned out to be his sister (but she removed her maiden name at some point so people did not know there was a connection). It was such a conflict of interest, and in addition we had to pay out of pocket for her service.
Obviously, we received the ultimate gift with our daughter resulting from treatment, however I would not recommend this office any longer as it has become what others are - a factory.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Steven Palter at Gold Coast IVF?
He will probably get you pregnant, however, the path to get there will most likely be like all of the other clinics - a factory.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Steven Palter at Gold Coast IVF?
When we first started with Dr.Palter, he and his staff were amazing. Ypu didnt even have to sign in, you were immediately recognized and greeted happily. It felt different than the previous doctor. Phone calls were returned when we were told they'd be and questions were answered regardless of time. However, when we reached our 2nd cycle, we felt less and less valued, and that the office was getting "too big for their own good." Things were slipping through the cracks, phone calls were not being returned. Things felt less compassionate.
Describe the protocols Steven Palter used in your cycles at Gold Coast IVF and their degree of success.
1 IUI with clomid
1 iUI with Femara?
Microdose flare protocol IVF
Gonal F to stim
Menopur
Lupron to delay ovulation
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Gold Coast IVF.
The nursing staff was great. Th ey were compassionate and although overextended they did their best to keep things organized. During our initial time, the nurses were more friendly and seemed to love their job but as time went on it seemed as though they were burning out. Phone calls were being forgotten and their general demeanor seemed to be changing. However, if I were to recommend this office on nursing staff alone, I would.
Describe your experience with Gold Coast IVF.
Strengths: compassionate nurses, Dr.Palter is constantly learning and basing treatments on new research, involved in research, at first I did not believe our treatment was cookie cutter like other clinics
Weaknesses : clinic becoming too big, less personal treatment by doctors and staff, less organized, things slipping through the cracks
Describe the costs associated with your care under Steven Palter at Gold Coast IVF.
First 3 cycles of IVF covered 75% after 6 iUI treatments failed.
Paid out of pocket for egg donor cycle 24,000
What specific things went wrong at Gold Coast IVF?
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Lost results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Scheduled the wrong procedure