How was your experience with Tanmoy Mukherjee at RMA of New York?
To be honest I didn't really feel like a patient of Dr. Mukherjee's. I saw/spoke with him only a hand of times and it was mainly to receive bad news, when a cycle failed. I do not feel like I developed a patient/doctor relationship with Dr. Mukherjee given the amount of time spent together and lack of personalized attention to my case. He is a nice person, very well experienced in the field, and he will answer questions if you have them but he (and RMA) seem to be very set on their standard mode of operations. I think Dr Mukherjee / RMA is fine if you fit into their standard protocol but not so if you need personalized attention.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tanmoy Mukherjee at RMA of New York?
Ask him how often you will see him, how he will determine your course of treatment, what will be the next steps if the current treatment fails, and then decide if it is going to be a good fit for your needs and expectations.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tanmoy Mukherjee at RMA of New York?
I think this is more a result of the clinic I visited than the doctor. I was recommended by my OBGYN to go to RMANY. RMA has great numbers, they see probably thousands of patients, they have a system set up to get you in and out the door, on a protocol, and processed. It's like a machine, somewhat well oiled, with the exception of their finance department which seems in a bit of disarray. I think being just another number is okay if the protocol works for you, and it does for many. I have a friend and also my OBGYN that have had success for RMA. Unfortunately this was not the case for me and I feel like I could have done with more specialized attention and personalized protocol.
Describe the protocols Tanmoy Mukherjee used in your cycles at RMA of New York and their degree of success.
I went through 3 retrievals with Mukherjee. The first protocol he used was the antagonist protocol, which is surprising to me as I've read it is for poor responders or people with PCOS, of which I am neither. The second protocol was antagonist with estrogen priming. Those first 2 cycles resulted in no viable embryos for transfer. The third protocol was down regulation, which I've read is the place where most doctors start but he said is "old technology". I ended up with 1 viable embryo (which ultimately ended up in a chemical pregnancy). During the 9 month period I was under his care I probably saw or spoke to him 5 times. He likened the first 2 unsuccessful attempts to bad luck. After the 3rd unsuccessful cycle he's referred me to a reproductive immunologist since my infertility is still "unexplained". For this I am thankful because I feel like I might be able to find some answers. I think Dr Mukherjee and RMA is fine if you fit into their standard protocol but not so if you need personalized attention.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I spoke with so many nurses here and the experience really varied dependent on who you spoke with. I think all the nurses seemed competent. They provided clear instruction 95% of the time and would be willing to provide you with information if you asked. They would not automatically provide you with information such as embryo grading, so you sort of need to know what to ask for. I get the impression that the clinic sees so many patients that they are just trying to manage their time.
Describe your experience with RMA of New York.
This clinic sees a lot of patients. If your concern is efficiency and you don't require personalized attention or protocols then this place is fine. The monitoring hours are good. There are several locations so monitoring isn't so much a chore. They work with several pharmacies that offer good prices, some which will even deliver your meds to you. They get you in and out so you can get to work on time. If you're expecting to talk to someone as a matter of course in your treatment, or to see the same person throughout your treatment, this is not the place for you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tanmoy Mukherjee at RMA of New York.
Approximately $9K for retrieval, $5K for transfer, $2K for PGD, $2K for PGD administrative fee, $750 for anesthesia, $5K for medications
Describe Tanmoy Mukherjee's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of New York.
The doctor told me that they do not transfer more than 1 embryo at a time but when I was waiting to have my transfer I heard him say to the couple next door that they were having 2 embryos transferred. If you undergo genetic testing they will always discourage you from transferring more than 1 embryo at a time.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of New York?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy