I think we only saw Dr. Ratts maybe twice out of the many many visits that we made there. And I don't know that we ever actually spoke to her on the phone in between visits....She just was very hard to get ahold of, and I felt like she really didn't know that much about us or really want or try to get to know us personally. And I definitely didn't feel a lot of compassion from her.... Dr. Ratts was nice, and was pretty informative our very first visit,
The clinic [Wash U ] was not great at all honestly. We definitely felt like a number there... The nurses, other than Mary...were incredibly hard to get a hold of! The billing people were almost impossible to talk to you unless of course they were trying to get money from you... And making an appointment was very very difficult! Honestly, the receptionist was the best thing about the whole place!... Good news or bad news Mary was the one to call us.
How was your experience with Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
Dr. Ratts was nice, and was pretty informative our very first visit, but we really never saw her again after that. She just was very hard to get ahold of, and I felt like she really didn't know that much about us or really want or try to get to know us personally. And I definitely didn't feel a lot of compassion from her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
Be prepared to see her one time and one time only.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
Not necessarily a number, but probably definitely not a human either. I think we only saw Dr. Ratts maybe twice out of the many many visits that we made there. And I don't know that we ever actually spoke to her on the phone in between visits.
Describe the protocols Valerie Ratts used in your cycles at Washington University School of Medicine and their degree of success.
We did a couple rounds of oral medications, none of which were successful. So then we switched to injectables, and did an IUI cycle. It was successful but unfortunately ended in miscarriage.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Washington University School of Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Mary)
Mary was our nurse throughout our whole treatment Journey with Dr. Ratts. And honestly she felt more like the doctor than Dr. Ratts. If something changed, Mary was the one to call us. Good news or bad news Mary was the one to call us. And Mary was actually the one who performed our IUI. She was a very good nurse, and very very knowledgeable. Not necessarily super compassionate, but very smart and knowledgeable and informative.
Describe your experience with Washington University School of Medicine.
The clinic was not great at all honestly. We definitely felt like a number there... The nurses, other than Mary...were incredibly hard to get a hold of! The billing people were almost impossible to talk to you unless of course they were trying to get money from you... And making an appointment was very very difficult! Honestly, the receptionist was the best thing about the whole place! She was so sweet, and knew both my husband and my name every time we walked in. She learned little things about us and would always ask us personal questions, in a good way...about our life and just was always so kind and friendly. If she was the doctor, nurse, or represented everyone else in the clinic, I would give this place a 10 out of 10!
Describe Valerie Ratts's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Washington University School of Medicine.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Washington University School of Medicine?
I completed three rounds of letrozole and two rounds of Clomid with follicle scans under the care of Dr. Ratts. I never ovulated on any of these cycles. Dr. Ratts said I could either pursue IUI or IVF, but she would recommend IVF if I was going to spend the money. After all of my failed treatment cycles, I didn't have any direct communication with her. All messages were relayed through her nurse, which was frustrating...
The [Wash U - CWE] office setting is conveniently located, clean, and professional. Dr. Ratts usually runs behind schedule so plan on waiting to be seen...I rarely received results from labwork or scans without calling the office, leaving a message, and waiting for a return phone call. Return calls were not very quick and could sometimes take over 2 days...
How was your experience with Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
I completed three rounds of letrozole and two rounds of Clomid with follicle scans under the care of Dr. Ratts. I never ovulated on any of these cycles. Dr. Ratts said I could either pursue IUI or IVF, but she would recommend IVF if I was going to spend the money. After all of my failed treatment cycles, I didn't have any direct communication with her. All messages were relayed through her nurse, which was frustrating.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
Do not see Dr. Ratts if you are not interested in pursuing IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine?
This practice felt more like a business trying to sell IVF.
Describe the protocols Valerie Ratts used in your cycles at Washington University School of Medicine and their degree of success.
I did three rounds of letrozole (2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg) with OPKs and timed intercourse. When I didn't have a period by CD35 and had a negative pregnancy test, I took Provera to have a withdrawal bleed. I also did two rounds of Clomid (150 and 250 mg) with a follicle scan. I did not develop a follicle with either scan so my treatments stopped. My next course of action was to try injectable medications with IUI or IVF, and I did not want to pursue that course at the time due to financial and ethical concerns.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Washington University School of Medicine.
I communicated with the nursing staff over the phone frequently. Mary RN was very direct and offered little compassion.
Describe your experience with Washington University School of Medicine.
The office setting is conveniently located, clean, and professional. Dr. Ratts usually runs behind schedule so plan on waiting to be seen.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Ratts at Washington University School of Medicine.
What specific things went wrong at Washington University School of Medicine?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Washington University School of Medicine.
I rarely received results from labwork or scans without calling the office, leaving a message, and waiting for a return phone call. Return calls were not very quick and could sometimes take over 2 days.