How was your experience with Vasiliki Moragianni at CCRM Northern Virginia?
Dr. Moragianni is very personable and I have felt very well taken care of during my treatment with her. She brings some lighthearted humor to the whole process, which helps with stress. I have never had difficulty in setting up consultations to see her during my treatment cycles when I needed them. She is patient in listening to my questions about the current state of research, medication, or voodoo supplements that could apply to/help my condition, and always gives candid but kind responses. She also does a great job of explaining the details if you are like me, and want to see and (try to) understand the numbers. She is also nearly always available to call me back quickly when I have questions, even if she is not in my office location that day. She also has always made sure to call me with the results of my pregnancy tests and embryo CCS results, which I appreciated.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vasiliki Moragianni at CCRM Northern Virginia?
Don't be afraid to ask any questions. Dr. Moragianni will take the time to kindly explain things to you if you want the details.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vasiliki Moragianni at CCRM Northern Virginia?
The CCRM Northern Virginia practice is small and this makes it very personable. You see a doctor for every ultrasound appointment, which I found very comforting. Additionally, my doctor, Dr. Moragianni, has been available for most of these appointments -- another plus. I also noticed that she made an extra effort to see me at my ultrasounds when I began my IVF cycles. The surgery center for egg retrievals is on site (if you are in the VA office), which also helps keep a complex process less stressful. You get to see all of the nurses and staff at some point, and they often will remember your name if you see the more than once. They are all genuinely nice people who seem to care about and like what they are doing. Its reassuring to always see a friendly face when I am there. We are still in treatment, but even if things don't work out I do think I will leave feeling like I was well-cared for.
Describe the protocols Vasiliki Moragianni used in your cycles at CCRM Northern Virginia and their degree of success.
I suffer from lean PCOS, so Dr. Moragianni started me on Letrozole with Ovidrel trigger shots for several TI cycles. These cycles all produced appropriate follicles, but I unfortunately did not conceive. I requested to move straight to IVF, and have completed two eggs retrievals. Dr. Moragianni used an antagonist protocol using Gonal-F and Menopur, with Cetrotide, and a Lupron trigger. Both cycles produced many mature eggs, and I had good fertilization rates with ICSI. Even though there was a steep drop-off in testable blastocysts, I did end up with CCS-normal embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM Northern Virginia. (Assigned nurse: Maureen)
Maureen is an excellent nurse, and as the first-line responder to my many questions she is usually able to get back to me same-day. The clinic has an email system for questions, but if you need a quicker response you can usually get a hold of her or another nurse on the phone as well. She genuinely cares about her patients and is great about checking in. You get to see all of the nurses and staff at some point, and they often will remember your name if you see the more than once. Even is very friendly, and when I need help with an injection timed near my appointment someone has always been available to help me. The phlebotomist, Mark, is an absolute magician -- I have yet to have a bruise! (and I usually do)
Describe your experience with CCRM Northern Virginia.
The clinic's strength is in its small size, which makes them very patient-focused. I never felt that I was in an assembly-line environment, and I am happy I can see a doctor at every appointment. The same benefit applies to every other aspect, from the surgery team to the embryologists, to the front staff and financial staff -- you get to speak with all of them directly, and they will remember you. The weakness I have experienced have been mainly admin related, which likely is the result of the fact that the clinic is somewhat new; sometimes calls are forwarded to the Denver office as a backup, but they can't book appointments.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vasiliki Moragianni at CCRM Northern Virginia.
CCRM is slightly more expensive than another, large clinic I considered in the DC area. We have used health insurance benefits for our treatments thus far, however we had to pay out of pocket for the surgery center for egg retrievals and CCS testing. As I understand it, CCRM has slightly lower rates for self-pay patients, with an IVF cycle package with CCS testing (not including transfer and meds) costing a flat fee of about $10K.
Describe Vasiliki Moragianni's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM Northern Virginia.
I have not yet done an FET, but my understanding is that CCRM's policy for women my age is to transfer only a single CCS-normal embryo.