Doctor [Dr. Plante] said that with my age and insurance, it was best to transfer one. I agree, however we never made it that far out to transfer...I just didn't feel like information was explained to me thoroughly, especially with all the test results from diagnosis to treatment. I feel like meets were brief and then on to the next "number". I want it to be more personable, like she actually cares for my fertility sake... If I was to go another round, I would need more confidence from her and her team in explanation of process from start to end, with details and test results, as well as giving us the maximum resources out there that could help our situation.
The nursing staff [at Fertility Centers of New England] were friendly, and tried to help me when I ask. They were overall kind but some of the ultra sound techs were not as friendly...did not call me until 30 minutes before the transfer appointment to tell me that my cycle has been cancelled. It took us over an hour to get to the clinic. They could have called the day before or at least 2 hours prior to our early appt...they did not talk much in regards to my specific situation, or tell me what they are looking for (during ultrasound monitoring) and therefore again made me feel like a number.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Beth Plante is a doctor who seems to know what she is talking about, however I do not feel she has enough experience with my kind of diagnosis in her center therefore I don't feel confident in her direction of leading upon the treatment. If I was to go another round, I would need more confidence from her and her team in explanation of process from start to end, with details and test results, as well as giving us the maximum resources out there that could help our situation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask the doctor to be very thorough with you in detail about the process because if you do not advocate for yourself, then they will simply not share much details with you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I just didn't feel like information was explained to me thoroughly, especially with all the test results from diagnosis to treatment. I feel like meets were brief and then on to the next "number". I want it to be more personable, like she actually cares for my fertility sake.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Antagonist Protocol, was suppose to be better with my diagnosis, however I responded poorly to this.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff were friendly, and tried to help me when I ask. They were overall kind but some of the ultra sound techs were not as friendly.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The office staff was friendly, however they did not talk much in regards to my specific situation, or tell me what they are looking for (during ultrasound monitoring) and therefore again made me feel like a number.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The ultrasound techs were not as friendly and did not explain what they were looking for or what they are seeing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
out of pocket total was roughly $400.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Doctor said that with my age and insurance, it was best to transfer one. I agree, however we never made it that far out to transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call with results
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
FCNE did not call me until 30 minutes before the transfer appointment to tell me that my cycle has been cancelled. It took us over an hour to get to the clinic. They could have called the day before or at least 2 hours prior to our early appt.
NPS5
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity2 of 5
Communication2 of 5
Frequency Seen1 of 5
Compassion3 of 5
Explained risks3 of 5
Adaptability2 of 5
NPS6
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
Dr. Plante is very knowledgeable and informative. She has an amazing bedside manner and is very empathetic. She even called me on Sunday to deliver the news herself...takes the time to get to know her patients. She explains things well and is usually easy to understand and follow. I trust her completely. I have recommended her to others and will continue to do so. I think it’s great that she delivers news herself even if she’s not working.
They are called Fertility Centers of New England but there are no offices in RI or CT. They only do 5 day transfers, no exceptions. Even when I didn’t see my regular doctor for retrievals I always felt safe. The portal makes communication so much easier. No panicking because you missed a call...Everyone is knowledgeable and patient and typically respond quickly. I love Melissa and Allison in Braintree that do the monitoring and Kelly is awesome.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante takes the time to get to know her patients. She explains things well and is usually easy to understand and follow. I trust her completely. I have recommended her to others and will continue to do so. I think it’s great that she delivers news herself even if she’s not working.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Bring a notebook. She takes kind of fast because she has a lot to say.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Plante is very knowledgeable and informative. She has an amazing bedside manner and is very empathetic. She even called me on Sunday to deliver the news herself.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Antagonist and lupron flair both with birth control suppression. And a lupron flair with estrace suppression.
Antagonist produced the most eggs but the lowest quality. Lupron flair less eggs but better quality. So we tried Lupron Flair without birth control and it was worse than any other cycles.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Everyone is knowledgeable and patient and typically respond quickly. I love Melissa and Allison in Braintree that do the monitoring and Kelly is awesome.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They are called Fertility Centers of New England but there are no offices in RI or CT. They only do 5 day transfers, no exceptions. Even when I didn’t see my regular doctor for retrievals I always felt safe. The portal makes communication so much easier. No panicking because you missed a call.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Smooth, seamless. Melissa and Alison in Braintree are amazing you are in and out of there. In Reading it is busier so it isn’t as smooth it takes a lot longer to get in and out. But the nurses are great.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
A lot was covered by insurance but not all bills have been received yet
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
N/A
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr. Plante] took the time to get to know my husband as I as individuals, listened to our family goals, and reached out to me personally on more than one occasion when things didn’t go as planned. She also took careful time at our in person consults to make sure I understood the plan and all treatments involved. As a nurse I appreciated her willingness to explain details carefully and answer all my questions thoughtfully...
Some of the nurses [at Fertility Centers of New England] were blunt in their communication but I wasn’t surprised given the high volume of patients seen...Dr Plante helped alleviate that feeling by taking the time to make me feel heard. She stands out as the reason I felt human at the end of it all...There were times when I felt frustrated with my treatment results and the high volume of other patients FCNE sees. It can feel like you are just a number at times...
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
We have two beautiful perfect daughters thanks to Dr Plante and her team. There were times when I felt frustrated with my treatment results and the high volume of other patients FCNE sees. It can feel like you are just a number at times. However Dr Plante herself was a pleasure to work with. She was careful and thoughtful in her explanations and alleviated a great deal of anxiety for both my partner and myself with her reassurances.
What really stands out to me was our consult when we were ready to start trying to conceive our second daughter. We brought our first daughter to that appointment- our miracle baby that would not exist without Dr Plante and these incredible technologies that allowed us to beat infertility. During the visit she immediately asked to hold Olivia, sat her on her lap, kept her entertained and happy and even let her smash on her computer without a blink. She was sharing in our indescribable joy as parents in those moments- parents who feared for many long years that they would never have a child of their own. Dr Plante is a beautiful soul and I am forever grateful for the kindness and compassion she showed during these difficult years for us, along with the family she helped us build.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask all the questions. Write them down and bring them to your consult. Follow up with her nurses if you need to, she has a great team.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante was clearly busy with the large number of patients that cycle through FCNE. However she still took the time to get to know my husband as I as individuals, listened to our family goals, and reached out to me personally on more than one occasion when things didn’t go as planned. She also took careful time at our in person consults to make sure I understood the plan and all treatments involved. As a nurse I appreciated her willingness to explain details carefully and answer all my questions thoughtfully.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
One nurse in particular- Caitlin, who no longer works there, stood out as exceptionally compassionate. She talked me through many disappointments and tears, knew just what to say to keep me fighting for my family. Some of the nurses were blunt in their communication but I wasn’t surprised given the high volume of patients seen. It still can feel pretty awful when it’s you and your embryos/ potential future babies. Numbers mean a lot when they are dreams of possible children.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Overall I felt like a number more than once. The rigor of the cycle, blood tests, ultrasounds and standardized messages can feel impersonal. Dr Plante helped alleviate that feeling by taking the time to make me feel heard. She stands out as the reason I felt human at the end of it all, and I’ll never forget the time and compassion she invested to help alleviate anxieties and give me hope when I had almost none left.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
We were fortunate to be covered by insurance, but only after an uphill fight. There were still high out of pocket costs, upwards of $8k for all cycles/ genetic testing. (We are CF carriers)
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
We transferred only one embryo each time, as it gave us the best chances of having a healthy baby given my age, total number of viable embryos (2), and family goals. I’m grateful for Dr Plante’s advice and guidance on this choice because it gave us the family we had hoped for- 2 healthy children.
NPS9
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity4 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS8
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr. Beth Plante] allowed my husband and I to rest in our Hail Mary try even though I had only one ovary and was 43. She radiates kindness understanding and ease. Which puts you at ease... She was hopeful for us yet realistic with our odds due to my age and one ovary down. She also referred out to Dr Lazarou for my husbands retrieval who was also kind and wonderful. I was sad that she was not the one on call for my retrieval day, but the team and Dr Hill also helped me feel as I was in great hands in the Reading clinic.
Early appointments and many locations [of Fertility Centers of New England] keeps you from having anyone at work knowing what you are up to. It is a well oiled machine...With the patient portal you never had to wonder about where you stand. They call and or email you back pronto. And when it was time to deliver my two week wait positive you can tell they are in the profession for this joy. You can also feel that if the message was not the hoped one that your heart would feel held then also.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
As stated in my previous statement she made my husband and I as comfortable as possible with a difficult situation. She was hopeful for us yet realistic with our odds due to my age and one ovary down. She also referred out to Dr Lazarou for my husbands retrieval who was also kind and wonderful. I was sad that she was not the one on call for my retrieval day, but the team and Dr Hill also helped me feel as I was in great hands in the Reading clinic.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Let her drive! Rest in the foundation of minds in this clinic to allow your body the best chances and good luck!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
It is a felt sense the knowledge and care that she provides which allowed my husband and I to rest in our Hail Mary try even though I had only one ovary and was 43. She radiates kindness understanding and ease. Which puts you at ease.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Progesterone pills for prep. No lupron. And I’m sorry I should remember but I injected it all as they told me menpur and follistim I think.. ?
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
With the patient portal you never had to wonder about where you stand. They call and or email you back pronto. And when it was time to deliver my two week wait positive you can tell they are in the profession for this joy. You can also feel that if the message was not the hoped one that your heart would feel held then also.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Early appointments and many locations keeps you from having anyone at work knowing what you are up to. It is a well oiled machine and even knowing all the women there each morning even though you don’t speak there is a community feeling like you are all pulling for each other on the unique journey that it is.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
So many options. I went into Boston, also used Braintree depending on which time window was best or if I wanted breakfast at dig in!!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Hahaha it was stressful since husband vasectomy did not allow insurance to pay for it we got an interest free credit card from Bank of America for one year so including meds 12k on the card and maybe a little more as I had to purchase the largest dose of medication.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
With my age we transferred multiple. I had twins but lost one at 12 weeks. Did not have any left to freeze.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
I would definitely see Dr Plante again and highly recommend her to friends and family...is very caring and compassionate. She has great bedside manners and made all the right recommendations for us during our treatments. After our first failed IVF (no transfer made due to lack of viable embryos) she called us to extend her sympathy and immediately discuss our next steps. The only negative (if that) is that I would say that Dr Plante and FCNE in general tend to make assumptions about what you know regarding the IVF process; and sometimes tend to simplify the process/injections/retrieval/transfer.
The entire monitoring process was never really explained in detail/they just hand you a packet regarding the process [at Fertility Centers of New England]. You have to put all the pieces together. That being said, I did think that the entire process of monitoring levels and eggs is done well and efficiently once I understood the process. Most days, I would be in/out in 45 minutes and I was thankful for it. One of the clinics weaknesses is discussing risks of IVF on your pregnancy. We did ask about risks during treatment and post part in but we never discussed any pregnancy complications due to IVF.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante is very caring and compassionate. She has great bedside manners and made all the right recommendations for us during our treatments. After our first failed IVF (no transfer made due to lack of viable embryos) she called us to extend her sympathy and immediately discuss our next steps. The only negative (if that) is that I would say that Dr Plante and FCNE in general tend to make assumptions about what you know regarding the IVF process; and sometimes tend to simplify the process/injections/retrieval/transfer. I would definitely see Dr Plante again and highly recommend her to friends and family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask as many questions regarding the process, risks of treatments AFTER conception. I ended up having a very difficult pregnancy that my primary ob-gyn said was most likely attributed to conceiving via IVF
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Caitlin )
Dr Plante’s care team/nurse, Caitlin, was wonderful! She’s so kind and compassionate; we loved working with her. All of the other nurses were nice as well, however, sometimes we did feel that they needed a reminder that we had no clue what was going on sometimes/that this was a new experience for us. Everyone, the phlebotomists, ultrasound techs, nurses who send instructions through portal, nurses who return calls, all make assumptions about how much you know/understand the process. They need to slow down and be patient with communicating about what is actually happening and why!
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Ask questions and do not be afraid to ask them again until you understand what is happening and why/how it is a part of the process. The entire monitoring process was never really explained in detail/they just hand you a packet regarding the process. You have to put all the pieces together. That being said, I did think that the entire process of monitoring levels and eggs is done well and efficiently once I understood the process. Most days, I would be in/out in 45 minutes and I was thankful for it. One of the clinics weaknesses is discussing risks of IVF on your pregnancy. We did ask about risks during treatment and post part in but we never discussed any pregnancy complications due to IVF.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Fortunately most of our treatments were covered by insurance with co-pays to see the doctor and we were responsible for all prescription costs while in cycle (probably $1,500 total for IUIs and 2 IVF) We also pay $500 annual fee for continuing to freeze our embryos.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
We talked this through with Dr Plante and expressed our concern about having multiples. Given that we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, she recommended that we try a single transfer for our first two rounds. She did say she would be comfortable with two embryos if that is what we wanted but we all agreed on a single transfer for our two rounds
NPS8
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks3 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS8
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
My whole cycle I was left in the dark and when I asked questions I was made to feel stupid or annoying...I was not happy with how I was treated as just another patient and not a person. It was my first IVF cycle. I was nervous. I needed more support....Beth plante did not do any of my procedures other than a polyp removal. I got my medical records to send to a new clinic and found out the embryo they transferred was ABNORMAL and they never told me!!
I was not happy with how I was treated [at Fertility Center of New England] as just another patient and not a person. It was my first IVF cycle. I was nervous. I needed more support...[clinic was] Not personable at all. Make you feel like an inconvenience. Do not communicate....Had to get there super early to avoid waiting...$8,900 cycle plus medication...My whole cycle I was left in the dark and when I asked questions I was made to feel stupid or annoying. No one was ever genuinely interested in my progress.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Each time I was monitored I was never told how many follicles I had. They only retrieved 8 eggs, 2 mature and only 1 fertilized. We transferred this 1 embryo day 5. I kept asking for the grading of my embryo but no one would tell me. The day of transfer I was told "it's was fair" but I wasn't given the choice not to transfer and to stim again for better results. I got a BFP Christmas Eve. Had first ultrasound two weeks later. Saw a heartbeat. Was elated. They pushed me out the door to my OB and never monitored me again or even called to check in. When my OB finally got me in at 10 weeks we did paperwork. 3 days later I miscarried. Baby had stopped growing at 7 weeks (when I saw Beth plante). Not once has FCNE called me about my miscarriage. And now because I was discharged as a positive beta and pregnant my IVF assist is null and void. I am OOP for everything but all they cared about was money. Beth plante did not do any of my procedures other than a polyp removal. I got my medical records to send to a new clinic and found out the embryo they transferred was ABNORMAL and they never told me!!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask a lot of questions and push for answers. Be your own advocate. Demand to know how everything is going every step of the way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
My whole cycle I was left in the dark and when I asked questions I was made to feel stupid or annoying. No one was ever genuinely interested in my progress. They were just interested in getting paid.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Antagonist cycle. 187.5 units gonal-f cycle day 2-6, upped to 225 day 7-10. Menopur 75 IU day 5-9. Cetrotide .25mg day 7-9. PIO day 13 until 10w
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Robots.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Not personable at all. Make you feel like an inconvenience. Do not communicate.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Had to get there super early to avoid waiting
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
$8,900 cycle plus medication
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I was not happy with how I was treated as just another patient and not a person. It was my first IVF cycle. I was nervous. I needed more support.
NPS0
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity1 of 5
Communication3 of 5
Frequency Seen1 of 5
Trustworthiness3 of 5
Compassion3 of 5
Explained risks1 of 5
Adaptability3 of 5
NPS0
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
I am eternally thankful for Beth [Dr. Plante] as our physician. She took into consideration all areas of our health both medical and emotional, and took her time to ensure that we thankfully only had one round and have two beautiful embryos waiting for us if we ever decide to have another...recommend Beth to ANYONE!!...she is thorough she is watching EVERYTHING, even the things you don’t think would be a huge deal. She wants to have everything be as perfect as possible, so follow instructions she is pushing in directions for a reason, not just to frustrate you.
I would never have made it through without the (professional) relationships i built with the nurses [at Fertility Centers of New England] at every level of this journey. The care and compassion i was shown was beyond anything i had ever experienced...Scheduling is often a concern? Get there early for blood draws and ultrasounds if you need to. They are amazing and supportive from the phlebotomist to the desk nurses to the people running the samples and prepping you for procedure.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I am eternally thankful for Beth as our physician. She took into consideration all areas of our health both medical and emotional, and took her time to ensure that we thankfully only had one round and have two beautiful embryos waiting for us if we ever decide to have another. I have, and will continue, to recommend Beth to ANYONE!!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
When she is thorough she is watching EVERYTHING, even the things you don’t think would be a huge deal. She wants to have everything be as perfect as possible, so follow instructions she is pushing in directions for a reason, not just to frustrate you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Beth and her team were empathetic, compassionate and supportive of my needs and care and while sometimes delivering less than desired news, they were all of these things.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
We went straight to an ICSI due to my husbands chromosomal diagnosis that led to some issues for us getting pregnant through any type of intercourse. I got to a predetermined BMI losing 125 lbs prior to treatment to improve success. We did antagonistic, with birth control, estrodiol, menopur, gonal-f, and one other for retrieval that i can’t remember. I had OHSS so we did a freeze all, and transferred a month or so later with estradiol and progesterone in oil until 10 weeks or so.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Kelly Cahill)
I would never have made it through without the (professional) relationships i built with the nurses at every level of this journey. The care and compassion i was shown was beyond anything i had ever experienced.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Scheduling is often a concern? Get there early for blood draws and ultrasounds if you need to. They are amazing and supportive from the phlebotomist to the desk nurses to the people running the samples and prepping you for procedure.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The difference for us is that Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is amazing. Where some families pay tens of thousands per cycle, we paid copays for all procedures and basic med costs. I think we Pay more in storage of the embryos and sperm we kept each year than we paid that year.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Because we didn’t know how i would respond only that our MFI was the identified problem i was given the choice to transfer one or two with the liklihood that both could take being the conversation and we decided to just try one just in case.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen4 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
She [Dr. Beth Plante] kept the drugs at a minimum and was cautious yet aggressive with my cycle. She knew that my insurance company was not covering any drugs so she tried to keep that in mind. She planned to transfer 2 embryos and that's what we did, and now I have a daughter. She was adamant that I use Progesterone injections instead of suppository or cream, and I think that is what really helped, even though I didn't want to do it.
I would like them [Fertility Centers of New England] to have an office in Rhode Island! Their lab is the best! Specially designed unlike any other. They have an embryo scope - which I think led to my embryos developing so well...I think it was 9,000 a cycle and if they first 2 didn't result in a pregnancy, they would do the 3rd one for free. Drugs were not covered...Dr Plante is very realistic and uses research and common sense to drive her decisions. She understands the cost and weighs out each decision knowing what the patient can afford and needs to have done. She communicates with her colleagues so even though she did not do my transfer, they were on the phone with her before I went in to discuss everything. They did not order any unnecessary procedures and the plan they offer (3rd IVF is free) is such a great option. She wrote letters for me to my insurance company and helped me in any way she could.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante is very realistic and uses research and common sense to drive her decisions. She understands the cost and weighs out each decision knowing what the patient can afford and needs to have done. She communicates with her colleagues so even though she did not do my transfer, they were on the phone with her before I went in to discuss everything. They did not order any unnecessary procedures and the plan they offer (3rd IVF is free) is such a great option. She wrote letters for me to my insurance company and helped me in any way she could.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Listen to her - she knows what she is talking about. Even if you don't want to hear it. And be honest with her about what you need - she will always listen.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She is so personable and friendly and so are her staff. She goes out of her way to care for her patients.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
She kept the drugs at a minimum and was cautious yet aggressive with my cycle. She knew that my insurance company was not covering any drugs so she tried to keep that in mind. She planned to transfer 2 embryos and that's what we did, and now I have a daughter. She was adamant that I use Progesterone injections instead of suppository or cream, and I think that is what really helped, even though I didn't want to do it.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They were always available to talk. One even took the time to fill out my applications for IVF grants that I was sending out. They were SO nice.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I would like them to have an office in Rhode Island! Their lab is the best! Specially designed unlike any other. They have an embryo scope - which I think led to my embryos developing so well.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Well efficient and I would only wait a few minutes. It was first come first serve though so you did have to get there early.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I think it was 9,000 a cycle and if they first 2 didn't result in a pregnancy, they would do the 3rd one for free. Drugs were not covered.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
She was conservative and realistic. The other Dr I saw wanted to transfer 5 embryos for my next cycle because of my age. I immediately left that practice.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen1 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
Dr Plante was very easy to work with. She provided clear instructions and rationale for her treatment plans. We disagreed with her on wanting to transfer two embryos on our second cycle. She explained the risks and agreed to transfer two on the day of embryo transfer after confirming there were two healthy embryos to transfer.
Strength [of Fertility Centers of New England]: multiple locations with availability for blood work and ultra sounds. Weakness: injection instruction was a video, not an in person instruction (although they may offer in person if requested)...Most of the communication was done via a web portal, which was less personal at times, however it meant I had easy access to instructions. The nurses always returned my calls quickly. They were structured in care teams, so while I didn't have a specific nurse, it was always the same group who worked with Dr Plante.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante was very easy to work with. She provided clear instructions and rationale for her treatment plans. We disagreed with her on wanting to transfer two embryos on our second cycle. She explained the risks and agreed to transfer two on the day of embryo transfer after confirming there were two healthy embryos to transfer.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Write down your questions. She will answer all of them!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante was warm and compassionate. I found the staff to be easy to talk to, especially the insurance specialists. They handled my questions and concerns with grace and always took my concerns seriously.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Our treatment was over a year ago, I recall we were on an antagonist cycle, and the second cycle she increased my dose of gonal-f, other than that I don't recall much.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Most of the communication was done via a web portal, which was less personal at times, however it meant I had easy access to instructions. The nurses always returned my calls quickly. They were structured in care teams, so while I didn't have a specific nurse, it was always the same group who worked with Dr Plante.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Strength: multiple locations with availability for blood work and ultra sounds.
Weakness: injection instruction was a video, not an in person instruction (although they may offer in person if requested)
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Monitoring at the office near me was between 7&730 every day except Sunday. I never had to wait longer than 15 minutes. The ultrasound tech and phlebotomist were lovely and very supportive. They were just as excited as I was when I got a positive pregnancy test!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Insurance covered most, we spent ~$8,000 out of pocket after insurance coverage stopped. This included both fresh cycles, meds, and a hysteroscopy.
NPS9
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen4 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS9
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
So I guess that [Dr Beth Plante] is an optimist, which could be good or bad depending on what you need from your fertility doctor. She never told me that was a possibility. But the cycle really failed because we didn't do ICSI - but this was because our insurance wouldn't cover it at that point. Our second IVF cycle, I was much more prepared for what could happen. I think there is a learning curve on both sides with fertility treatments. Any
My husband has MFI so IVF was the way to go for us. I think we started out [at Fertility Centers of New England] with the Antagonist Protocol (or something like that) for our first IVF treatment. We did not do ICSI as it hadn't been demonstrated that it was necessary for the insurance company. No viable embryos resulted and I got OHSS from this cycle. Our second IVF cycle, Beth put me on the Microflare Protocol with Lupron. She was hoping that I wouldn't overstimulate with this protocol so that we had the possibility of doing a fresh transfer. We did ICSI this time but I got OHSS even worse than before! So no fresh transfer but we were able to freeze 3 embryos. We did a FET with one embryo after that and it resulted in our now 3 month old healthy baby girl.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I really like Beth. I think she is a great doctor and really cares about her patients. She called me personally a few times before or after procedures to check in with me, which I really appreciated. My first IVF cycle ended up being a bust - I wasn't prepared to not have any embryos come out of that so that was a bit of a shock. So I guess that Beth is an optimist, which could be good or bad depending on what you need from your fertility doctor. She never told me that was a possibility. But the cycle really failed because we didn't do ICSI - but this was because our insurance wouldn't cover it at that point. Our second IVF cycle, I was much more prepared for what could happen. I think there is a learning curve on both sides with fertility treatments. Anyway, we ended up having to do an FET because I got OHSS with my second round of IVF. My FET resulted in my now 3 month old healthy baby girl so I am pretty happy with everything that Beth did for us. We have two more embryos in storage so if/when we are ready for baby #2, I'll gladly call Beth to schedule another FET!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I think for fertility treatments in general you have to be ready to adapt. Beth is great and will do everything she can to help.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Beth was very warm and caring. She called me personally a few times before or after procedures to check in with me, which I really appreciated.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
My husband has MFI so IVF was the way to go for us. I think we started out with the Antagonist Protocol (or something like that) for our first IVF treatment. We did not do ICSI as it hadn't been demonstrated that it was necessary for the insurance company. No viable embryos resulted and I got OHSS from this cycle. Our second IVF cycle, Beth put me on the Microflare Protocol with Lupron. She was hoping that I wouldn't overstimulate with this protocol so that we had the possibility of doing a fresh transfer. We did ICSI this time but I got OHSS even worse than before! So no fresh transfer but we were able to freeze 3 embryos. We did a FET with one embryo after that and it resulted in our now 3 month old healthy baby girl.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff was great! I really liked that each doctor at FCNE had their own care team so that each time you called you were speaking to a nurse who was familiar with your case. Everyone I spoke to and saw was very nice and informative.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
My experiences at FCNE were great. Everyone was very nice and informative. The only thing - which isn't necessarily bad - is that you don't see your own doctor for every procedure. My egg retrievals were done by Dr. Hill and my transfer was done by Dr. Vitiello. So if you want your own doctor to be performing every procedure, this might not be the clinic for you. I was comfortable having the other doctors perform my procedures though.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
You were told to go in for ultrasounds and blood work on a specific day. You could go in at whatever time worked for you within their "monitoring hours," which varies based on which office you were going to. I think they were all in the morning so that you could go in before work if you needed to. I think the hours for the Reading office was something like 6-7:45am. You would sign in when you got there and you check off whether you are there for an ultrasound, blood work or both and they called you in on a first come first serve basis. If you were only there for blood work you could be in and out in a few minutes. Ultrasounds took longer.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Our insurance covered our treatments. We paid our deductible and then co-pays. After the first year (which is covered by insurance), embryo storage is $500 per year.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication4 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks4 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
I trust her, I think she's smart and accomplished...she thought I knew how grave our situation was and we didn't. It would have behooved her to have asked what was our understanding and then take it from here with her expertise.
Extremely well organized; super staff. Results/orders were posted really quickly every day.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She's very nice, but as I cited before, quiet and reserved. When I asked a question she answered it but at no time did I feel like she was anticipating my concerns, my angst. We had a lot of preliminary work done with my GYN before we saw Dr. Plante and she just took that as us knowing full well what all of our issues were. We did not, and there was missteps at our first appointment, where she thought I knew how grave our situation was and we didn't. It would have behooved her to have asked what was our understanding and then take it from here with her expertise.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
This is hard to say since every case is so different. I trust her, I think she's smart and accomplished. I have said if you want a reassuring compassionate, get to know you reproductive oncologist, she's not the one. She is gentle though.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Her care team was phenomenal. Dr. Plante s a little removed in the sense that she is quiet and is not overly forthcoming with getting to know her patients. I felt like I offered more get to know, then she did. Not a totally bad thing, I was her brain and expertise, not a best friend. She's reserved.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Mine was the maximum protocol, we did it twice. Lupron and Gonal-F.
10 units of Microflare Lupron 50µg/0.1mL x daily and 225 IU of Gonal-F Pen also twice daily. Each time it took me about 16 days to get to my trigger shot.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They were all always available, for any/all minute question. They answered in detail and never ever felt like I was being bothersome.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Extremely well organized; super staff. Results/orders were posted really quickly every day.
NPS2
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity3 of 5
Communication2 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness3 of 5
Compassion2 of 5
Explained risks4 of 5
Adaptability3 of 5
NPS2
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
The individualized care and treatment plan ... AND the doctor [Dr. Beth Plante] and staffs' willingness to actually listen to me - the patients' concerns - was a breath of fresh air and huge relief for someone going through something like this. The treatment plan was tailored to MY needs as an individual and not some checklist... I chose 2 embryos to be implanted which resulted in a fraternal twin live birth... I was not aware that FCNE did not hold any of the left over embryo's. I found out too late that I had to arrange all of that. :( and now the original donor has had his vials destroyed due to an unforeseen genetic circumstance and my hopes of full siblings are gone.
Overall very satisfied and happy with everything. The ONLY thing... is that I was not aware that FCNE did not hold any of the left over embryo's. I found out too late that I had to arrange all of that. :( and now the original donor has had his vials destroyed due to an unforeseen genetic circumstance and my hopes of full siblings are gone. I now know the gene involved and could have had the embryo's tested. However, the chances of full siblings were destroyed forever when they neglected to inform me that at the end of my cycle - if arrangements were not made by me (which I did not know) the embryos also will be destroyed. :( so very upset over this 1, albeit just 1, but very important detail!!
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Overall very satisfied and happy with everything. The ONLY thing...and it is a biggie.... is that I was not aware that FCNE did not hold any of the left over embryo's. I found out too late that I had to arrange all of that. :( and now the original donor has had his vials destroyed due to an unforeseen genetic circumstance and my hopes of full siblings are gone. I now know the gene involved and could have had the embryo's tested. However, the chances of full siblings were destroyed forever when they neglected to inform me that at the end of my cycle - if arrangements were not made by me (which I did not know) the embryos also will be destroyed. :( so very upset over this 1, albeit just 1, but very important detail!!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
to include EVERY possible detail from donor, retrieval, implantation, etc. and what happens AFTER. I was not informed about what would happen to the embryos left over and unaware that the arrangements to preserve them was solely up to me.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
The individualized care and treatment plan ... AND the doctor and staffs' willingness to actually listen to me - the patients' concerns - was a breath of fresh air and huge relief for someone going through something like this. The treatment plan was tailored to MY needs as an individual and not some checklist. Love FCNE and Dr. Plante!
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I did not want to go round after round and guessing. I advised Dr. Plante that I want the highest percentage of 1)implantation and 2) live birth. So IVF with egg retrieval it was. Off hand I can't recall the exact drug names but we did start with birth control and egg stim hormone injections. followed by stim to mature and release for retrieval. then IVF and 5 day implantation. After implantation injections of 2 different hormones to retain pregnancy and development. This was my first pregnancy. First Fertility treatment/round and I chose 2 embryos to be implanted which resulted in a fraternal twin live birth.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: :( can't remember. )
FCNE uses off site blood and u.sound monitoring centers. The 2 ladies at my center were absolutely the best!!! Their calmness and ease..put me to calm my nerves and relax me. Their compassion and bedside manner was a beautiful thing to see in this day and age of sterile healthcare.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I know at the initial consultation there is a ton of information to go over and discuss. Things can get lost in translation or just in the flood of information getting passed. Perhaps a "follow up" in the consultation could occur and go over the specifics NOT covered by this clinic....like FCNE NOT preserving my left over embryos after my implantation procedure. Perhaps, informing the patients of their options where this is concerned and providing a timeline as far as when this all HAS to happen. Also, perhaps providing local cryobank information (as I received my donor from all the way across country) to expedite preservation of embryos. I'm not sure as I am not sure of the policy and procedures of FCNE where this is concerned. I did know that they themselves were not a cryobank and for donor parts informed me of where to obtain things but the post procedural information of things fell a little short.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They use off site monitoring and the hours are very limited to morning hours only. Very difficult for someone that - not only worked the overnight shift but also overlapped with their hours. I did NOT want my employer to question me and was very difficult to take care of both needs to attend my monitoring appointments but also my work schedule.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I know my insurance covered the majority of the costs.... there was a bill that popped up almost a year later, that I thought was covered but apparently because it was an "additional procedure" (uterine fibroids removed) there was a cost that I was unaware of.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I thought this would be my "one shot deal" so for ME - I chose to have 2 embryo's implanted. My thoughts were that I did not want to go through "all of this, implant just 1 and then have it not take. But did 2, and if both took, I could deal with 2" (almost 2 years later...had I known...LOL ;) ) I love that from the past history of fertility treatments, centers have learned and limit the number of embryos implanted. Not just for mom but also for offspring and preserving the health and wellness of each. I love that FCNE limits that number to 3 at most and that is only with past failures/complications from previous attempts. They did allow me to do 2 - at my choosing. and repeatedly asked if this was something I was sure of...even at the time of implantation. Their attention to care and well-being of mom and potential babies was well received and appreciated.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to convey critical information
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
As I stated before...the ONLY thing..albeit very major thing was their neglect on informing me of the post procedural information pertaining to AFTER the transfer of embryos - what my options were with the left over embryos. AND the fact that it was up to ME to make these arrangements - and that FCNE was unclear as to the timeline the "left over" embryos care needed to be taken care of.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
I trust her [Dr. Beth Plante]. I am a health care professional and ask a lot of questions that most wouldn't think or know to ask. She answers all of my questions. If I want to change the plan, we meet again and discuss the pros and cons. I listen to her and have found that some who have different doctors are not as informed as I am about possible options...She has always been very patient and responsive to me.
I ask a lot of questions and they [nurses at Fertility Centers of New England] always returned my call...I trust them and have since the first time I went for an appointment... I had injections and blood monitoring and ultrasound reviews to evaluate how my body was responding. We adjusted the treatment for the second cycle because I had side effects to the medications...
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I trust her. I am a health care professional and ask a lot of questions that most wouldn't think or know to ask. She answers all of my questions. If I want to change the plan, we meet again and discuss the pros and cons. I listen to her and have found that some who have different doctors are not as informed as I am about possible options.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She wants her patients to have successful outcomes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She has always been very patient and responsive to me. I ask a lot of questions and always get an answer. I feel as though she has my best interests in mind and takes a conservative outlook while an appropriate level of actionable protocols.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I don't remember the protocols but I had injections and blood monitoring and ultrasound reviews to evaluate how my body was responding. We adjusted the treatment for the second cycle because I had side effects to the medications.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: No, they have a care team.)
As I mentioned I ask a lot of questions and they always returned my call.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I trust them and have since the first time I went for an appointment. I think that is the most important part of this because you are only able to control a little piece of this and the rest is up to your medical team and their expertise.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I paid out of pocket for all of my treatments thus far.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I have not yet gone to the embryo transfer so I cannot comment.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen5 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr Beth Plant's] Strengths - compassionate (example: called me personally after miscarriage), committed to single healthy pregnancies/values health of mother...Weaknesses - committed to single healthy pregnancies so this makes her hesitant to get more aggressive with treatments even though my husband and I are open to multiples, doesn't schedule appointments to see you regularly, you as the patient have to make a separate appointment to see her because nurses handle all other IUI-related tasks
[Fertility Centers of New Engalnd's] Strengths - good communication, organized, friendly Weaknesses - sometimes it feels as if the nurses don't communicate or document what's going on with a patient well enough so they don't appear to be on the same page...Good location, clean, responsive, great hours...She [Dr Beth Plant] makes herself available via email and contacted me directly after we lost our baby.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Strengths - compassionate (example: called me personally after miscarriage), committed to single healthy pregnancies/values health of mother, respectful of patient's wishes (example: due to religious beliefs, unsure about pursuing IVF and Dr. Plante respects this with treatment)
Weaknesses - committed to single healthy pregnancies so this makes her hesitant to get more aggressive with treatments even though my husband and I are open to multiples, doesn't schedule appointments to see you regularly, you as the patient have to make a separate appointment to see her because nurses handle all other IUI-related tasks
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Be your own advocate and speak up about what you want because she really wants to avoid multiples
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She makes herself available via email and contacted me directly after we lost our baby.
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Letrozole 2.5mg days 2-6, monitoring via ultrasound starting day 10, trigger shot + intercourse, IUI 36 hours after trigger.
She increased letrozole to 5mg on days 2-6 recently.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Strengths - good communication, organized, friendly
Weaknesses - sometimes it feels as if the nurses don't communicate or document what's going on with a patient well enough so they don't appear to be on the same page
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Good location, clean, responsive, great hours
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
My insurance covers IUI so all I pay are co-pays for the IUI which are $40 and $25 to see Dr. Plante as a follow-up visit.
NPS7
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity4 of 5
Communication4 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS8
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
She [Dr. Beth Plante] is compassionate and friendly. But she has no control over how samples are handled. I felt that since mine were mishandled, she did nothing about it. If she had offered to discount my next treatment , I would have felt elated...She is a cog in a big wheel...She scheduled my appointments and reveiwed my results to choose the best time for egg retrieval...Dr Plante called me to apologize for that, stating that my genetic testing results "may" come out inconclusive because of how damaged the samples were.
No strengths. [Fertility Centers of New England] Weaknesses are, they mishandled my egg samples and Dr Plante called me to apologize for that, stating that my genetic testing results "may" come out inconclusive because of how damaged the samples were. Please note, they DID NOT PROVIDE THIS IN WRITING!...She [Dr. Beth Plante] is compassionate and friendly. But she has no control over how samples are handled. I felt that since mine were mishandled, she did nothing about it. If she had offered to discount my next treatment , I would have felt elated
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She is compassionate and friendly. But she has no control over how samples are handled. I felt that since mine were mishandled, she did nothing about it. If she had offered to discount my next treatment , I would have felt elated
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She is a cog in a big wheel
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
The only time I got a phone call was when there was very bad news to share. Everything else was communicated through a portal
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
She scheduled my appointments and reveiwed my results to choose the best time for egg retrieval
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They just went through their jobs, none of them were personable. Just worked like robots
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
No strengths. Weaknesses are, they mishandled my egg samples and Dr Plante called me to apologize for that, stating that my genetic testing results "may" come out inconclusive because of how damaged the samples were. Please note, they DID NOT PROVIDE THIS IN WRITING!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I do not remember
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
They ruined the embryo samples. Eventually genetic testing revealed abnormalities, but I am not 100% sure that was the case because the lab got mishandled embroys
NPS0
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity1 of 5
Communication3 of 5
Frequency Seen5 of 5
Compassion2 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability1 of 5
NPS0
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr. Plante] Nice bedside manner, active listener. Discusses things thoroughly when in face to face meetings. Communications outside of office visits were lacking and too many times were there questions that fell on the nursing staff to act as mediators...I had a MD change the protocol mid cycle without explanation to me or consideration of my previous response to previous FET cycle and it set me back
[Fertility Centers of New England] nurse staff all but one were extremely compassionate start to finish. Insurance coordinators, schedulers all lovely to work with. MD's for the most part were understanding of each situation...poor at outlining expectations from the beginning as to the entire process. You are required to go to multiple offices at times. You will see multiple doctors and not know who will do FET or D& C until day of.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Nice bedside manner, active listener. Discusses things thoroughly when in face to face meetings. Communications outside of office visits were lacking and too many times were there questions that fell on the nursing staff to act as mediators.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Be your own advocate and ask lots of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
nurse staff all but one were extremely compassionate start to finish. Insurance coordinators, schedulers all lovely to work with. MD's for the most part were understanding of each situation
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
estrace patches , vaginal and oral estrogen. then when ready progesterone in oil shots, FET day 6.
Uterus lining FET #1 6.5 mm, not pregnant
Uterus lining FET # 7.9 mm, pregnant , then miscarried week 6
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
compassionate, helpful, competent
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
poor at outlining expectations from the beginning as to the entire process. You are required to go to multiple offices at times. You will see multiple doctors and not know who will do FET or D& C until day of.
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I am 40, went through menopause at 31 and one embryo was discussed due to multiple risk factors. Also, that I had 6 total viable embryos that has PGS
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I had a MD change the protocol mid cycle without explanation to me or consideration of my previous response to previous FET cycle and it set me back
NPS6
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication3 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness3 of 5
Compassion4 of 5
Explained risks3 of 5
Adaptability3 of 5
NPS6
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
While the treatment plans were not delivered personally [by Dr. Beth Plante] (by phone), they were clearly customized by the doctor and delivered via online portal by the nursing staff. It was clearly not a one-size-fits-all approach...I really liked Beth and am planning on going back if I need additional fertility treatment. She is personable and sensitive in what is generally a highly-emotional and sometimes scary time which i greatly appreciated.
I did very little at this clinic [FCNE- Reading] and instead went to their Boston facility for the day-to-day appointments. The Boston clinic was very quick and efficient. I had to go to Reading for weekend appointments, which was much more crowded, but understandable since not all locations can be open on weekends. I also went to Reading for the retrievals, which was efficient and the people were professional and pleasant.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I really liked Beth and am planning on going back if I need additional fertility treatment. She is personable and sensitive in what is generally a highly-emotional and sometimes scary time which i greatly appreciated.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
While the treatment plans were not delivered personally (by phone), they were clearly customized by the doctor and delivered via online portal by the nursing staff. It was clearly not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I did very little at this clinic and instead went to their Boston facility for the day-to-day appointments. The Boston clinic was very quick and efficient. I had to go to Reading for weekend appointments, which was much more crowded, but understandable since not all locations can be open on weekends. I also went to Reading for the retrievals, which was efficient and the people were professional and pleasant.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
I did the monitoring appointments in Boston, so cannot comment on Reading. But in Boston, it was very efficient. There was generally a very short wait and the process moved quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
$5500 for retrieval plus the cost of medications (which varied depending on insurance overage)
NPS8
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication4 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS8
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
Dr Plante cares about her patients personally and professionally. She doesn't just follow standard protocol, she researches new innovations and processes to give her patients the best possible outcome. She doesn't sugar coat anything but at the same time it doesn't feel like a low blow when delivering bad news... Low dose stim (due to ohss), ICSI, PICSI... Beth has the most patient centric personality - we never felt like a number to her. She could have let us go to improve her success rates but she kept fighting with us
[Fertility Centers of New England is an] Amazing clinic. Tough to travel to reading for all procedures. Lab is up to date with new technologies (embryoscope, oxygenated labs)... Fcne has a patient portal which makes waiting less torturous - it also makes bad news easier to process... [monitoring appointments were a] Cattle call. Appts would be better... $40,000 out of pocket with dual insurance
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante cares about her patients personally and professionally. She doesn't just follow standard protocol, she researches new innovations and processes to give her patients the best possible outcome. She doesn't sugar coat anything but at the same time it doesn't feel like a low blow when delivering bad news
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Trust her
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Beth has the most patient centric personality - we never felt like a number to her. She could have let us go to improve her success rates but she kept fighting with us
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Low dose stim (due to ohss), ICSI, PICSI,
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Kelly )
Fcne has a patient portal which makes waiting less torturous - it also makes bad news easier to process
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Amazing clinic. Tough to travel to reading for all procedures. Lab is up to date with new technologies (embryoscope, oxygenated labs)
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Cattle call. Appts would be better
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
$40,000 out of pocket with dual insurance
Describe Beth Plante's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
My 10th cycle, she suggested an eSET but I refused because we had agreed it was our final attempt and if we had two to transfer, they were both going in.
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr. Beth Plante] has amazing bedside manner and made me feel very comfortable. I was very lucky to find her. The only negative is she wasn’t scheduled on the day of my retrieval...Dr Plante was scheduled on the day of my transfer though and I was so happy to have her do it. She is encouraging and a great doctor...IVF with PGS was really the only option...If you prefer female doctors and want one that will be patient with you and caring, Dr Plante is the person to see
the process of doing bloodwork early in the morning and coming into the clinic [Fertility Centers of New England] while it was still dark out felt very lonely and isolating...Bloodwork was quick but ultrasounds [during monitoring] took awhile if you weren’t one of the first to arrive in the morning and put your name on the list...Would have been great to have more face to face interaction with the care team while going in for bloodwork in the early mornings. That piece felt cold and isolating. The women who did the bloodwork were great. It was also very daunting to deal with the injections on my own. Would be great if there was a class to attend where an RN showed your husband how to do it
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante has amazing bedside manner and made me feel very comfortable. I was very lucky to find her. The only negative is she wasn’t scheduled on the day of my retrieval and I didn’t love Dr Weiss, he was kinda odd. Dr Plante was scheduled on the day of my transfer though and I was so happy to have her do it. She is encouraging and a great doctor
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
If you prefer female doctors and want one that will be patient with you and caring, Dr Plante is the person to see
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Plante was amazing but the process of doing bloodwork early in the morning and coming into the clinic while it was still dark out felt very lonely and isolating
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
IVF with PGS was really the only option
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: It was a Care Team )
Dr Plante had her own care team of 5 nurses
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Would have been great to have more face to face interaction with the care team while going in for bloodwork in the early mornings. That piece felt cold and isolating. The women who did the bloodwork were great. It was also very daunting to deal with the injections on my own. Would be great if there was a class to attend where an RN showed your husband how to do it
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Bloodwork was quick but ultrasounds took awhile if you weren’t one of the first to arrive in the morning and put your name on the list
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
$2k
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity4 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability4 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
[Dr. Beth Plante] is kind and considerate. She is clearly very knowledgeable and I felt that I was in good hands. The office is very timely and efficient so sometimes it felt like she was in a rush...Her communication style is honest and she is willing to answer questions but it also feels like she’s ready to move on...but she always answered all my questions...She knows what’s she’s talking about.
[ Fertility Centers of New England] is very efficient and has great times for tests and appointments. Everyone is very willing to answer questions so don’t be afraid to ask...billing system needs to be updated...Having to call or mail payments is fine, just not current. Make sure you go to the right location as they have multiple. The Boston office is easier to get to than I thought...parking is close!
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Plante is kind and considerate. She is clearly very knowledgeable and I felt that I was in good hands. The office is very timely and efficient so sometimes it felt like she was in a rush but she always answered all my questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Trust her! She knows what’s she’s talking about.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Her communication style is honest and she is willing to answer questions but it also feels like she’s ready to move on.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The clinical team communicates very well through the online portal!
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
The clinic is very efficient and has great times for tests and appointments. Everyone is very willing to answer questions so don’t be afraid to ask. I do think that their billing system needs to be updated and maybe connected to the portal they already have. Having to call or mail payments is fine, just not current.
Make sure you go to the right location as they have multiple. The Boston office is easier to get to than I thought it would be and parking is close!
NPS8
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity3 of 5
Communication4 of 5
Frequency Seen2 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion3 of 5
Explained risks4 of 5
Adaptability3 of 5
NPS9
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)
She [Dr. Beth Plante] is extremely kind and caring and answered all my questions happily...Wonderful doctor. Sweet and knowledgeable. Love her. She made me feel like I could ask her anything and was genuinely sad when I lost my first baby. She works hard with her team to provide excellent care and it shows...I’ve gotten pregnant both times I’ve tried but babies didn’t developed past week 8...You’re going to love her.
They [staff at Fertility Centers of New England] are great. Very sweet and efficient...She [Dr. Beth Plante] is extremely kind and caring and answered all my questions happily...Wonderful doctor. Sweet and knowledgeable. Love her. She made me feel like I could ask her anything and was genuinely sad when I lost my first baby. She works hard with her team to provide excellent care and it shows...I’ve gotten pregnant both times I’ve tried but babies didn’t developed past week 8...You’re going to love her.
How was your experience with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Wonderful doctor. Sweet and knowledgeable. Love her. She made me feel like I could ask her anything and was genuinely sad when I lost my first baby. She works hard with her team to provide excellent care and it shows
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
You’re going to love her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)?
She is extremely kind and caring and answered all my questions happily
Describe the protocols Beth Plante used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Nothing specific that I recall
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Kelly)
They are great. Very sweet and efficient.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Not sure but I’ve gotten pregnant both times I’ve tried but babies didn’t developed past week 8. Don’t know what could could be done differently maybe more frequent bloodwork to show if medication is proper dose
Describe the costs associated with your care under Beth Plante at Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic).
Nothing covered by insurance for me at all
NPS10
Doctor
Beth Plante
NPS
Humanity5 of 5
Communication5 of 5
Frequency Seen3 of 5
Trustworthiness5 of 5
Compassion5 of 5
Explained risks5 of 5
Adaptability5 of 5
NPS10
Clinic
Fertility Centers of New England (First Fertility Network clinic)