He [Dr. Batzofin] was very straightforward and didn’t sugar coat anything. He was nice and welcoming. I went over my history of my 4 miscarriages and health. He told me that he will do further testing and figure out why I was miscarrying. He was going to do an immune lab work up and once we get the results go for another consult to see what’s the best approach and treatments. ... He just went over my health history, labs from previous obgyn. Then he did a vaginal ultrasound. We are now just awaiting to get some more labs from him to go onto the next treatment plan ...
... the staff [Acacio] can seem a unorganized. They don’t call back unless you call them but please note they are very nice, sweet and welcoming. Maybe they are just super busy. ... $100 for consultation and $250 for the vaginal ultrasound. Labs that are still pending to receive are $1200-1500. ... Every time I call to get more info for lab purposes they tell me they will call me back but they forget. I have to call them every time to remind them.
How was your experience with Joel Batzofin at Acacio Fertility Center?
He was very straightforward and didn’t sugar coat anything. He was nice and welcoming. I went over my history of my 4 miscarriages and health. He told me that he will do further testing and figure out why I was miscarrying. He was going to do an immune lab work up and once we get the results go for another consult to see what’s the best approach and treatments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joel Batzofin at Acacio Fertility Center?
Just know that he is very straightforward and don’t go in there thinking you know what treatments you need because the outcome may be different than what you expected.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at Acacio Fertility Center?
He was thourough, nice, and very straightforward which I like.
Describe the protocols Joel Batzofin used in your cycles at Acacio Fertility Center and their degree of success.
He just went over my health history, labs from previous obgyn. Then he did a vaginal ultrasound. We are now just awaiting to get some more labs from him to go onto the next treatment plan
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Acacio Fertility Center.
Every time I call to get more info for lab purposes they tell me they will call me back but they forget. I have to call them every time to remind them.
Describe your experience with Acacio Fertility Center.
The doctor definitely knows what he is doing however the staff can seem a unorganized. They don’t call back unless you call them but please note they are very nice, sweet and welcoming. Maybe they are just super busy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joel Batzofin at Acacio Fertility Center.
$100 for consultation and $250 for the vaginal ultrasound. Labs that are still pending to receive are $1200-1500.
What specific things went wrong at Acacio Fertility Center?
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Acacio Fertility Center.
The fertility doctor ordered lab tests which included immune labs and a thrombophilia lab. But my obgyn had already done the thrombophilia panel (which they failed to give to fertility doctor). I then retrieved those labs and sent them to the nurse at this fertility center. They were supposed to give them to the doctor to review them and call me back. They didn’t call me for a few days when they said they would. I called them twice and again said they would in a couple a days. I gave them a week they never called. So I called them again and they said I was missing stuff that was there. And they said again the would call me back still waiting. Will give them a few days.
As a patient, Joel Batzofin is respectful, has good beside manners and seems to know what he's doing. I just wished he took more time and was more precise during the ultrasound to count the follicles. I was present and it looked very subjective to me.... Dr. Batzofin is very charming and makes you at ease right away. He will joke and also take the time to really know your situation. Then he also patiently explains a possible plan of action, and what to expect as results. He seemed experienced and knowledgeable.
[New York Fertility Services'] Strengths: Experienced doctor, easy location in the heart of Manhattan, easy to get an appointment. Weaknesses: Low success rate, the facility is not so inviting, lab didn't look very... stringent when I had a quick look. Front desk was a bit rude and not good with dealing with insurance coverage... The nurse in charge of the semen analysis was quite nice and knowledgable. She personally emailed me the results within a few hours of collection. I found the nurse assisting the doctor during the ultrasound not very experienced, maybe an intern?, taking notes on a personal pad. I had to ask a couple of times to get the results in writing and the report's quality was very poor.
How was your experience with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
As a patient, Joel Batzofin is respectful, has good beside manners and seems to know what he's doing. I just wished he took more time and was more precise during the ultrasound to count the follicles. I was present and it looked very subjective to me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Check their success rate. Dr. Batzofin is nice and experienced, but I am not sure that his clinic is up to the quality standard that one would expect today.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Dr. Batzofin is very charming and makes you at ease right away. He will joke and also take the time to really know your situation. Then he also patiently explains a possible plan of action, and what to expect as results. He seemed experienced and knowledgeable.
Describe the protocols Joel Batzofin used in your cycles at New York Fertility Services (closed) and their degree of success.
We started by a semen analysis for myself to make sure I was fertile.
The next step was an ultrasound and blood tests of my known egg donor to assess her ovarian reserve.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at New York Fertility Services (closed).
The nurse in charge of the semen analysis was quite nice and knowledgable. She personally emailed me the results within a few hours of collection.
I found the nurse assisting the doctor during the ultrasound not very experienced, maybe an intern?, taking notes on a personal pad. I had to ask a couple of times to get the results in writing and the report's quality was very poor.
Describe your experience with New York Fertility Services (closed).
Strengths: Experienced doctor, easy location in the heart of Manhattan, easy to get an appointment.
Weaknesses: Low success rate, the facility is not so inviting, lab didn't look very... stringent when I had a quick look. Front desk was a bit rude and not good with dealing with insurance coverage.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed).
$475 for a consultation, billed to insurance.
Describe Joel Batzofin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at New York Fertility Services (closed).
I do not remember talking about single/multiple embryo transfer with him, as I already knew I wanted a single embryo transfer.
What specific things went wrong at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at New York Fertility Services (closed).
Mostly, the front desk person didn't handle my insurance correctly, asked me to pay for a service that was covered by my insurance. A supervising nurse had to take over.
Dr. Batzofin was kind, compassionate and flexible in his approach to our infertility. From what I could research, he followed all the proper protocols and was always willing to change course when we were unsuccessful. I greatly appreciated his willingness to listen to my preferences and incorporate changes to our next steps. I did feel he was too quick to suggest surrogacy in our case...Dr. Batzofin really takes the time to know his patients. I very much felt like we were on a team
The front desk team was very kind and patient. The clinic also has very reasonable negotiated rates with insurance companies, which helps stretch your coverage further than at other clinics. I also thought the Lab Director John Scodras and the cryopreservation specialist Schennella were wonderful to work with..I really enjoyed the nursing staff at NYFS. They were incredibly personal... if you're looking for highly personalized care at a more reasonable cost, then it's absolutely a great option.understanding and sweet.
How was your experience with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Dr. Batzofin was kind, compassionate and flexible in his approach to our infertility. From what I could research, he followed all the proper protocols and was always willing to change course when we were unsuccessful. I greatly appreciated his willingness to listen to my preferences and incorporate changes to our next steps. I did feel he was too quick to suggest surrogacy in our case (after only one or two failed transfers). I am currently pregnant after the 4th embryo transfer, and so ultimately we have the result we wanted. I am not sure whether I would have gotten pregnant quicker with a different clinic, but I highly doubt I would have received the same level of service and attention.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
I think I was very naive at the beginning of our infertility treatments and thought that IVF would work the very first time. I would suggest that a patient take the time to educate themselves on the process and likelihood of success. I would also suggest that new patients be very vocal in their preferences. Dr. Batzofin's success rates are not as high as other clinics in NYC, but he is also willing to take on patients that other clinics would turn away.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Because NYFS is a small boutique clinic, Dr. Batzofin really takes the time to know his patients. I very much felt like we were on a team and he wanted me to get pregnant almost as badly as I did. The front desk team and the nursing staff were also incredibly warm, friendly and compassionate. I can't say enough nice things about the people that work at NYFS.
Describe the protocols Joel Batzofin used in your cycles at New York Fertility Services (closed) and their degree of success.
For my IVF egg retrieval, we used the Lupron Long Down-Regulation Protocol, which I believe is the more traditional approach. (In general, Dr. Batzofin tends to favor more traditional approaches, but is open to trying new methods if the patient wishes.) I produced 15 eggs, 13 of which fertilized, 9 reached the cleavage stage, and 8 reached the blastocyst stage. We transferred one fresh embryo and froze the rest. Three months later I had an unsuccessful medicated FET using lupron, estrogen and progesterone suppositories. Two months after that we tried immunosuppressive therapy (blood thinners, steroids and intralipids) and had another unsuccessful medicated FET (lupron, estrogen and progesterone injections). Finally, two months later I requested an endometrial scratch and a natural FET (no lupron, monitoring natural ovulation and then supporting with low-dose estrogen and progesterone suppositories) and we transferred two embryos. This resulted in a successful singleton pregnancy. Two of our embryos did not survive the thawing process during our last transfer, which has given me some concerns over the quality of the lab. We now only have one frozen blastocyst remaining from the original 8.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at New York Fertility Services (closed).
I really enjoyed the nursing staff at NYFS. They were incredibly personal, understanding and sweet. I was sad to say goodbye to them when I graduated from the clinic. Suzette was a treasure - by far the best nurse I've ever had anywhere at drawing blood with no pain!! Sanella was also very sweet and competent. There was another nurse whom I liked very much, Jocelyn, but she left abruptly and I was never sure why.
Describe your experience with New York Fertility Services (closed).
All in all I was very happy with NYFS. Dr. Batzofin is very knowledgeable, compassionate and flexible - and his staff reflect this mentality. There was some turnover during the 10 months I was there, which led me to believe that there may have been some personality issues going on in the background, but as a patient I never saw any indication of this. The front desk team was very kind and patient. The clinic also has very reasonable negotiated rates with insurance companies, which helps stretch your coverage further than at other clinics. I also thought the Lab Director John Scodras and the cryopreservation specialist Schennella were wonderful to work with, although I am a little shaky on how two of our highly graded embryos arrested during the same thawing process (but I know that this happens and is often out of the lab's control). I think that ultimately, and perhaps unfairly, clinics get judged by their results. We went through 7 embryos in order to get one successful pregnancy. But we did get a successful pregnancy, which at the end of the day is what really matters. And so I think NYFS certainly has its strengths and weaknesses, like all clinics, but if you're looking for highly personalized care at a more reasonable cost, then it's absolutely a great option.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed).
We were very fortunate to have Oxford Freedom insurance, which covered a $10,000 lifetime max plus fertility meds. Because NYFS has reasonable negotiated rates with Oxford, our one egg retrieval, one fresh embryo transfer, and 3 frozen embryo transfers were covered under the LTM, as were the medications. There were a number of extra associated costs, such as cryopreservation and storage, co-payments and fees, but those probably totaled around $4,000-$5,000 total. Unfortunately, we have hit our LTM, so everything from here on out will be out of pocket. NYFS's self-pay rates appear to be similar to most other NY clinics (i.e., very expensive).
Describe Joel Batzofin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at New York Fertility Services (closed).
Given my age (33) and quality of the blastocysts, my doctor preferred transferring single embryos, however he was very supportive of transferring more if I had felt very strongly about it. Ultimately, we transferred two embryos that resulted in my current singleton pregnancy.
Dr.batzofin was very polite and respectful I felt very comfortable he answered all of my questions and concerns...He is a very compassionate doctor, very respectful and polite made me feel very comfortable he answered all my questions and concerns received my results for me and my spouse fast...My spouse had 2 semen analysis and blood work.. the first analysis wasn’t good the second one was ok and the blood work results were good
Teresa [nurse at New York Fertility Services] answered the phone a lot she gave me my results on time if I didn’t understand something she took the time to explain and made sure I understood...Very clean office, staff are very polite and friendly u will feel very comfortable. If u have any questions make sure u write them down so u can have all of them answered . Dr. Batzofin makes sure his patients understand everything and he is very compassionate
How was your experience with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
He is a very compassionate doctor, very respectful and polite made me feel very comfortable he answered all my questions and concerns received my results for me and my spouse fast , unfortunately I didn’t continue to go through with ivf process because funds are low and I didn’t want to do iui because of my diagnosis (PCOS,recurrent miscarriages and incompetence cervix
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
If you want a baby and you have the funds and it’s hard to conceive on your own without treatment go through the process with Dr.Joel Batzofin he cares about all his patients
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Dr.batzofin was very polite and respectful I felt very comfortable he answered all of my questions and concerns
Describe the protocols Joel Batzofin used in your cycles at New York Fertility Services (closed) and their degree of success.
I did consultation and work up for me and my spouse..I had all of my up to date information so he just reviewed and and explained to me the protocol he would take . My spouse had 2 semen analysis and blood work.. the first analysis wasn’t good the second one was ok and the blood work results were good
Describe your experience with your nurse at New York Fertility Services (closed). (Assigned nurse: Teresa Randolph )
Teresa answered the phone a lot she gave me my results on time if I didn’t understand something she took the time to explain and made sure I understood
Describe your experience with New York Fertility Services (closed).
Very clean office, staff are very polite and friendly u will feel very comfortable. If u have any questions make sure u write them down so u can have all of them answered . Dr. Batzofin makes sure his patients understand everything and he is very compassionate
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed).
Each failure has been an experience where we learned something about an unseen issue; what I see as part of the process. He [Dr. Joel Batzofin] responds to email nights and weekends, and puts me at ease... He is all about getting to the problem instead of the typical line of treatment (e.g. clomid, IUI, etc). He knows our barriers are all different and treats you as though you are his only patient...He was extremely involved and cared deeply for our results, really wanting to get us over the finish line.
Be prepared to get away from the normal infertility script [at New York Fertility Services]. He [Dr. Joel Batzofin] has a method to it all!...Medications move fast and furious. I wish they ordered them sooner than later...They [the nurses at New York Fertility Services] even cried with me. Suzette and the gals are the best.
How was your experience with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Dr. B was recommended to me by a friend who went through many docs. He is all about getting to the problem instead of the typical line of treatment (e.g. clomid, IUI, etc). He knows our barriers are all different and treats you as though you are his only patient. Each failure has been an experience where we learned something about an unseen issue; what I see as part of the process. He responds to email nights and weekends, and puts me at ease. I would highly recommend Dr. B and his staff!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Be prepared to get away from the normal infertility script. He has a method to it all!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
He was extremely involved and cared deeply for our results, really wanting to get us over the finish line.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at New York Fertility Services (closed).
They even cried with me. Suzette and the gals are the best.
Describe your experience with New York Fertility Services (closed).
Medications move fast and furious. I wish they ordered them sooner than later.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed).
Covered by insurance
Describe Joel Batzofin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at New York Fertility Services (closed).
ICSI with multiple embryo transfers
What specific things went wrong at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Once it was discovered that I should be on HRT, they were not communicative on their choice as to why my medication and dosages were appropriate for me. Additionally, they seemed to no longer be interested in supporting me in treatment when it became apparent that I may need donor eggs.
Once it was discovered that I should be on HRT, they were not communicative on their choice as to why my medication and dosages were appropriate for me. Additionally, they seemed to no longer be interested in supporting me in treatment when it became apparent that I may need donor eggs.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joel Batzofin at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Once it was discovered that I should be on HRT, they were not communicative on their choice as to why my medication and dosages were appropriate for me. Additionally, they seemed to no longer be interested in supporting me in treatment when it became apparent that I may need donor eggs.
What specific things went wrong at New York Fertility Services (closed)?
Lost paperwork
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at New York Fertility Services (closed).
The billing team continued to charge me for over a year after my treatments, even after getting in touch with my insurance company. My insurance company HAD paid and there was a miscommunication on the end of the dr's office