Not only was Dr Hughes great about communicating with me, she also went to bat with my insurance company. I was required to do 6 IUIs before I could be approved for IVF and it was taking a toll on my body. I was having multiple cysts between cycles which would cause delays in going forward with the next cycle. Since I was older, she realized that time was of the essence. It meant a lot to me that she tried so hard to be an advocate for me with my insurance.
The nurses [at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science] were nothing short of amazing! Always friendly or compassionate, especially when it was bad news...updated equipment and very organized...office decor is a bit dated (that’s a personal preference I know) but don’t let the décor indicate anything...[Dr. Hughes] tried so hard to be an advocate for me with my insurance.
How was your experience with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Not only was Dr Hughes great about communicating with me, she also went to bat with my insurance company. I was required to do 6 IUIs before I could be approved for IVF and it was taking a toll on my body. I was having multiple cysts between cycles which would cause delays in going forward with the next cycle. Since I was older, she realized that time was of the essence. It meant a lot to me that she tried so hard to be an advocate for me with my insurance.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
She knows what she’s doing! Trust her… always ask questions of course but she truly does know her stuff.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Dr. Hughes was nothing short of friendly, honest and forthcoming with me. She listened to my concerns and always had a plan of action.
Describe the protocols Patricia Hughes used in your cycles at CCRM New Jersey and their degree of success.
It’s been a while - but I had to go through 6 IUIs before I could be approved for IVF. Once I had my final failed IUI we got ready for IVF. I think it was a pretty standard treatment with progesterone shots after retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Illiana )
The nurses were nothing short of amazing! Always friendly or compassionate, especially when it was bad news.
Describe your experience with CCRM New Jersey.
Strengths: amazing, caring staff, updated equipment and very organized
Weaknesses: a long drive (for me), office decor is a bit dated (that’s a personal preference I know) but don’t let the décor indicate anything.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey.
Mine was covered by insurance except co-pays
Describe Patricia Hughes's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM New Jersey.
For my fresh transfer we did one embryo based on the grade of that embryo. It was a successful transfer and I had a baby girl! We froze the other 4 eggs. When I was ready to get pregnant again, we also did one egg transfer because of the grade of the embryo. That first one was a failed transfer. The next one we put back was also a single because of the grade and it was successful! I was told of that one hadn’t come to fruition we would have put the last two back together because they weren’t rated as highly.
Dr Hughes has 30+ years of experience and when i initially went to consult her i felt so confident that she was the right fit for me , but 1.5 years in treatment with 5 failed iuis and 2 failed ivfs later (more than $30K later) , i feel i should have switched sooner. I know REs are not god but if i took any question or suggestion to better the result of our treatments she was not very open to them . I had to literally argue with her to get ERA procedure done . Initially she had also advised me against PGS testing
I think they [IRMS] try to play safe and hence the results are not exceptional. I really can't comment on the embryologist because you just have to trust them and their ability. But sometimes i wonder if my failed embryo transfer were a result of their mistakes \ mishandling.... [Monitoring Appointments] I would usually spent 1.5 hr for blood work and monitoring.... Illiyana was a great nurse . She was sweet , compassionate and very calm.... I did the following 3 iuis with clomid 2
How was your experience with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Dr Hughes has 30+ years of experience and when i initially went to consult her i felt so confident that she was the right fit for me , but 1.5 years in treatment with 5 failed iuis and 2 failed ivfs later (more than $30K later) , i feel i should have switched sooner. I know REs are not god but if i took any question or suggestion to better the result of our treatments she was not very open to them . I had to literally argue with her to get ERA procedure done . Initially she had also advised me against PGS testing , which i still did . I am glad i did that else i would have wasted more money on transfering aneuploid embryos . I felt she was less flexible with her approach.
When i met her after my failed cycles she would put a sad face and she also said "i don't know how could i couple be so unlucky". You don't expect to hear this from a fertility Dr.
Bottomline is - If i was a millionaire and if i could afford all the IVFs in the world i would not have gone to her again. I would have tried RMA instead (which is so expensive) :(
I am still struggling to start a family. I have left her clinic and am on a break before i dive again in this ocean of treatments and find a better RE who listens.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Please don't trust blindly on her. Do your research and take second opinions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
I was treated as a Human at Dr Hughes. She doesn't have a huge practice so there were not a million patients lining up. But i feel she could have done better.
Describe the protocols Patricia Hughes used in your cycles at CCRM New Jersey and their degree of success.
I did the following
3 iuis with clomid
2 iuis with letrozol
1 ivf with - Gonal F + cetrotide + hcg trigger +icsi + pgs testing the only euploid embryo
2nd ivf with - Foliistm + Menopur + cetrotide + hcg trigger +icsi + pgs testing the only euploid embryo . I also did ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis)
Describe your experience with your nurse at CCRM New Jersey. (Assigned nurse: Illiyana Zampella)
Illiyana was a great nurse . She was sweet , compassionate and very calm.
Describe your experience with CCRM New Jersey.
I think they try to play safe and hence the results are not exceptional. I really can't comment on the embryologist because you just have to trust them and their ability. But sometimes i wonder if my failed embryo transfer were a result of their mistakes \ mishandling.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at CCRM New Jersey.
I would usually spent 1.5 hr for blood work and monitoring.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey.
Close to $30,000
Describe Patricia Hughes's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM New Jersey.
She always promoted single embryo transfer . Unfortunately both my IVF rounds only resulted in 1 euploid embryos each time.
What specific things went wrong at CCRM New Jersey?
I had a lot of eggs that were showing up on the sonogram. SO much so that we started off on a low dosage to grow them because Dr. Hughes didn't want me to explode. Despite that, I only had a small amount of viable eggs. It was disappointing and I did a second round of retrieval to get more eggs. Setting the expectation- that you really don't know until the retrieval- made all the difference in terms of handling the disappointment.
They've [Institute for Reproductive Medicine at Science] been around a long time and have many doctors so I was always covered..... Dr. Hughes has extensive history in fertility treatments. I love that she explained how IVF was only really relatively new in terms of truly being effective. The fact that she set expectations during each visit was gratifying and I loved that she only revolved my cycle around her hospital schedule so that she could be the one to do the retrieval.
How was your experience with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Dr. Hughes has extensive history in fertility treatments. I love that she explained how IVF was only really relatively new in terms of truly being effective. The fact that she set expectations during each visit was gratifying and I loved that she only revolved my cycle around her hospital schedule so that she could be the one to do the retrieval.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
To trust her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Every time I met with the doctor, she seemed to have all the time in the world for me and explained everything to me in terms of science and expectations.
Describe the protocols Patricia Hughes used in your cycles at CCRM New Jersey and their degree of success.
I had a lot of eggs that were showing up on the sonogram. SO much so that we started off on a low dosage to grow them because Dr. Hughes didn't want me to explode. Despite that, I only had a small amount of viable eggs. It was disappointing and I did a second round of retrieval to get more eggs. Setting the expectation- that you really don't know until the retrieval- made all the difference in terms of handling the disappointment.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM New Jersey.
Very easy to work with, kind, gentle.
Describe your experience with CCRM New Jersey.
Strength- they've been around a long time and have many doctors so I was always covered.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey.
I think it was about $10,000 per cycle.
Describe Patricia Hughes's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CCRM New Jersey.
The doctor [Dr. Hughes] and the nurse were kind, compassionate. I would feel anxious going for the treatments but after seeing/talking to them, I will be at ease.... We were new to fertility treatments and the doctor explained the treatment well. I was anxious initially but the doctor and the nurse made me feel comfortable with every visit. It was nice that the same doctor would visit me every time unlike some other clinics.
I had a good overall experience though I had to discontinue treatments here [at Institute for Repro Med & Science at Saint Barnabas] due to personal reasons. It was nice that the doctor visited every patient and did the procedure herself and the nurse is very kind too. The cost of IUI was cheaper here compared to other clinic. They are primarily paper based and so there won't be much digital records - this would have been nicer to have.
How was your experience with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
We were new to fertility treatments and the doctor explained the treatment well. I was anxious initially but the doctor and the nurse made me feel comfortable with every visit. It was nice that the same doctor would visit me every time unlike some other clinics.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
Ask lot of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey?
The doctor and the nurse were kind, compassionate. I would feel anxious going for the treatments but after seeing/talking to them, I will be at ease.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at CCRM New Jersey.
The nurse was very kind and gentle, I'd feel so much at ease around her.
Describe your experience with CCRM New Jersey.
I had a good overall experience though I had to discontinue treatments here due to personal reasons. It was nice that the doctor visited every patient and did the procedure herself and the nurse is very kind too. The cost of IUI was cheaper here compared to other clinic. They are primarily paper based and so there won't be much digital records - this would have been nicer to have.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Patricia Hughes at CCRM New Jersey.