Updated Monday, May 11, 2020

Dear FCI community,

We hope this letter finds everyone safe and healthy. We wanted to further update you on encouraging changes at Fertility Centers of Illinois. The physicians are incredibly excited to resume all treatments including IUI, IVF, egg freezing, donor egg IVF, gestational carrier cycles, and frozen embryo transfer for patients! Due to safety reasons, some patients with serious underlying medical conditions at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 may not be allowed to pursue treatment at this time.

Even though treatment is available, we appreciate there are many factors that determine if a patient desires to pursue treatment at this time. We strongly encourage all patients to contact your health care team to schedule a Zoom consultation with your physician to address likely questions this will raise for you, and/or your partner (if applicable), as you decide how to best proceed. Please note insurance companies may not expedite approval in certain cases which may lead to a delay. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Many of our staff continues to work remotely, please communicate through our Patient Portal with your nursing team for routine questions. As a reminder, you may not have your regular nurse communicating your physician and treatment instructions, and non-urgent communications may be delayed.

We will continue to follow all CDC guidelines as previously described. In summary, to achieve social distancing appointment times will be staggered and you may be asked to go to an alternative office. We plan to screen all patients doing treatments with a throat swab for active COVID-19 infection at your baseline appointment. You will be asked to complete the appropriate consent forms to initiate treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If any patient tests positive for COVID-19 we will not permit that individual to continue treatment until the illness has resolved. This is for your protection and our staff’s safety. We may ask you to wait in your car and call us when you arrive if there is concern about too many individuals in the office or waiting room at the same time.

For now, all sperm specimens for IVF and IUI will be collected at home. There will not be an option for on-site collection. Please plan to obtain a specimen cup from the clinic in advance and then drop off the specimen at your scheduled date and time. Masks will be required in the office and no visitors or partners will be allowed to attend lab testing, ultrasound, or medical procedures. 

Our emphasis continues to be keeping everyone safe while providing patients the exceptional care expected from Fertility Centers of Illinois. We are incredibly excited to provide safe infertility care to all of our patients at this time. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy. We have tried to not simply talk the talk, but walk the walk as we balance initiating treatment while implementing new safety measures.

 

Be well and safe,

Christopher Sipe, M.D.

Medical Director

Fertility Centers of Illinois