Updated COVID 19 Policies: Effective August 9, 2021
August 9, 2021
Dear Valued Patients,
As COVID-19 numbers increase again, we want to restate our commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our patients and team members. We continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and as a result, we are having to put into place the following policies and procedures once again, effective August 9, 2021:
Appointment Check-In
For patients who require on-site appointments, we request that you please check-in from your vehicle by calling our Welcome Center. Please do not enter until our patient advocates welcome you to do so.
- Check-in for our St. Louis center may be completed by dialing (636) 778-9899
- Check-in for our Tulsa center may be completed by dialing (918) 615-8484
Face Covering/Mask
We require all who enter our office to wear a face covering/mask which covers their mouth and nose. We cannot guarantee the availability of masks and may not be able to provide one to you. Please be sure to bring along a face covering with you to your appointment.
Screening
All who enter the clinic will be screened for possible exposure and risk factors to COVID-19. Those who fail the screening process will not be allowed to enter.
In the event a patient is quarantined or becomes ill from COVID-19 prior to or during a patient’s cycle, their treatment cycle will be cancelled.
Guests
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may arise; however, to maintain safe social distancing and to reduce potential risk and exposure to our staff and patients, we must limit the number of individuals allowed within our center.
Currently, we are only able to permit the patient’s partner to select appointments which include:
- Consultations
- IUI procedures
- Egg Retrievals
- Embryo Transfers
- Obstetrical ultrasounds.
For all other appointments, only the patient will be allowed access.
We apologize but no additional guests or children will be permitted entry.
Social Distancing
Please forgive us for not shaking hands or hugging. Supporting you is an essential part of patient care, but for now, we must reduce physical contact and will abide by the 6ft guidelines recommended by the CDC
We apologize for any inconveniences but appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Is it recommended for pre-pregnancy and pregnancy patients?
By: Dr. Mira Aubuchon
December 21, 2020
The upcoming availability of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to reduce the risks of contracting the virus and to reduce the risks becoming ill with COVID-19 is certainly encouraging news during this difficult year. Many of you have asked us about receiving a vaccine when it becomes available. The information we have now may evolve over time, as with many things during this pandemic, but here is what we know:
COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to severe problems with breathing that can require intensive care unit stays and the use of ventilators. COVID-19 infection might be associated with preterm delivery and stillbirth, as well, when the mom’s body is not getting enough oxygen. Therefore, we know that COVID-19 infection can be harmful during pregnancy, and therefore it is reasonable to consider protecting against infection. Although the current vaccine has not been tested in pregnant women, there is enough information based on how the vaccine is made to provide some insights to people planning to become or who are already pregnant.
Coronavirus and Infertility Treatment
Your'e doing everything in your powers to build your family, and so are we
July 17, 2020
Dear Valued Patients,
We want to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation as we continue to traverse through this pandemic. As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, we want to restate our commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our patients and team members. We continue to follow guidance from outside medical advisors and the ordinances set forth by St. Louis County and the City of Tulsa.
As a result, the following policies and procedures remain in effect:
Appointment Check-In
For patients who require on-site appointments, we request that you please check-in from your vehicle by calling our Welcome Center. Our patient advocates will notify you when we have a room ready for you.
- Check-in for our St. Louis center may be completed by dialing 636-778-9899.
- Check-in for our Tulsa center may be completed by dialing 918-615-8484.
Face Covering/Mask
Per local ordinances, we require all who enter our office to wear a face covering/mask which covers their mouth and nose. The CDC website provides instructions on how to create a "no-sew" face covering. You may also watch this video provided by the CDC.
Screening
All who enter the clinic will be screened for possible exposure and risk factors to COVID-19. Those who fail the screening process will not be allowed to enter.
In the event a patient is quarantined or becomes ill from COVID-19 prior to or during a patient’s cycle, their treatment cycle will be cancelled.
Guests
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may arise; however, to maintain safe social distancing and to reduce potential risk and exposure to our staff and patients, we must limit the number of individuals allowed within our center. We are sorry, but only the patient with a confirmed appointment is allowed entry into our offices. This includes all ultrasound appointments, including obstetric, and lab draws. We know this may be difficult but minimizing the risk of exposure is extremely important.
Social Distancing
Please forgive us for not shaking hands or hugging. Supporting you is an essential part of patient care, but for now, we must reduce physical contact and will abide by the 6ft guidelines recommended by the CDC
We apologize for any inconveniences but appreciate your continued cooperation and understanding.
#WereAllInThisTogether
May 11, 2020
Dear Valued Patients,
We realize the ongoing situation related to COVID-19 has added additional hurdles to the already challenging infertility journey. Please be assured that the health and safety of our patients and fertility care team remain our top priority.
Based on current guidance from outside medical advisers, we have made the difficult decision to grant access to our center to only those actual patients who have a scheduled appointment. No additional guests will be permitted entry at this time.
Additionally, in order to remain in compliance with local mandates, the following policies remain in effect:
Appointment Check-In
For patients who require on-site appointments, we request that you please check-in from your vehicle by calling our Welcome Center. Our patient advocates will then notify patients when the time has arrived to enter our clinic. For checking in at our St. Louis center please dial 636-778-9899 and to check-in at our Tulsa location, please dial (918) 872-0867.
Face Covering/Mask
We are requiring all patients being seen within our office to wear a face covering/mask which covers their mouth and nose. The CDC website provides instructions on how to create a "no-sew" face covering. You may also watch this video provided by the CDC.
Screening
All patients being seen within the clinic will be screened for possible exposure and risk factors of COVID-19. Those who fail the screening process will not be allowed to be seen.
In the event a patient is quarantined or becomes ill from COVID-19 prior to or during a patient’s cycle, their treatment cycle will be cancelled.
Guests
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may arise; however, to maintain appropriate measures for social distancing we are only permitting the Patient with a scheduled appointment within our clinic until further notice. We know this may be extremely difficult but minimizing the risk of exposure is extremely important.
Social Distancing
Please forgive us for not shaking hands or hugging. Supporting you is an essential part of patient care, but for now, we must reduce physical contact and will abide by the 6ft guidelines recommended by the CDC
We apologize for any inconveniences and are committed to resuming normal daily operations as soon as possible.
The MCRM Team
March 22, 2020
Dear Valued Patients,
The environment related to COVID-19 is ever evolving with new information arriving daily. We want you to feel confident that we are continuously monitoring all updates and that we are complying with the recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and local and state governments. Our MCRM Fertility team appreciates your understanding and patience as we review and make necessary changes to ensure your health and the health of our fertility care team.
We understand this may be a difficult time for you as you have already been traversing the journey of infertility. Rest assured, MCRM Fertility remains committed to you.
After careful considerations and discussions with our advisors we are continuing to proceed with fertility treatment cycles for patients who have already started an IVF cycle. Additionally, we will continue to schedule new patient and follow-up appointments and offer them through the use of telemedicine.
At MCRM Fertility, our number one priority is always your health and the health of our staff. In order to comply with local mandates, we have instituted the following policies:
Appointment Check-In
For patients who require on-site appointments, we request that you please check-in from your vehicle by calling our Welcome Center. Our patient advocates will then notify patients when the time has arrived to enter our clinic. For checking in at our St. Louis center please dial 636-778-9899 and to check-in at our Tulsa location, please dial (918) 872-0867.
Guests
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may arise; however, to maintain appropriate measures for social distancing we are only permitting the Patient and their partner or significant other within our clinic until further notice. We know this may be extremely difficult, but minimizing the risk of exposure is extremely important.
Screening
All patients being seen within the clinic will be screened for possible exposure and risk factors of COVID-19. Those who fail screening will not be allowed to be seen. In the event a patient is quarantined or becomes ill from COVID-19, their treatment cycle will be cancelled.
Social Distancing
Please forgive us for not shaking hands or hugging. Supporting you is an essential part of patient care, but for now, we have to reduce physical contact and will abide by the 6ft guidelines recommended by the CDC
Please know the situation is fluid and changing rapidly and this is not business as usual. We are committed to resuming normal daily operations as soon as possible. As always, MCRM Fertility will continue to advocate for our patients through their fertility care journey.
The MCRM Team
March 18, 2020
The COVID-19 virus, also known as coronavirus disease, is upon us. The COVID-19 virus is novel and new. The infectious disease specialists around the world are still characterizing and learning about its effects. What we do know is that it is very contagious and harmful, especially to those in poor health.
Here are the measures that we’re taking to make sure that we can continue to provide you with the highest standard of fertility treatment while keeping not only your health and safety, but everyone’s, as our top priority:
- Offices, the waiting room and shared spaces are sanitized by staff every 1-2 hours
- Exam rooms are sanitized between patients
- All linens, drapes, and devices are used only once and are either discarded or disinfected between patients when reusable
- Fertility consults may be conducted through a tele-health visit
- We will ask patients to check-in from your car when you arrive. Arriving patients should call our office and then wait in your car until we text you for your appointment
- We ask that you please do not bring anyone with you to appointments (relatives, children, etc.) except for your partner. We know this may be extremely difficult, but minimizing the risk of exposure is extremely important right now
- Non-urgent interventional procedures, such as hysterosalpingograms, may be temporarily suspended.
- Please forgive us for not shaking hands or hugging. Supporting you is an essential part of patient care, but for now, we have to reduce physical contact and will try to abide by the 6ft guidelines recommended by the CDC
We need to keep our patients and staff healthy, you can help. We need you at 100%. If you have even a sniffle, please stay home. If you feel fantastic, but someone you have close contact with has experienced flu-like symptoms, please refrain from coming in. You will not be charged a cancellation fee if you are sick. We would rather be overly cautious and keep everyone safe.
- If you’ve had exposure to COVID-19 or know anyone who has, we’ll stop treatment immediately.
- If you have traveled to a high-risk area in the last two weeks (please see the CDC website for high-risk areas), please arrange for a tele-health visit or reschedule your appointment.
If you are in an IVF stimulation cycle and you become exposed to COVID-19, per the guidance established by local and national agencies, we may be required to cancel your IVF cycle. We know how difficult this can be. To help you as much as we can in this event, we will credit our services of your IVF cycle not yet rendered to repeat at a later date. This does exclude medications
Right now, much is unknown about COVID-19 and pregnancy. We do know, however, that because pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections, it’s important to take extra safety precautions. Per the recommendations of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), MCRM Fertility will temporarily suspend initiation of ovulation inductions, intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) and embryo transfers.
Our advice for patients is:
- Stay healthy; wash your hands often and wash for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Embrace social distancing
- Avoid others who are sick or have been sick
- Avoid unnecessary and non-essential travel
- Remain calm and optimistic; stay informed with verified news sources such as the CDC and WHO
You know as well as we do, that the global situation is changing by the minute. We’re not only looking to the guidance of the Centers for Disease Centers (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for guidance, we also look to our colleagues and professional societies including, but not limited to, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) all of whom, are updating their recommendations rapidly.
Infertility is a disease and we must consider the necessities of those who require treatment for their conditions as well as the necessities of public safety.
As soon as we have updates, we will share them here on the COVID-19 page of our website. Please continue to check for updates.
Our goal is to resume usual patient care as soon and safely as possible.
Warmly
Peter Ahlering, MD / Mira Aubuchon, MD
P.S. There are many twists and turns on the fertility journey and it often takes longer than one would have liked. This is just one more twist; and we’ll work together to achieve your goals.
ASRM Bulletin, March 17, 2020
Patient Management and Clinical Recommendations During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Along with others in the global community, reproductive medicine professionals and their patients are battling an unprecedented viral pandemic.
The priority of the ASRM is to maximize the wellbeing of patients, staff, and society at large. As such, ASRM aims to provide guidance and support based on existing scientific knowledge, to its members and the patients they care for during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This guidance addresses a gap in current guidelines addressing COVID-19, which only indirectly mention infertility and its treatment.
The recommendations laid out in this document are guided by COVID-19’s steep daily rise in incidence, the impact of the virus on patient health and fertility care providers, and the known and unknown impact of coronavirus on fertility, pregnancy and transmission patterns. These recommendations are aimed at guarding the health and safety of patients and providers, while also recognizing that it is our social responsibility, as an organization and as a community of providers and experts, to comply with national public health recommendations and apply them to all reproductive settings during this unprecedented time.
The role of ASRM during this pandemic is to proactively do our share in blunting the impact of this pandemic, while recognizing the need to safeguard limited health infrastructure resources. However, we also understand our patients’ time-sensitive aspirations to achieve pregnancy, and so we will regularly reassess these recommendations with a hope to resume initiation of comprehensive fertility care as soon as possible.
This guidance recommends the following:
1. Suspend initiation of new treatment cycles, including ovulation induction, intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), in vitro fertilization (IVF) including retrievals and frozen embryo transfers, as well as non-urgent gamete cryopreservation.
2. Strongly consider cancellation of all embryo transfers whether fresh or frozen.
3. Continue to care for patients who are currently “in-cycle” or who require urgent stimulation and cryopreservation.
4. Suspend elective surgeries and non-urgent diagnostic procedures.
5. Minimize in-person interactions and increase utilization of tele-health.
Note: This guidance will be revisited periodically as the pandemic evolves, but no later than March 30, 2020, with the aim of resuming usual patient care as soon and as safely as possible.
ASRM Bulletin, March 12, 2020
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