Patient Update – April 8, 2020

Dear PFC Patients,

Since our last update on March 19th, there have been a lot of developments relating to the coronavirus. We are actively updating our policies as guidance changes from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and local and state health agencies.

Most importantly, PFC remains open to patients. We are available for select in-office appointments, and we are also offering telemedicine appointments for all consults that do not require an on-office exam. Please review our Virtual Appointment FAQ page for detailed information on our process for providing virtual fertility care. Preparing for treatment during the best of times can take 4-6 weeks, and we are committed to helping our patients through this prep-period so as to not delay treatment any longer than necessary.

What does this mean for existing Patients?

We encourage you to reach out to your care team to schedule an appointment. We can work with you to determine your pre-treatment options and build a timeline for next steps.

What does this mean for new patients?

We will conduct new patient consults via telephone or video conferencing, with the option of an expedited in-office ultrasound. We will resume in regular office visits when we are able to, in accordance with local and state guidelines. To schedule your new patient appointment you may call us at (415) 834-3095 or fill this form.

When will you begin new treatment cycles?

In observance of the current ASRM guidelines, updated 3/31/2020 we are focused on mitigating the spread of this virus while still providing urgent reproductive care as determined by our providers alongside our patients. Infertility is a disease and infertility care is not elective.

To ensure our laboratory is prepared to restart when conditions are appropriate, we are rescheduling all cycles that involve an immediate attempted pregnancy that were scheduled to start March 17 to April 13. Patients with cycles scheduled to start after April 13 will be contacted with further information, but please feel free to call our office with any questions.

Should your treatment need to be rescheduled, we are committed to rescheduling your cycle as soon as possible. Know that we look forward to resuming care (safely) as much as you do. We will be in communication with you regularly to update you on timing

What are our guidelines for safety in our office?

The health and safety of our patients and staff are critical to us. We are adhering to the social distancing recommendation by updating our protocols to minimize unnecessary interaction and reduce risk as follows:

• Limiting visitors for in-office appointments
• Screening staff and patients before entering the center
• Frequently disinfecting to high touch items
• Keeping sick/symptomatic employees out of office
• Providing ongoing training to our employees of safe practices

Please do not hesitate to call our office to speak with us about any specific questions you may have. We promise to continue providing updates via our website, email, and social media channels. We are honored to serve you along your fertility journey and we are here for you every step of the way.

Additional Resources

• CDC guidelines for COVID-19: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• ASRM guidelines for COVID-19: asrm.org/news-and-publications/covid-19/statements/patient-management-and-clinical-recommendations-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

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