Couples in the Greenville region needing fertility assistance have the best of both worlds – convenience and access to state-of-the-art technology – while controlling costs
Raleigh, NC-October 2, 2014 | In vitro fertilization (IVF), which is one of many treatment options for couples in need of fertility assistance, is typically one of the most costly treatments due to the highly-specialized laboratory technology needed. UNC Fertility Center and ECU Women’s Physicians healthcare practices announced today a unique collaboration to better serve Greenville-area patients in need of IVF and to help control treatment costs
Through their partnership, women in eastern North Carolina will be able to receive day-to-day IVF care and monitoring at ECU Women’s Physicians in Greenville and then travel to UNC Fertility Center’s lab in Raleigh for onsite lab procedures. ECU Women’s Physicians recently closed their IVF lab, due in part to state budget cuts. Maintaining the lab would have required significant pass-along price increases to their patients.
Dr. Cal Hayslip, Jr., Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Brody School of Medicine and IVF Medical Director at ECU Women’s Physicians, explains, “Running our own independent IVF lab was becoming increasingly expensive and we did not want couples in Greenville to have to pay that price. UNC Fertility opened a new state-of-the-art lab just last year. It makes perfect sense for my patients to continue their in-office treatment here at ECU and then take advantage of UNC Fertility’s outstanding team and facility when it’s time for laboratory procedures. They get the best of both worlds – the convenience of day-to-day services in their own backyard as well as access to the latest technology at UNC Fertility.” Dr. Hayslip is the only board-certified reproductive endocrinologist in eastern North Carolina
“We want to do everything we can to make IVF as affordable as possible for all patients. When we opened our new treatment center last year, we did so with the goal of reaching out to help even more patients in North Carolina, and across the region,” commented Dr. Marc Fritz, Practice Director at UNC Fertility. “Most patients will only need to travel to see us two times during an IVF cycle – and we’re just 90 minutes away from Greenville, so it’s very manageable.”
“We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with ECU to provide advanced infertility services for their patients. We consider ourselves part of their team and already are working closely with Dr. Hayslip and other physicians to meet the needs of patients in the Greenville and surrounding communities,” Dr. Fritz elaborated. “We look forward to building our relationship with ECU and to help build families for patients throughout eastern North Carolina.”
About UNC Fertility
UNC Fertility, located in Raleigh, NC, provides care for the evaluation and treatment of disorders relating to fertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, menopause, and reproductive endocrine abnormalities. Services include the spectrum of fertility treatments (ultrasound, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, reconstructive laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, and sperm donation). Their IVF Program includes four board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialists, highly experienced embryologists and laboratory support staff, specially trained nurses, and the most advanced technology available. For more information about UNC Fertility, visit http://uncfertility.com/or call 877-338-469
About ECU Women’s Physicians
ECU Women’s Physicians is a service of ECU Physicians, the clinical practice operated by the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. The practice provides outstanding care for women of all ages, including teenagers, young adults, hopeful moms-to-be, and women going through menopause. Their outstanding fertility team provides the only IVF service east of Raleigh as well as many other infertility services, from infertility evaluation and diagnostics to treatments, such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surgery. To learn more about ECU Women’s Physicians, visit http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ecuphysicians/women/infertility.cfm or call 252-744-3850
Contact: Erica Wilkens
919-908-0014 / Erica.Wilkens@integramed.com