The Basics

Welcome!

Welcome to Embryo Donation International's (EDI's) Website. We look forward to providing you with the best medical care. We are a subdivision of Specialists In Reproductive Medicine & Surgery, P.A. (SRMS).

Please use the shortcut navigation on the right or simply just scroll down to the information below:

Our Mission

EDI’s mission is to reduce the number of cryopreserved embryos abandoned or discarded, matching embryos to patients wanting to build families. We are a full-service cost-effective embryo donation center serving embryo donors and recipients with care and compassion regardless of race, religion, ancestry, sexual preference or marital status.

If you would like to learn the details about our mission and values, please visit our Philosophy page.

Introduction

The information below details the basics of EDI scheduling, record release procedures and office-patient communication. Additional introductory information for embryo donors and recipients is available in the Download Center section with specific contact information detailed on the Contact Us page.

Please let us know if we can improve your experience visiting www.EmbryoDonation.com!

For Embryo Donors

Embryo donors will not need to be seen at EDI. All aspects of transferring their embryos will be arranged via fax, e-mail, snail-mail and/or phone calls. EDI will do whatever we can to make this process as easy as possible. In general, the process will be as follows:

  • Review the information presented in Donate Your Embryos web pages.
  • Review the pdf files presented in the Download Center titled Embryo Donation, Donor.
  • Complete the on-line Donor Application Form.
  • Allow us to review the application and evaluate the potential for accepting your embryos.
  • Once approved, EDI will guide you and the facility thingh the needed paper work. Your storage facility will most likely have its own consents that will need to be completed.
  • When your embryos are received by EDI, we will donate to the charity of your choice, as outlined on the We'll Donate To Charity page.
  • If you have chosen Approved Embryo Donation, you will eventually receive the recipient's psychological evaluation purged of identifying information. Once you approve the recipient, you will have completed all the tasks required in donating your embryos.
  • If you choose an Open Embryo Donation process, there will be ongoing interactions between yourself, EDI and the embryo recipients. Once your embryos are transferred, your involvement with EDI will be complete. It will be up to you and the recipients to decide future level of contact between the two of you and the potential offspring of the embryo donation process.

For Embryo Recipients

Embryo recipients will need to be seen at EDI for evaluation and eventual embryo transfer. We will do what we can to minimize your time at EDI understanding that everyone has busy lives. In general, the process will be as follows:

  • Review the information presented in the Receive Your Embryos web pages.
  • Review the pdf files presented in the Download Center titled Embryo Donation, Recipient.
  • Complete the on-line Recipient Application Form.
  • Once approved and your embryos are placed on reserve, EDI will guide you in the steps involved in receiving your embryos. The minimum amount of time you will need to be here will be two three-day visits or one 13-day visit. The amount of time spent at EDI will also depend on the availability of having distant physicians assist in your evaluation and monitoring prior to the transfer itself. The staff at EDI will assist you in all scheduling. Embryo transfer dates are available nearly every month.
Each EDI patient should be aware of the general information in the segments listed below. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Scheduling

Appointments should be scheduled as far in advance as possible. We are aware of the particular needs of our embryo recipients. The hours listed are Eastern Standard Time. Regular office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Phone calls are accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend and holiday hours are available for follicular monitoring, blood testing and embryo transfers as needed.

For our out-of-town patients, we strive to get as much done as possible before your actual visit by utilizing telephone and/or video conferences. Our embryo donation coordinators will do their best to simplify this process for you.

When you make your first appointment, you will be asked simple questions so an appropriate amount of time can be scheduled for your visit. The receptionist will contact you a day or two prior to your visit to confirm your appointment. New patients are encouraged to arrive 20-25 minutes early to complete the necessary paperwork.

Our office prides itself on running on time which is greatly appreciated by our busy patients. We are only able to run on time when our patients do the same. If a patient arrives late, the appointment may need to be rescheduled as a courtesy to our other patients.

Cancellations

EDI reserves the right to bill for last-minute cancellations or your failure to keep an appointment. If you find you must cancel or change your appointment time, please try to give at least 24 hours of notice, so another patient on the waiting list can be seen. For Monday appointments, cancellations need to be made by noon on the Friday before.

     

 

Records

Please have copies of your medical records and X-rays forwarded to the office prior to your appointment so they can be reviewed beforehand. You will need to request records of your HSG (hysterosalpingogram) from the radiology facility where it was performed rather than your physician.

 

After-Hours Emergencies

If you need to contact us outside of normal office hours, please call the regular office number (239-275-5728 or 1-800-334-2184). For emergencies, please identify yourself as an Embryo Recipient patient so your call will be forwarded to the medical staff on call. Be sure to keep your phone line open for a return call. A clinician will always be available to respond to your emergencies. Overseas problems will be handled as quickly as is feasible.

Routine Phone Calls

Routine medical questions are first handled by the clinical staff. Please give the clinical staff a full 24-48 hours to return all non-emergency phone calls. If physician input is needed, the physician will contact you after a review of your chart. Your physician may have a number of calls to return, so please be patient.

EDI reserves the right to bill for extended phone calls with your physician that concern matters that would normally be discussed during scheduled office visits.

Scheduled Phone and Video Conference Calls

Since many of our patients live outside the area, a telephone/video conference call may be scheduled the same way as a normal office visit. This time will be billed appropriately, but they are not commonly reimbursed by insurance companies. Some states and countries have rules and regulations against clinicians in one state/country interacting with patients in distant locations. Wherever possible, we will communicate via an electronic method to minimize your travel and inconvenience.

Prescriptions and Refills

All prescriptions and refills should be requested during regular office hours. This will enable our clinicians to review your medical records and make a well-informed decision regarding your care. Please provide the name and phone number of your pharmacy, as well as your name, birth date, dosage, medication allergies and the schedule of all medications you are taking.

In the best interest of the patient, narcotics will be prescribed only during regular office visits and no over the phone during evenings, weekends or holidays without an evaluation. Any patient needing narcotics during the off-business hours will be requested to go to an urgent care center or an emergency room for evaluation.

Please notify the receptionist of any changes in your address, telephone numbers, insurance carrier or other pertinent information since your last visit.

How You Can Help

We appreciate your constructive comments and encourage you to offer them in a productive manner. We are always looking for suggestions on how we can better serve you so please contact us.

UPDATED: 04/06/2013
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