Continuing Care for Infertility Patients During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Our priority at the Fertility Centers of New England (FCNE) is your health and safety while providing you with a positive experience along your journey to parenthood. As a healthcare provider, our offices have always maintained a safe and clean environment. Our procedures for sanitizing and preventing the spread of germs go above and beyond the standard practices to keep our patients healthy. This is our promise to you.

FCNE is a free-standing comprehensive fertility care center. Because we are independent of traditional hospitals, we are not restricted in our ability to care for our fertility patients, nor do we have to redirect our doctors and nurses to COVID-19 related care the way hospitals may. Currently, our patients will remain in cycle with the anticipation of cycle completion and transfer. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines as well as those established by the state of Massachusetts. In servicing our patients we will be working hard to minimize the risks imposed. Please help us by letting us know if you have had contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive or you are feeling ill yourself. We will make adjustments to your care plan and support you safely. We weather this storm together and look forward to expanding your families.

If you’d like to know more about how this virus affects fertility and pregnancy, we published new information on Coronavirus and fertility.

OFFICE VISIT POLICIES

The ongoing outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted the US Government to issue guidelines and directives to address this public health emergency. To comply with these safety precautions and continue our commitment to your safety, FCNE is temporarily enhancing our own screening policies to include:

• Patients calling to schedule appointments or visiting any of our offices will  be asked questions regarding their recent travel history;
• Patients calling to schedule appointments or visiting any of our offices will be asked if they have any flu like symptoms;
• Until further notice any patient who has traveled to or through all Level 3 countries within the past 15 days will have their initial consultation, follow-up visit or treatment cycle postponed:
• Level 3 countries include:
  • China
  • Iran
  • South Korea
  • Europe (Schengen Area): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City
  • United Kingdom and Ireland: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland
• Anyone who within the past 15 days has had contact with or helped care for anyone suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to COVID-19 will have their initial consultation, follow-up appointment or treatment cycle postponed;
• Patients visiting our offices will be sent home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms or fever.

SAFETY PROCEDURES

COVID-19 is known to be more contagious than influenza but less than that of measles. The steps to protect yourself are the same as for the flu. These are:

• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the single best preventative. If soap and water are not available an alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be used;
• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue into the trash and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue available, cough or sneeze into your elbow;
• Do not touch your face, nose, mouth, eyes or ears;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a bactericidal/viricidal spray or wipe;
• There is no need for people to wear a face mask. Face masks should be used by people who are ill to minimize spread of the disease to others.

Please help us keep you and our staff healthy and safe. Thank you!