A recent Fertility & Sterility article highlights a critical shortage in reproductive endocrinologists, with demand outpacing supply by more than sevenfold. This shortage, coupled with a growing deficit of OB/GYNs, underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to meet patient needs—especially for patients in rural areas and those facing financial barriers due to limited healthcare coverage.
More time on the right things
Clinics are increasingly stretched thin, preventing clinicians from practicing at the top of their licenses and delivering optimal care. From providing basic fertility education to handling numerous portal messages, clinicians and staff are overburdened, often turning to hiring as the only solution.
Frame’s comprehensive platform addresses these challenges. Clinics can enjoy the best of both worlds—additional staff (including APPs, RNs, and care coordinators) when needed, combined with scalable technology. More specifically, Frame offers staff augmentation, providing clinics with specialized, lower-cost, tech-enabled resources. Additionally, Frame’s technology manages patient communication and follow-up in a personalized, timely manner, reducing no-show rates by 73% and alleviating administrative burdens.
Frame’s concierge coaching service also offers live and text-based support seven days a week, handling non-urgent calls and messages to reduce nursing burnout and turnover. Nurses report saving 15-90 minutes per patient per week within two months of implementing Frame, with call and message volume dropping by up to 50%.
Retention, retention, retention
Patient dropout of treatment is a frequent concern amongst fertility clinics, with dropout rates as high as 65% after starting the process. Many patients seek second opinions if dissatisfied with their care, especially following the first consult.
Frame partners with clinics to optimize the initial consult by ensuring patients stay engaged and come prepared. Patients feel more involved and informed through the completion of a “pre-consult checklist” before their appointment. This may include basic onboarding tasks (e.g., medical intake, consent forms, EMR portal sign-up) and pre-consult testing (semen analysis, genetic testing, and counseling). Frame checks in with patients during this waiting period, educating them on what to expect at their first consult. This proactive approach ensures that treatment planning can begin at the first visit, reducing the likelihood of drop-out. Partner clinics have seen a 72% increase in conversion to treatment and a reduction in time to treatment by at least one month.
By working upstream with OB/GYNs, Frame also provides clinics with a new source of prepared patients ready to be fast-tracked into fertility treatment.
For clinics struggling to convert new leads into scheduled appointments, Frame augments virtual and telephonic “front door” services to provide hands-on support immediately, compared to a traditional callback or call center model.
By combining technology and concierge services, Frame closes gaps, matching patients to the right care at the right time, accelerating the treatment process, and improving overall patient retention.
Boosting patient satisfaction while lightening the nursing workload
Research shows that 40% of patients drop out of treatment due to stress.Many report feeling overwhelmed and isolated, leading them to abandon their journey.
Frame addresses this by extending clinics’ emotional support resources through dedicated fertility coaching, available seven days a week, including after-hours support—one of the reasons Frame’s patient satisfaction score is 98%.
This personalized support, combined with Frame's virtual accessibility via phone, text, and email, ensures that patients can easily connect with their coach from the comfort of their own home, often involving their partner in the process.
Once a patient becomes pregnant, Frame facilitates a smooth transition back to the OB/GYN, improving overall patient experience and satisfaction while reducing the clinic’s workload during the transition.
Conclusion
Frame combines clinical evidence, proprietary technology and high-touch service to integrate with clinic workflows and drive leads to appointments, pre-consult testing/education, and emotional support during treatment. The results? Improved patient experience and reduced staff turnover and administrative burden.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Frame can benefit your clinic, please email us at partners@frameyourfuture.com.
