When you go to the doctor with a medical problem, you want answers stat!
Many people trust their physician to deliver an accurate diagnosis and are hesitant to challenge their judgment, but what if obtaining a second opinion could change your diagnosis, your treatment and your health outcomes?
In a recent article published on FoxNews.com, according to a 2010 Gallup poll, 70 percent of Americans are confident in their doctor’s accuracy, and only 29 percent opt to do their own research after receiving medical advice. However, according to a 2014 study by the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.one in 20 Americans are actually subjected to diagnostic errors.
A diagnosis can be life-threatening and a prescribed treatment regimen can be costly and invasive. However, by obtaining a medical second opinion you can ensure that you are doing whatever you can to achieve the best healthcare decisions that will give you peace of mind. Second Opinions save lives. They also help to prevent unnecessary surgeries and procedures, prevent medical errors, reduce insurance premiums and protect the health and well-being of patients.
When to consider getting a second opinion.
1. When you are uncomfortable with your diagnosis or recommended treatment. An estimated 12 million U.S. adults are misdiagnosed every year and half of these diagnostic errors could be harmful. This means that there’s a good chance that your doctor makes mistakes too. Fact is, no one knows your body or can feel your symptoms the way you do. If you don’t feel completely satisfied about your doctor’s diagnosis, it may help to ask the opinion of another expert physician.
2. When your doctor recommends a serious but non-emergency surgery. Major surgery comes with significant risk that can be life-altering. If the surgery your doctor recommends is not an emergency, you have time to seek a second opinion. Did you know that many invasive operations are performed when minimally invasive alternatives may be available? The risks of undergoing surgery can cause high levels of anxiety for a patient, but if you take the time to educate yourself and talk with another doctor about the recommended procedure, it can keep your mind
3. When you don’t feel like you are being heard. Doctors spend an average of 20 minutes in the exam room with each patient, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. In addition, another published study suggests that a patient can’t speak for more than 12 seconds without being interrupted either by their doctor or another staff member. An accurate diagnosis depends on you being able to communicate your health history, symptoms and concerns. When your doctor doesn’t take time to hear these things, he or she may miss some crucial information.
If you want a second opinion, talk to your doctor. Many people are nervous about getting a second opinion because they are worried their doctor will be angry. What many people don’t realize is that most physicians don’t take it personally when asked to seek the counsel of another professional and some physicians even encourage it.
It is also important to check with your healthcare insurance to be sure they cover second opinions so you don’t get billed. Many insurance companies don’t have issues paying for second opinions, because it can save them money on costly and unnecessary procedures.
Health care has become a service industry and you, as the patient, are the consumer. When you have questions about your doctor’s diagnosis or the relevance of a recommended treatment, you shouldn’t feel powerless. A second opinion can help put your mind at ease. When your health is on the line the decisions you make can have significant and lifelong effects. It’s always important to get a second opinion regarding your health and at SecondOpinions.com we can help you achieve this with ease from the comfort of your home or office. It can be a matter of life or death.
