My Doctor Knows “Everything”

Do you say the same thing about your doctor? If you do, then you should already think twice. Don’t get me wrong that you must get all dubious about your doctor’s diagnosis of what ailment you may have and about the prescriptions given to you. Anyway, they are doctors – they are supposed to know what they’re doing – they didn’t spend a decade or so finishing their profession just for nothing. What I’m trying to say is that as patients, we also play a very critical role when we are diagnosed with a certain condition, whether it is a life-threatening illness (malignant tumor, HIV/AIDS, SPTCL etc.) or a non-life-threatening one, you must be curious about the diagnosis and the prescribed treatment. You must do your own research. We have to accept the fact: Doctors don’t know “everything” – and that fact will never change and that is the reason people seek second medical opinion. Continue reading →

The option of getting a second opinion prior to a major medical procedure such as surgery can sometimes be one step away from death. Getting a second opinion or consultation is a viable option all patients and medical professionals face. In fact for several years, hospitals have decreed the use of second opinions when exorbitantly expensive surgeries or speculative treatments have been recommended. The method of attaining a second opinion has become so valuable now that some hospitals invoke penalties on employees who don’t follow such protocol, as hospitals in the United States have made it mandatory to acquire a second opinion before certain surgeries/treatments. Additionally, some medical insurance companies offer to search for the best possible physician or specialist to connect a patient with.

When examining the merit of second opinions, evaluating costs and outcomes is a primary concern; for the question of whether or not second opinions do in fact save money or improve overall quality of care and outcomes is still a little muddled. There are cases where a second opinion doesn’t offer any new insight and restates the original diagnosis. However, this still doesn’t detract from the ability inherent in second opinions to correct any error(s) made within the first diagnosis in a timely fashion and minimize risks in relation to the proposed treatment. Furthermore, doctors themselves encourage and advise their patients’ to procure a second opinion from another medical professional before undergoing a major procedure and/or treatment to ensure the best possible outcome in difficult cases.

Now, as medicine gets more involved with, and utilizes the benefits of, digital media i.e. the Internet, this helps support and aptly manage the use of second opinions; as they now rely on more specialized expertise in reviewing medical records and prescribed methods of treatment online. Moreover, the electronic use of medical records expedites the process of obtaining a second opinion; as patients feel more in control of who they choose as their consult and how they can reach them. By moving the process to an online platform patients don’t have to wait months before their case is reviewed by another specialist or medical professional. They also don’t have to endure the taxation of travel to another part of the country or in some cases, the globe, to secure a second opinion. All can be performed digitally, operating on the basis that the patient is in full control of the process.

Allowing patients a viable channel of connecting with another physician/specialist via online eliminates two major issues. The first is the issue of ‘time.’ Receiving a devastating medical diagnosis is very stressful, but to then face a daunting treatment/procedure can overwhelm a person. They may get the false sense that there is not enough ‘time’ to get a second opinion. However, in Rita Wilson’s case, the actress and wife of actor Tom Hanks, time was a non-issue.

“I share this to educate others that a second opinion is critical to your health. You have nothing to lose if both opinions match up for the good, and everything to gain if something that was missed is found, which does happen. Early diagnosis is key,” Rita Wilson said in statement released in People Magazine.

Rita Wilson received a second opinion before opting to undergo a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction following her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this month. Wilson strongly attributes her second opinion as lifesaving and therefore encourages others to do the same. And now, with the availability of quality medical services online, such as SecondOpinions.com, a second medical opinion and consultation, is quite literally at a patient’s fingertips.

Another problem which online second opinion services help to resolve is a patient’s concern regarding a questioning the decision of their physician. When met with unnerving news a patient may be reluctant to seek out another opinion so as not to offend their physician. Of course, common sense would indicate that it is the patient’s responsibility to do what they think is best for them, without having to trouble themselves with how their physician may react. If that means obtaining a second opinion, so be it. By engaging with another “second opinion” physician online, patients can get second opinions more discreetly. Because, as in Rita Wilson’s case a second opinion may be the determining factor that can save a life.

“I hope this will encourage others to get a second opinion and to trust their instincts if something doesn’t ‘feel’ right.”

Therefore patients are strongly encouraged to seek second opinions to gather all the information they need in order to make an informed decision that works best for them.

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.

A recent New York Times article by Gina Kolata, was written to address the anxiety-provoking issues that patients endure while waiting for the results of radiological scans. Have you ever had a CT or PET scan and had to wait days to receive the report? Waiting for the results of a scan is stressful under any circumstances but for cancer patients who frequently need scans to check on the progress of their cancer treatment and are worried whether or not their treatment regiment is working to eliminate the cancer from their bodies, it’s especially stressful. Waiting can be tortuous!

Is there any reason that results are typically a private communication between a radiologist and referring physician? Is there any reason that patients end up waiting days, sometimes weeks, for their doctors to reveal what the scans showed? Could radiologists actually talk to patients and give them results immediately? What would it be like if you could speak directly to your radiologist after a scan and have the doctor right there to discuss all of the findings with you directly?

Until recently, many people have never considered asking to speak to a radiologist and many referring doctors don’t seem to have relationships with radiologists — they just hand patients a prescription for a scan and let them get it wherever they want.

At SecondOpinions.com, we encourage our patients to communicate with our radiologists after a scan is read. This valuable service has been offered to our clients for quite some time. If a patient has a scan at an imaging center, for example, the Center gets permission from the referring physician for the radiologist to speak directly to the patient. In general, referring physicians welcome this type of interaction between a patient and a radiologist. This direct communication eliminates third party involvement and the patient has the opportunity to discuss all of the information from the radiologist and can address any questions or concerns they have at that time. This interaction alleviates the wait times for receiving a report and reduces the anxiety levels that accompany the lengthy waiting periods. Typically, a referring physician receives a written report from the radiologist and will simply either tell the patient they’re fine or give them a brief explanation from the written report. For many patients this is simply not enough information and they have questions that don’t get answered leaving them very frustrated.

For our patients that need radiological second opinions, SecondOpinions.com connects patients globally to top U.S. physicians in any specialty and sub-specialties.  Within hours, patients receive a second opinion from a board certified physician. Patients simply upload their DVD  images (MRI, CT etc) to a HIPAA regulated, secure, confidential platform and receive a report in the privacy of their own home or office specialty. Obtaining a second opinion decreases medical errors, saves lives, and keeps healthcare costs down by preventing unnecessary surgeries and procedures. It gives patients the peace of mind they need and deserve. SecondOpinions.com provides a service that is easily accessible and affordable. The convenience and recognized benefits of this service is capturing national attention as patients are becoming more and more insistent on knowing how and why doctors make decisions about their care.

If you are not getting the attention you need from your radiologist, contact us today at www.secondopinions.com or call 855-573-2663.