Happy Holidays!  We hope everyone enjoyed the transition from 2016 to 2017!  If your resolution was about a major health decision, we want to invite you to place any order with our special Coupon code “love” during the month of February  only to save 25%!

Second Opinions now offers the option to pay with paypal!  Our check out menu has changed, but our services are the same!  We depend on your feedback to provide the service you expect, thank you for being involved!

Second Opinions and parent company USARAD Holdings Inc. project unprecedented growth in 2017, by harnessing AI technology.  By integrating machine learning technology, diagnostic accuracy will be improved significantly.  As radiology supplements its detection with AI, services continually improve detection and efficiency.

Second Opinions has published the last years worth archived Newsletters.  Here’s a look at what we’ve been talking about.

Second Opinions has been highlighting various Awareness campaigns in the health industry such as Lupus http://expertsecondopinion.weebly.com/

We have also been offering resources regarding the type of cases which usually benefit from Second Opinion Services such as Breast Cancer and Skin Cancer

As a telemedicine company, Second Opinions offers instant access to top American Board Certified Specialists online.  No referral or appointment needed.  Order medical second opinions 24 hours a day 365 days a year anywhere in the world!

We strive to offer ease of use and convenience through our website improvements and updates.  We appreciate feedback when a problem arises on our website or customer portal.  This aids us in offering the best experience possible.

Telemedicine offers an innovative method for evaluating medical conditions, treatment plans and alternative perspectives for medical cases of any subspecialty.

Featured Specialist

Dr. Kristin Egan

Dr Kristin Egan is an ENT and Plastic Surgeon who runs her own practice in California.  She studied at Albert Einstein college and Princeton University  She provides many outpatient non-invasive treatments and low impact surgical options to allow patients to recover faster and return to their daily lives.  Although Plastic surgery is associated with elective procedures for cosmetic improvement, Dr Egan reminds us that customers opt to have elective procedures such as tonsil, sinus, ear infection which are non-emergent

Dr Egan recommends Second Opinions to patients who may have doubts about surgery.  She wants finds her patients re-visit her with confidence about their decision to have surgery after seeking a Second Opinion. She also recognizes that the telemdicine services offered through SecondOpinions.com are especially valuable to busy lifestyles and in a health system where patients can wait months to see a local Specialist.  Patients may also experience delays with insurance coverage for Specialists, especially for a Second Opinion.

Second Opinions wants to wish you all the Happy Holidays!  We are issuing a combination holiday newsletter this month.  As the year comes to a close, we know you are busy with Holiday plans and preparations.  Studies show Americans typically put off doctor’s visits until after the holidays.  We know health issues don’t wait for holidays to come to a close, so if you are dealing with a new diagnosis, potential surgery, medical legal case or even interested in Medical Tourism, we just want to remind you that Second Opinions operates 24/7/365.

December doesn’t just mark the end of another year.  December is AIDS Awareness Month reminding you to be proactive in getting tested, use this locator to find a testing site near you. https://www.aids.gov/locator/

December is also National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month  In an average year, 30 million Americans drive drunk, and 10 million Americans drive impaired by illicit drugs.

Instances of impaired driving increase significantly during this time of year.  Making it an appropriate month for this awareness.  Many towing companies and taxi companies have campaigns to offer you a safe ride home if you are under the influence.  Check out this resource to find a safe alternative to driving under the influence. http://duijusticelink.aaa.com/for-the-public/aaas-role/public-education/sober-ride/

Please make this a safe holiday season for your family and friends!

Teleradiology in the news:

USARAD is the Teleradiology portion of Second Opinion Services.  We have been mentioned in several feature articles recently.

Read comments from our CEO Dr Michael Yuz about Teleradiology: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/teleradiologist-experience

The future of Teleradiology, several articles mention USARAD as a top teleradiology provider internationally:

http://www.medgadget.com/2016/11/teleradiology-industry-detailed-study-analysis-and-forecast-by-2023.html

As a special thank you, we are offering this exclusive coupon to our subscribers:

Second Opinions will be issuing a special year in review edition of our Newsletter.  Thank you for subscribing to the Second Opinions newsletter!

Happy July from the Second Opinions Team!

As we speed through the summer,  Second Opinions wants to thank all of our customers for your positive feedback and patience with some of the system errors we have had and recently.  We apologize for the convenience and we are improving every day thanks to you!

July is the month with the least dedicated awareness topics, but they are some of the least recognized health topics:

Cord Blood Awareness Month – The collection, preservation and use of the stem cell rich cord blood in medical experiments and treatments has remained highly controversial as the innovation of scientific integration with medical discoveries

International Group B Strep Throat Awareness Month – Approximately 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS, the leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) GBS can also infect babies during pregnancy and the first few months of life.

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month – Also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, JA is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions or pediatric rheumatic diseases that can develop in children under the age of 16.

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month – Cleft and craniofacial conditions affect thousands of infants, children, teens and adults in the United States each year.  Some are born with congenital anomalies like cleft lip and palate, others with more complex, life-threatening craniofacial conditions.

Although we are all busy, let’s take a few minutes to consider how these health topics may factor into a major health decision in our own lives.  While you may not actually know someone whose life has been directly affected, the awareness leads to action in every individual, as we improve our own lives through awareness, we also make an impact on those around us.

Second Opinions thanks all of our customers for sharing their personal Second Opinions stories, like the one that inspired the company.  You can watch the video version here: http://youtu.be/HRzW9Tb7FSU We published in April our “How Second Opinions Changed my Life” contest and we invite you to share your story!

If you haven’t gotten a Second Opinion already, one of our favorite Health institutions has a great article with reasons you should get a Second Opinion: “Why you Should Consider a Medical Second Opinion”  Remember as a registered user, you gain access to our Resources, we have also updated our Tutorials page with more videos including a walk through of our website.

We appreciate your feedback, involvement and look forward to helping you with your Medical future through Second Opinions services.

Second Opinions for cancer scans, diagnosis and suggested surgery can offer Peace of Mind

I think we can all agree, this Month’s banner says it all!  No one wants to deal with it but we all need to be aware!  Breast cancer is the number one cancer that causes death in women.  Men are not completely exempt from developing breast cancer .  Although less than 1% of all breast cancer cases develop in men, that is enough to consider a risk.  What’s more, the mortality rate for men diagnosed with breast cancer is much higher than in women.  Research indicates that lifestyle and reproductive factors play a huge part in risk factors.  In fact there is a lower incidence of breast cancer among women in less developed countries.  

Risk factors to consider:

Being a woman – simply, women are at higher risk for breast cancer

Age – Women over 50 are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer

Family History – Higher incidence of breast cancer in your genes will increase your own risk

Ethnicity – White women have a slightly higher risk for developing breast cancer

Weight – overweight women tend to be at a higher risk for breast cancer

Pregnancy/breast feeding – Women who have had children or breast fed, are at higher risk

There are number of environmental and lifestyle factors that can affect each individual’s potential risk factors. Read more about Cancer risk factors and how they may affect you:

http://expertsecondopinion.weebly.com/home/cancer-prevention-starts-with-cancer-risk-factors

Even if you or a family member are not dealing directly with a potential Breast cancer diagnosis, treatment or recovery, you can get involved!

Pink Week is a week of events aimed at raising funds and awareness for Breast Cancer charities.  Join a run or walk for awareness or sponsor someone else who is!

If fundraising just doesn’t show your commitment enough check this out:

Many City, State and county programs are getting involved by offering free Mammograms.  Don’t wait!  Get checked out!

Local Programs near Second Opinions Headquarters!

To learn about resources local to you check out the Susan Komen page which gives you tons of resources: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Mammography.html

Second Opinions August Newsletter

This month we are encouraging you to Ask Medical Questions!  When you ask for a doctor’s advice you may not always get the time or attention you expect.  When you visit your local doctor or a specialist, you don’t always receive what you expect from the health care professionals you are visiting.  Our Second Opinion consultation services allow you to receive an unbiased Second Review of your medical test results, diagnostic scans, Healthcare records and treatment plans.

Speak to a specialist over the phone regarding your medical concern.  Present the specialist with all pertinent information to review and offer an alternative perspective regarding your medical treatment, diagnosis or upcoming surgery.

Second Opinions gives you the freedom to submit your medical documents and diagnostic scans for review by a specialist.  Your doctor will not be notified, and no one will contact your current medical team.  Our specialists provide unbiased answers to your medical Questions.  Based on the information you submit and the questions you ask, our online consultation allows you to ask questions live.  Our specialists may make recommendations or ask questions to provide the most inclusive answer for your circumstance.

Review the major specialties to decide which Medical Questions to ask

https://www.secondopinions.com/our-services.html

Second Opinion services may be covered by your Insurance company!

Get Reimbursed for the Medical Second Opinion product you purchased from SecondOpinions.com  Our customer service can provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your Insurance company when you request a reimbersment for the dollar amount you paid.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

We all need shots (also called vaccinations or immunizations) to help protect us from serious diseases. To help keep our community safe, Second Opinions is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month.

Shots can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles, and pneumonia. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.  Everyone age 6 months and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Other shots work best when they are given at certain ages.

Get more information about Immunizations here http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/index.html

Last month, we encouraged you to ask Medical Questions!  Seeking an unbiased Second Opinion can provide perspective in your medical care that you may not otherwise have access to.  This month we would like to remind you of the importance of a Surgical Second Opinion.

Potential surgery, necessary surgery or elective surgery are all circumstances for caution and careful consideration in your health decisions.  Our Online consultation service offers Medical advice when you need it most.  If you have medical questions regarding surgery, take advantage of our online consultation services today!

Reasons a Surgical Second Opinion is so valuable include evaluation of the risks of an operation, exploration of alternative treatment options, review indications for operation and aftercare requirements for a healthy recovery.  The usefulness of a Second Opinion is dependant upon the information submitted regarding the condition, previous care and indications for Surgery.  Did you know that Second Opinions offers a variety of Surgical Second Opinion Services?

General Surgery Second Opinion

Colon and Rectal surgery second opinion

Orthopedic Surgery Second Opinion

Otolaryngology second opinion

Plastic surgery second opinion

Thoracic surgery Second Opinion

Urology Surgery Second Opinion

Podiatric Surgery Second Opinion

Neurological Surgery Second Opinion

September health observance campaigns include many Healthy habit reminders.  As we all settle into our routines of work and school this is a great reminder for Family and Women’s Health, baby safety, Prostate Health awareness and youth suicide prevention days just to name a few.  Make health a family topic by talking about the health habits you follow every day with your family members.  Encourage your family to join you on a daily walk, or share a meal together without technology.  Whether you live alone or with a family of ten, make an effort to share your health practices with more of your family!

Second Opinions Sends a special thank you for your loyalty and business, our family cares about yours!

An oncologist from Michigan was given a 45 year prison sentence for pulling in over 17 million in fraudulent billings for patients he mistreated and misdiagnosed.

The court found Farid Fata had prescribed unnecessary injections and given potent chemotherapy infusions to over 550 patients within a six-year period.  Many of the patients didn’t even have cancer.

Many were grievously injured and had their immune systems permanently damaged.  One man lost both of legs, and died soon after.

Fata kept some patients drugged up for years at a time, bankrupting families having to pay for the medical bills.  He insisted that if they stopped treatment, they would die.  He would also stop receiving their insurance payments.

With all this said, most of Fata’s patients still trusted him.  He was one of the most prestigious oncologists in Michigan.  He received a lot of referrals from other doctors as well.

He was so powerful and admired, few dared to question his practices.

And so he continued for years.

Fata’s story began to unravel when one patient broke her leg.  It was determined this patient didn’t have cancer upon closer examination of her records and she was advised to get a second opinion.

Fata’s story is one in a million.  One attorney called his crimes “the most egregious case of medical fraud in the history of the United States.”

This story stresses the importance of getting a second opinion.

When facing important medical decisions, being well informed is vital as it can potentially have a huge impact on a patients life.  The Patient Advocate Foundation says many physicians would recommend getting one and patients shouldn’t feel they are being unfaithful to their doctor.

Ethical doctors understand that patients have a right to be well informed about their conditions in order to make decisions about their care.  Doctors who don’t welcome second opinions — such as Fata, who openly discouraged them — should be avoided.

“If your physician doesn’t support your getting a second opinion, see how fast you can run,” said Jonathan Schaffer, an orthopedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, in U.S. News & World Report.

SecondOpinions.com  provides second opinion consultation services in all areas of medicine, including radiology.  Utilizing the power of the internet, we are connecting patients around the globe with some of the world’s best doctors.  Thanks to our proprietary patent-pending cloud technology, getting a second opinion is now available at your finger tips. We’ve made it possible for anyone to receive a second opinion in the privacy of the home or office. We are staffed with renowned specialists, who are equipped with the latest and most comprehensive technology and data. Our specialists are able to give you the most reliable second opinion as well as keep you up-to-date on groundbreaking developments and research in their fields of expertise.

 An increasing number of Australians are going online to look up medical and health information. Patients are a third more likely to seek a second opinion online than they were 4 years ago.  Since October, 2010 Australians looking for a second opinion or medical advice online has risen to 17.7%

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“Medical practitioners need to be aware that more than 1/6th of patients today are seeking out medical information and second opinions online – and the number is growing fast.”

“It is becoming increasingly efficient to get a second opinion to a diagnosis via telemedicine as more and more services cater to patients seeking an opinion of a specialist that they may not necessarily be able to commute to. Patients can now have their studies looked over from the comfort of their own home and by specialists in all practices, across the world.”

Whether you’ve been given an asthma or cancer diagnosis it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused. Navigating the healthcare system has proven to not be easy.

A year and a half ago, Beth Schwart’s mammogram came back clear but she would eventually learn that she actually had stage 4 breast cancer. Beth’s story resonates with people across the world. Leslie Michelson was just 17 years old when his dad was told he needed open heart surgery.

“I called the head of cardiology at a New York academic center and got my dad a second opinion. It turned out that he didn’t need the surgery after all and there was nothing wrong with his heart. My dad lived for close to 40 years after that day and never had any heart problems.”

Michelson points out that most Americans live within one hundred miles of a major city or from an academic medical center that have specialists that take Medicare and most insurance plans.

Telemedicine has grown enormously since Leslie sought a second opinion for his father 40 years ago and the value of a second opinion has grown along with it. As more doctors begin to use business models that allow patients to request same-day telehealth appointments and very fast turnaround times, getting a second opinion has never been easier, more accurate, and more affordable.

SecondOpinions.com is the industry leader in getting a second opinion. It provides a live, fast and straightforward tech support that is available 24 hours a day. The service is easy to use; all you need to do is create an account, complete a questionnaire, and schedule a phone call or video chat with a board-certified physician.