Category Archives: Medical Second Opinions

Older Women & Alzheimer’s

4/3/2014

It’s a well-known fact – as women get older their risk of developing breast cancer increases. A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association shows the same is evident in older women with Alzheimer’s.

The 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report involved a survey of 3,102 American adults. It showed women in their 60s are, twice as likely, to develop Alzheimer’s disease than breast cancer.

Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. Around 5 million Americans have it and approximately 3.2 million of these are women. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

There are a number of theories as to why women are more affected including longer life spans, sex-specific hormones and a specific gene variant that is more prevalent in women. None of these theories is conclusive and scientists say more research is needed on this topic.

Research has proven that second opinions decrease medical costs, improve health care and save lives. That’s why SecondOpinions.com provides access to U.S. trained, board certified doctors to people all over the world.

Patients simply upload their digital images including MRI, CT scan or Mammogram and our specialist and subspecialist physician’s read the scans and provide their expert opinion. Prices range from $19 to $99.

No appointments are needed. There’s no waiting in a doctor’s office. You receive a report within as quickly as an hour in the privacy of your own home or office.

If you receive a diagnosis, it’s worth your time and money to obtain a second opinion. SecondOpinions.com makes it easy for you to get that second opinion and the peace of mind you deserve.

Origins of Rare Type of Thyroid Cancer Identified

4/2/2014

A study published in the World Journal of Surgery reveals a major development in identifying and treating a rare form of thyroid cancer.  In a scientific first, the fusion of two genes, ALK and EML4, has been identified as the genetic driver in papillary thyroid cancer.

The tumor cells of a 62-year-old patient were studied and a comparison of the tumor DNA to the patient’s normal DNA found 57 mutations in 55 genes of the cancer genome. The research also found the rearrangement between two genes. The fusion and the relocation allowed scientists to determine this was the genetic drive of the patient’s cancer.

These groundbreaking findings allowed scientists to recommend a certain course of treatment for the patient that lead to halting the progression of the disease for 6-months.  These findings could ultimately do the same for other patients.

SecondOpinions.com is a teleradiology and telemedicine pioneer. We want to help patients around the world receive the best medical treatment from our U.S. trained, board certified physicians.  

Patients simply upload MRI, CT, X-Ray, Mammogram, Ultrasound or Nuclear Medicine scans and our expert specialists and subspecialists study your images and provide you with their advanced second opinion. You can receive a medical consultation by phone or video chat from our doctors for as low as $49.  

There are no appointments necessary. No spending hours waiting in a doctor’s office. Our physicians are available 24/7/365 to anyone across the globe. The price of a report ranges from $19.95 -$99.00. Reports are received within as quickly as an hour.  

 Get the peace of mind you need and deserve.  Try SecondOpinions.com today.

Global Burden of Breast Cancer

4/1/2014

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

The statistics are much more alarming in low income countries where breast cancer has been increasing at a rate of 3.1% every year. That is according to Prof. Peter Boyle director of the University of Strathclyde Institute of Global Public Health at the International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI) in France.

Professor Boyle says although the majority of new diagnoses are among women in developed countries, the number of deaths each year, 450,000, are now equally divided between developed and undeveloped countries.

According to Boyle, many factors contribute to increasing rates of breast cancer diagnosis including increasing population size, long life expectancy, an increase in awareness of the disease and the introduction of early detection programs in countries with fewer resources.

To reduce the rates, Boyle says there needs to be appropriate treatment facilities available – and he found this is not always the case, particularly in low-income countries.

But it is not all bad news. In Scotland, the death rate from breast cancer is at its lowest in 100 years. Boyle attributes this to the development and availability of effective treatments, the National Health Service breast screening program, free access to high-quality treatment and diagnostic facilities, and overall increased awareness among women.

At SecondOpinions.com, we want to provide quality healthcare to people around the world. Our specialists and subspecialists are available 24/7/365 to read your MRI, CT Scans, etc. and provide you with their expert opinion. We believe a proper diagnosis is critical to creating the best treatment plan.

No appointments are needed. Patients don’t have to wait days or weeks for a consultation. Our U.S. trained board certified physicians are available to read your scans and provide a medical consultation to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Reports cost between $19 and $99 dollars. We want to make quality medical care convenient and affordable for people all over the world. Get the peace of mind you deserve from SecondOpinions.com.

 

Is there something hidden in Irish Blood?

3/17/2014

It’s St. Patrick’s Day!  A day those of Irish descent honor their heritage with green beer, corned beef and cabbage and an Irish jig or two. But did you know there is an ancient blood disease that still affects those of Irish descent?

It’s called hemochromatosis and also known as “The Celtic Curse.” The disease deposits iron in the heart, joints, liver, pancreas and pituitary gland and is said to “rust” the insides of the body, according to the American Hemochromatosis Society. This Society is based in Delray Beach, Florida and takes advantage of St. Patrick’s Day to let those with Irish Blood know about the disease.

While no one is immune to this blood disorder, those with Irish, Scottish or British heritage have a significantly higher chance of carrying the gene mutation that may cause them to develop the potentially deadly disorder.

Want to know if you have a higher risk of developing other diseases? SecondOpinions.com Health Genius App can show you how!

Just choose a disease from hundreds in our database then answer a couple of engaging questions. You will know in a matter of seconds if you have a higher risk for that disease. Having that kind of information will likely encourage you to seek medical attention or make healthier lifestyle choices when you can.

The SecondOpinions.com Health Genius App is available for FREE in Android and Apple Stores. Take advantage of this great health predictor so you can celebrate a lot more St. Patty’s Days with the ones you love!

Check it out: https://www.secondopinions.com/second-opinions-health-genius-mobile-app

State Licensing Barrier for Doctors Who Practice Telemedicine

3/11/2014

Telemedicine is expected to surge as millions of Americans become insured under the Affordable Care Act. As many as 10 million people already rely on Telemedicine most for teleconferencing with their doctor, according to the American Telemedicine Association.

Many states are starting to include telemedicine in their Medicaid programs and requiring private insurers to pay for it. But medical licensing remains a barrier for doctors and hospitals.

States argue easing licensing requirements could jeopardize patient safety. While telemedicine proponents say states should recognize other state licenses because doctors take standardized national exams and most requirements are set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

There are least 5 bills before Congress that have to do with creating telemedicine legislation. In April, the Federation of State Medical Boards will meet to consider an interstate medical licensure compact that would expedite licensing of doctors who want to practice across state borders.

U.S. telemedicine spending is expected to grow from $240 million this year to $2.2 billion in 2018 mostly in remote monitoring of patients with heart and lung diseases to detect problems early enough to prevent them from being sent back to the hospital.

Every day at SecondOpinions.com, our U.S. trained, board-certified physicians are taking care of people across the globe. Patients simply upload MRI, CT, X-Ray, Mammogram, Ultrasound or Nuclear Medicine scans and our expert specialists and subspecialists study your images and provide you with their advanced second opinion.

 You can receive a medical consultation by phone or video chat from our doctors for as low as $49. There are no appointments necessary. No spending hours waiting in a doctor’s office. Our physicians are available 24/7/365 to anyone across the globe.  

The price of a report ranges from $19.95 -$99.00. Reports are received within as quickly as an hour. And SecondOpinions.com delivers the peace of mind you need and deserve. 

Telemedicine Increasing While Decreasing Healthcare Costs

3/4/2014

According to the American Telemedicine Association, 10 million Americans directly benefited from telemedicine services between 2012 and 2013. Employers of all sizes have begun contracting with telehealth providers to cut medical costs and provide workers with 24-hour access to doctors and other medical professionals.

This growth has much to do with the Affordable Care Act which is able to connect patients to physicians despite a doctor shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2020 the United States will have 91,500 fewer doctors than needed. Telehealth providers say they make up for the shortfall and say patients on average $71 per visit.

“It’s going to be just like urgent care was in the U.S.—it’s now completely acceptable,” MDLive CEO Randy Parker says. “Within the next few years, no consumer will even remember not being able to connect to their providers through telehealth.”

Colds, cuts and sprains are the most common conditions treated under telecare services. At SecondOpinions.com, we take it a step further. Patients upload their digital images such as an MRI or CT scan and our U.S. trained specialists and subspecialists read those images and give their expert opinion.

Patients receive a report within as quickly as an hour. There are no appointments necessary. Our expert doctors are available 24/7/365 to anyone anywhere in the world. Prices start at 19.95 up to $99.

SecondOpinions.com is a telemedicine pioneer bringing quality medical care to patients across the globe and delivering the peace of mind patients deserve.

Communication between Doctors and Patients Needs Work

2/27/2014

We’ve all had a doctor’s visit with a physician who lacked a pleasant bedside manner. In fact more often than not, doctors lack effective communication skills – the kind of skills that make patients feel comfortable or reassured.

A recent study published in JAMA reveals the difficulties of teaching effective communication to doctors and medical students. It found that even after participating in a training course, some doctors and nurses were still not very effective communicators. The fear was too much training might make medical professionals more robotic and stiff.

The goal of such studies is to improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients because research suggests that communication about important topics like end-of-life care is associated with a better quality of life for patients, and a better quality of dying, with less intensive use of unnecessary tests and treatments.

At SecondOpinions.com, our U.S. trained, board certified physicians want to communicate with you. We believe the more information you have about your medical condition the more likely you will seek the treatment necessary for you to improve your health and quality of life.  

Patients simply upload MRI, CT, X-Ray, Mammogram, Ultrasound or Nuclear Medicine scans and our expert specialists and subspecialists study your images and provide you with their advanced second opinion. You can receive a medical consultation by phone or video chat from our doctors for as low as $49.

There are no appointments necessary. No spending hours waiting in a doctor’s office. Our physicians are available 24/7/365 to anyone across the globe. The price of a report ranges from $19.95 -$99.00. Reports are received within as quickly as an hour. 

 Get the peace of mind you need and deserve.  Try SecondOpinions.com today.

 

 

Imaging Technique Diagnoses Common Heart Condition

2/25/2014

February is Heart Month. It’s always a good reminder to keep your heart healthy by eating right and exercising regularly. Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans. A new imaging technique is helping to recognize a certain heart condition so that patients can get the treatment they need sooner.

Northwestern’s Medical Team found that the 4D flow MRI measures blood flow in the heart and vessels and can diagnose bicuspid aortic valve. This was the first time it was discovered that there is a relationship between heart valve abnormalities and aortic disease. This type of imaging may lead to better prediction of complications.

At SecondOpinions.com we use the latest technology to read your digital images, MRI, CT scans, etc. Our U.S. trained board certified physicians are available 24/7/365 to read your images and provide you with their expert opinion. We believe a proper diagnosis is critical to creating the best treatment plan.

No appointments are needed. Patients don’t have to wait days or weeks for a consultation. Our U.S. specialists and subspecialists also provide medical consultations to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Reports cost between $19 and $99. We want to make quality medical care convenient and affordable for people all over the world. Get the peace of mind you deserve from SecondOpinions.com.

Overcoming Legal Roadblocks for Telemedicine

2/21/2014

Just 60 years ago, house calls for doctors were common. If your child was sick you could call the doctor and he would show up in a couple hours with his black bag. While times have changed, what’s old is new again with the increasing acceptance of telemedicine. Instead of the doctor arriving on your doorstep now you might speak with him on video chat.

Transparency Market Research Published a new Market Report “Teleradiology Market (X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI and Nuclear Imaging) – that valued the U.S. global teleradiology market at $92 million. By 2019 it’s expected to reach $3.78 billion.

Telemedicine is medical service provided without the physical presence of a physician. It also has various legal definitions. In some states, the legal definition includes phone consultations, while in other states the definition is limited to consultations via the Internet. One of the biggest legal obstacles regarding telemedicine right now is the need for doctors to be licensed in the state in which they practice medicine.

These legal matters are currently being discussed by healthcare professionals and legislators in an effort to create universal guidelines as telemedicine becomes standard practice across the globe. With telemedicine and teleradiology, the doctor and patient communicate in real time. You don’t have to set up an appointment or deal with different time zones. And those people who live in rural communities benefit the most by having access to quality healthcare.

That’s what we do at SecondOpinions.com. Our specialists and subspecialists are available 24/7/365 to read your MRI, CT Scans, etc. and provide you with their expert opinion. We believe a proper diagnosis is critical to creating the best treatment plan.

No appointments are needed. Patients don’t have to wait days or weeks for a consultation. Our U.S. trained board certified physicians are available to read your scans and provide a medical consultation to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Reports cost between $19 and $99 dollars. We want to make quality medical care convenient and affordable for people all over the world. Get the peace of mind you deserve from SecondOpinions.com.

 

Florida Lawmakers Talking Telemedicine

2/19/2014

Obviously telemedicine and teleradiology are near and dear to our hearts. That’s because we truly believe in the numerous benefits of providing telemedicine to people all over the world. If you’re not exactly sure what telemedicine means it’s simply medical services provided without a doctor physically present.

Telemedicine is the focus of talks among Florida lawmakers this week. Legislators are meeting to consider creating statewide standards for telemedicine. The goal is to establish reimbursement requirements as well as a system for registering out-of-state telemedicine providers in Florida. Lawmakers are hoping to set up a method of regulating health care professionals to conduct telemedicine consults in every state.

It’s good news because many Floridians have said they like the idea of using technology for healthcare concerns. But the roadblock has been with insurance reimbursement. The Senate bill indicates Medicaid will cover telemedicine. Lawmakers are hoping that move will get private insurers to reconsider their lack of coverage.

At SecondOpinions.com, we make it affordable and easy for anyone in the world to have their MRI, CT scan, etc. studied by a U.S. trained, board certified specialists and sub subspecialists.  Patients simply upload the images and experts provide you with their advanced second opinion within as quickly as an hour.  

There are no appointments necessary. Our expert physicians are available 24/7/365 to anyone across the globe. The price ranges from $29.00 -$99.00. In addition, patients can receive a medical consultation by phone or video chat from our specialists and subspecialists for as low as $49.

Get the peace of mind you need and deserve.  Try SecondOpinions.com  today.