program to residents of 39 states, giving people across the U.S. fast, convenient, at-home access to expert medical insights on treatment options for more than 600 health conditions.

The expansion comes at a pivotal moment in medical history: Many regions are experiencing shortages of medical specialists, people are increasingly comfortable using online health resources, and more people are seeking reliable information as they take active roles in their healthcare decisions.

“People feel more comfortable asking for a virtual second opinion when they know the process will be fast, convenient, and of high quality,” said emergency medicine physician Shoma Desai, MD, executive director of Digital Innovation at Cedars-Sinai. “A virtual second opinion from a national center of excellence like Cedars-Sinai gives participants confidence and empowers them to make decisions about their treatment.”

A Participant Finds Answers

For Gregory Rothaus, of Nevada, Cedars-Sinai’s Virtual Second Opinion program provided much-needed clarity. In early 2024, after several weeks of illness, Rothaus’ local physician suggested he “probably” had ulcerative colitis.

“I didn’t want ‘probably,’” Rothaus said. “I wanted certainty.”

With limited specialists in his area, Rothaus found the Virtual Second Opinion option especially appealing. Being able to quickly get a written second opinion report from a Cedars-Sinai specialist was a valued option. He also appreciated the optional virtual education session to clarify his questions about the written report.

“It gave me peace of mind that nothing was being overlooked,” said Rothaus, who, with the support of his local, treating physician, underwent additional tests referenced in the virtual second opinion report.

Within a month, the treating physician was able to give Rothaus a more accurate diagnosis: Crohn’s colitis.

His condition is now in remission.

Rothaus said the virtual second opinion made him feel more in control of his healthcare.  

“It’s about having the security that you’re on the right treatment path,” Rothaus said. “I’m the CEO of my health.”

How Virtual Second Opinion Works

More than 150 Cedars-Sinai specialists across key areas—including cancer, digestive diseases, heart and vascular conditions, lung conditions, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, spine conditions, and women’s health—provide virtual second opinions through a secure and private platform.

Participants begin by completing a short questionnaire and speaking with a Cedars-Sinai nurse coordinator, who collects relevant medical records. The Virtual Second Opinion program then identifies a physician specialist whose expertise aligns with the participant’s area of concern. That physician reviews the prior medical records and prepares a detailed written report analyzing the participant’s medical history and prior recommendations and answering any specific questions.

Participants also may choose to join an optional 30-minute virtual education session with the Cedars-Sinai specialist to ask questions related to the report.

Most participants receive their full written report within five days of completing their medical record collection. Satisfaction is high—94% in recent surveys—with participants citing convenience and speed as key benefits.

National surveys highlight the growing need for quicker, easier-to-access second opinions. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship reports that roughly one-quarter to one-third of U.S. cancer patients seek a second opinion, though many hesitate because of concerns about potential treatment delays or geographic barriers.

Virtual second opinions help overcome these challenges by efficiently and quickly identifying specialists who have expertise in a participant’s area of concern.

At present, Cedars-Sinai’s Virtual Second Opinion program is available to residents in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. 

There is a one-time fee to access a Virtual Second Opinion at Cedars-Sinai. Although it is not covered by insurance, most FSA and HSA plans may reimburse the cost.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Virtual Second Opinion—Healing the Heart With Every Step

Spiegel, who helped develop the app, told Becker’s Behavioral Health patients have shared positive feedback about Xaia, an avatar that looks like a robot and simulates a human therapist.

“They feel that they’re not being judged,” said Spiegel, the George and Dorothy Gourrich Chair in Digital Health Ethics and a professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “They tell us they feel like this robot is shockingly good at empathizing and listening to them and providing really valuable feedback and information.”

Xaia is programmed with hundreds of scenarios and prompts. Spiegel told Becker’s Behavioral Health Cedars-Sinai psychotherapy experts helped ensure the app provides an engaging and immersive therapy experience.

“What’s amazing is she’s using six different forms of AI [artificial intelligence] at any different time, including her emotional expressions,” Spiegel said. “She has over 140 different facial expressions that she can go through. She looks you right in the eye, she looks away. She's very interactive, but she's not a human, and that’s on purpose.”

Spiegel told Becker’s Behavioral Health he expects virtual cognitive behavioral therapy will continue to evolve and increase in use. 

“I think as more people get headsets, we’re going to be seeing more mental health support tools that are impactful,” he said.

Click here to read the complete article from Becker’s Behavioral Health.