A Virtual Second Opinion That Puts Patients First

For people with complex or severe conditions, getting a diagnosis can mean running a gauntlet of multiple physician visits, time-consuming and invasive tests, and frustrating administrative hurdles. The thought of going through those same steps to get a second opinion can feel overwhelming, but there are options for minimizing the stress and effort required.

Receiving an expert virtual second opinion based on the medical record review—whether confirming a diagnosis or outlining an alternate plan of action—can offer critical peace of mind when weighing options before moving forward.

The Virtues of VSO

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People may not realize that the effort they put in to get a first opinion can be leveraged to ease the second opinion process.

“At Cedars-Sinai, we offer a service called Virtual Second Opinion that streamlines the process of obtaining second opinions from medical experts, so people can get the support they need more efficiently,” said Kayla McBride, RN-BSN, VSO clinical program manager. “One of the major benefits of Virtual Second Opinion is that we handle the complexity for participants. We gather all the relevant medical records and expedite the process so they can get an opinion from a leading Cedars-Sinai doctor in the shortest time possible without the hassle of traffic or travel.”

When a person reaches out for a Virtual Second Opinion (VSO), Cedars-Sinai’s team does the legwork, collecting all necessary information about the participant’s condition, diagnosis and medical history. Those details, along with the participant’s specific questions, are studied in detail by a Cedars-Sinai physician specializing in the related area of medicine. Once the doctor has reviewed the file, they draft a written report with their findings. Participants may also choose to participate in an optional virtual education session regarding the report.

We save people precious time, equip them with knowledge and empower them to make informed decisions about their course of care.

Because the physician has already dedicated time to understand the case, the Virtual Education Session is a helpful option to clarify the questions about the second opinion report.

Jesseca Champlain, RN, VSO nurse coordinator, noted another key advantage of the program.

“Participants get a written report from the doctor prior to the online optional education session, giving them time to review the information and fully digest the recommendations,” she said. “This allows them to be prepared and feel confident and more in control of their healthcare.”

Easy Access to Unbiased Advice

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As orthopedic surgeon Christopher Mikhail, MD, assistant professor of Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery and a frequent expert for the VSO program, sees it, a Virtual Second Opinion injects a healthy note of impartiality into the participant’s medical journey.

“My only goal as a Virtual Second Opinion doctor is to offer the most honest, unbiased opinion I can give,” he said. “I’m not trying to sell people on a surgery or promote a specific agenda. I simply want them to feel like they understand what their options are and that they feel confident in whatever route they decide to take.”

Virtual Second Opinion can be particularly helpful for people without access to specialized care or for those who have competent local care but want validation from a top-tier institution without having to drive long distances or get on a plane.

“We save people precious time, equip them with knowledge and empower them to make informed decisions about their course of care,” Champlain said. “Our participants feel seen and heard and know they can trust what our physicians have to say. I’m truly proud of what we do here at Cedars-Sinai Virtual Second Opinion.”

Virtual Second Opinion: How It Works

With Cedars-Sinai’s Virtual Second Opinion, you can get an expert review of your medical records without having to travel or start from scratch. Getting started is simpler than you might think. Once you submit your information:

• ‍We’ll retrieve your health records. We’ll contact you within one business day to confirm your information, answer any questions and help you begin your personalized second opinion journey.
• ‍We’ll select a doctor with expertise. Based on your specific diagnosis, we’ll select a Cedars-Sinai doctor who is an expert in your condition.
• ‍You’ll receive your Virtual Second Opinion report. The doctor will prepare your personalized second opinion report after a thorough review of your medical records.‍
• You’ll have an option to attend a virtual education session. You may opt to attend a virtual education session with the doctor to ask questions about your Virtual Second Opinion report. This session is optional.