Five Tips for Seeking a Second Opinion

[Lida]

1) See what’s covered by your insurance. Most insurance plans do cover second opinions — but if in-network specialists are scarce in your area, it may be worthwhile to pay a bit more than usual out of your own pocket to make sure you see a board-certified expert.

2) Deal with your medical records yourself. Doctors still live in the era of fax machines. So don’t rely on your first doctor to get your records to the doctor you’re seeing for a second opinion. Instead, request your records (including lab tests, reports, and x-rays and other medical scans) yourself. Getting all your records could take a while, so try to start early. And, if possible, get your records to your second-opinion doctor before your visit, so the doctor can review everything ahead of time.

3) Get a written report. This is the corollary of the previous tip. Don’t assume that the doctor you see for a second opinion will communicate with your other doctors. Ask for a written report of his or her opinion, keep it in your files and carry it with you to subsequent appointments with other doctors.

4) Don’t go in with an agenda. You shouldn’t go in to get a second opinion with the goal of having the doctor say something different than the first doctor said. You’ll be best served if you go in with an open mind and allow the doctor to objectively assess all available evidence.

5) Work with your primary care doctor. Ideally, your primary care doctor should help you coordinate care with various specialists and make sense of their potentially conflicting opinions. But in today’s rushed primary care environment, that may be tough.

Blog:
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/08/sec ... nions.html