Second Medical Opinions: How to Improve Your Care Decisions and Health Outcomes

Second opinions are crucial, especially for people who are diagnosed with complex or serious health conditions. Even skilled, experienced physicians can have differences of opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan. And that disagreement can result in significantly different diagnoses, treatments and, most importantly, outcomes.

It’s important to seek a second opinion from physicians and medical centers that have thought-leading experience treating patients with your specific health problem, especially if that problem is relatively rare or complex. Seeking a second opinion to confirm or change your diagnosis and treatment plan can help you make sure you’re proceeding down the most medically appropriate path and that treatments are in line with your personal goals and wishes.

A second opinion is also valuable because it is difficult for any single physician, even highly regarded experts in their field, to be current on all new diagnostic and treatment options, clinical trials, and other information that can affect their clinical decisions. Getting either confirmation of the original diagnosis or a new diagnosis through a second opinion can help ensure you are receiving the right treatment from the start, which can have a tremendous impact on the outcome.

Second opinions are not only for people diagnosed with cancer

A second opinion after a cancer diagnosis can be of significant value. A recent study found that out of the 120 patients with a range of cancers, including colorectal, head and neck, lung, and myeloma, included in the study, 42 had clinically significant changes in treatment after a second opinion. For some of these patients, the change resulted in an improved outcome, while for others it led to less aggressive treatment that resulted in an improvement in short- and long-term morbidity and, for some, an improved prognosis. Another study, in which the majority of patients had breast cancer, found that after a virtual second opinion, a change in treatment was recommended for 53.8% of the patients.

While cancer is the most common reason that people seek a second opinion, there are many other conditions where it can be valuable. Cardiac conditions, including heart failure, unstable angina, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation, can all be treated with a range of approaches, from medications and monitoring to surgical interventions. Which treatment is most appropriate can vary widely. The choice of treatment can be affected by the patient’s other health conditions, their overall health, their age, and their treatment goals.

Another area where second opinions can have a positive effect on outcomes and post-treatment quality of life are musculoskeletal conditions, especially spine surgery. One study discovered that 60% of patients who sought care for low back pain and other spinal complaints received a recommendation for unnecessary spine surgery. Other researchers found that supervised physical therapy for back pain yielded similar results to lumbar spine surgery for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

When should you get a second medical opinion?

While you can seek a second opinion for any condition, there are several situations when it can be especially helpful:

• Your physician can’t provide a definitive diagnosis. Many diseases and conditions share similar symptoms. For example, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, shares symptoms with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Lyme disease, and hyperthyroidism. That can make it difficult to diagnose your condition with certainty. A second opinion can allow you to access the expertise of specialists who may recommend additional testing to narrow down potential diagnoses or who may have specialized experience that helps them make an accurate diagnosis.
• You’re diagnosed with a complex or rare health problem. Rare diseases affect fewer than 200,000 Americans, which means very few physicians are familiar with the symptoms. This lack of expertise can lead to misdiagnosis. Complex health problems can also be difficult for many physicians to manage effectively. These conditions require physicians with specialized fellowship training and extensive experience treating the condition, as well as a coordinated team approach to care, since the treatment team may need to include specialists from several disciplines.
• Your physician recommends surgery. Even if you choose to have a surgical procedure in the end, when you receive a recommendation for surgery, it’s wise to seek a second opinion. In most cases, surgery shouldn’t be the first treatment you try. Seeking a second opinion can provide you with other options to try before choosing a surgical treatment.
• You’re diagnosed with cancer. Seeking a second opinion from a pathologist who has specialty training in the type of cancer you face can improve the accuracy of your diagnosis. In addition, having another oncologist review your case may also lead to other treatment options or access to clinical trials.
• There is more than one appropriate treatment. For many conditions, there is more than one appropriate treatment. Non-aggressive prostate cancer, for example, can be treated medically, surgically, with radiation therapy, or with active surveillance. Which treatment you choose can depend on a variety of factors, including your overall health and age and your treatment goals.
• Your current treatment is no longer working or causes severe side effects. If you’ve successfully been undergoing treatment for a condition, but the condition stops responding to the treatment, a second opinion may provide you with access to new treatment options or clinical trials You may also want to seek a second opinion if your current treatment is causing severe side effects that are significantly impacting your quality of life or are causing other health problems.
• You and your physician aren’t a good fit. Your physician can be technically skilled, but if you’re uncomfortable talking with her or him or feel your concerns and questions aren’t being taken seriously, a second opinion may help you connect with a physician with a similar level of expertise whose temperament and communication style are more in sync with yours.

Finding the right physician

There are several ways to find a physician to provide a second opinion:

• Your treating physician may be able to recommend an experienced specialist.
• Your health advisor can connect you with an experienced physician to provide an in-person or virtual second opinion via medical centers of excellence or medical associations, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Surgeons, which offer online databases of physicians.

Connect with PinnacleCare

For more information about how PinnacleCare can help you take advantage of second opinions to better your health outcomes, connect with us today.

PinnacleCare is a member of the Sun Life Financial Inc. (“Sun Life”) family of companies. PinnacleCare and its employees do not diagnose medical conditions, recommend treatment options or provide medical care, and any information or services provided should not be considered medical advice. Any medical decisions should be made only after consultation with and at the direction of your medical provider. Any person or entity who provides health care services following a referral or other service provided does so independently and not as an agent or representative of PinnacleCare.

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PCWC-10116-31   #4361012255 01/26 (exp. 01/28)