Stanford Medicine launches online second opinion program

A new, internet-based service allows patients to seek a second opinion from a Stanford Medicine specialist.

Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health have launched a new online program that provides patients with a second opinion about their diagnosis or treatment plan.

A Stanford Medicine specialist develops the second opinion based on a patient’s summary of his or her conditions and initial diagnosis, as well as all relevant medical records. The medical records are collected on behalf of the patient, if the records are in the United States.

The specialist sends a written second opinion to the patient and his or her doctor, usually within two weeks. The cost for the second opinion service is $700 and is available to patients in almost every location. (Most health plans do not cover online second opinions.)

To get access to the service, adult patients can create an account on the Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion website.

For patients 17 or younger, parents may create an account at the Stanford Children’s Health Online Second Opinion website.

Online second opinions for children are available for a limited number of specialties and conditions, including otolaryngology, orthopedics and epilepsy. For parents of pediatric patients who are being considered for neurosurgery, heart transplantation, heart failure treatments or cardiothoracic surgery, a medical record review service provides evaluation of eligibility for surgery. This service is complimentary to patients who already have a diagnosis in the participating specialty, may require surgery and are considering options. 

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.

2023 ISSUE 3

Exploring ways AI is applied to health care