What is a second opinion?
If an injured worker is dissatisfied with the medical treatment he or she is receiving and wishes to see another physician to confirm or dispute the appropriateness of that treatment, a second opinion can be coordinated with the help of the claim representative. A second opinion is a great tool to assist an employee in directing their medical care that might not otherwise be achieving its goal.
A second opinion is usually provided by a specialist who will evaluate an individual’s health and physical information along with symptoms and diagnostic test results. Based upon this evaluation, the specialist will make their recommendations for treatment, which may be the same or different than the first physician’s opinion. Why should I bother to get a second opinion? Even if you have a great relationship with your OB/GYN or primary care physician, you should take the time to get a second opinion. Patients want the most effective treatment with the least amount of pain. Medical advances are happening every day and no single doctor has the time to become an expert in every treatment innovation in their specialty. And, different types of doctors (e.g., primary care, OB/GYN, GYN surgeon) – and even the same types of physicians with different backgrounds in terms of their training, mentors, affiliations or research interests – will think about medical conditions differently. As a result
