FAQs for Referring Physicians About Online Second Opinion

Why am I involved in the online second opinion process?

Your participation is a legal requirement to obtain an online second opinion from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Many states require the consultation to be physician to physician. It is also important that you review the report with your patient to help communicate the findings since the report will contain detailed medical terminology.

How do you choose which specialist will complete the second opinion?

Our case coordinator works closely with our medical teams to determine the most appropriate specialist based on your patient’s medical situation. We will try to accommodate any requests for a particular physician, but we cannot guarantee that the physician will be assigned to your case.

How many questions can I submit?

You may submit up to 10 questions. Please be as clear and specific as possible to ensure that we match your request with the most appropriate specialist and you receive the information you are seeking.

Can I meet or contact the specialist who completed the online second opinion for follow-up questions?

The completed report will answer all questions that are submitted by you and the patient. In rare cases, you may communicate with the specialist for follow-up questions. Our coordinator will contact you if a physician-to-physician communication is warranted.

NOTE: For urgent or emergent issues, please call 911 or seek local medical care. This Online Second Opinion service is only for requests that are not time sensitive. We receive and respond to requests during regular business hours.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email onlinesecondopinion@chla.usc.edu. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST.