Five things to know before getting an online second opinion for your child

Whether you want to confirm your child’s diagnosis or treatment plan, another set of expert eyes can give you confidence that they’re receiving the best care. At Boston Children’s Hospital, the process is simple: Although in-person second opinions are also an option, you can request an online second opinion from the comfort of your home and a physician will review all of your child’s medical records remotely.

You might be surprised to learn that your child doesn’t need to be seen in person for a second opinion. But that’s just one of several benefits to the process. Here are four other things you might not know about online second opinions.

A second opinion could change your child’s diagnosis — and care.

About 25 percent of online second opinions provided by Boston Children’s result in a change of diagnosis. Likewise, a new diagnosis could lead to a completely different treatment plan. That was the case for Andrew,* a child from California whose parents sought an online second opinion and were matched with Dr. Phillip Pearl, co-director of the hospital’s Epilepsy Center.

“This was a highly complex case,” explains Pearl. “Now, the diagnostic plan we recommended will likely change the course of this patient’s care and illness entirely.”

Based on Dr. Pearl’s insight, Andrew and his family transferred his care to Boston Children’s two months after receiving the second opinion.

A second opinion could reassure you about their current care.

For some families, a second opinion can offer confirmation that their child is already receiving the best possible care. That sense of reassurance can help you feel secure in their current physician, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

“The second opinion we got aligns with the care Emma is currently receiving,” says one parent who learned that their daughter’s diagnosis was accurate and her existing treatment plan was the best approach. “We’re glad we are on the right road.”

A second opinion might not require you to travel for care.

An online second opinion can also save families travel time and expenses — both for the initial review and for ongoing care. That’s a particular benefit for those who live far from Boston Children’s, especially international families.

“This platform made possible for my family to seek a leading doctor that was otherwise across the world from us,” explains a father who reached out from Singapore for a second opinion about his child’s hydrocephalus.

Even when a second opinion leads to a change in diagnosis or treatment, many families find they can keep their child’s care with their current clinical team. “We were able to use the detailed second opinion from Dr. Ed Smith to help us make a tough decision about neurosurgery for our son Tyler,” says Courtney. Based on that information, she felt confident Dr. Smith’s treatment recommendation was the right choice — and Tyler was able to keep seeing his local care team in Tennessee.

A second opinion might help “fast track” your child’s care.

Although getting a second opinion from Boston Children’s doesn’t necessarily bypass waitlists or guarantee an appointment, it can help you navigate the care journey faster. That’s because you’ll have already submitted your child’s medical records, which “fast tracks” the traditional intake process. A second opinion can also help you decide on a treatment plan and identify the right specialist and care team for your child — allowing you to schedule an appointment sooner than you might otherwise.

*Patients’ and parents’ names have been changed.

Learn more about how an online second opinion might benefit your child.