(BPT) - Getting a second opinion after a medical diagnosis has been a routine part of healthcare for nearly as long as doctors have been diagnosing patients. However, the process of getting a second opinion can be complicated and time consuming. That's because it requires finding another physician or specialist, perhaps scheduling another appointment, transferring records and other information, and waiting for a diagnosis.

Wouldn't it be nice if it could be done at home?

Second Opinions, an online medical consultation service, has been at the forefront of virtual second opinions since 2012. The process is simple: a patient creates an account with Second Opinions, plugs in information about their diagnosis, and uploads scans and other health records. All of that information is reviewed by expert clinicians who then deliver a second opinion diagnosis via a phone call, video chat or email.

No second appointment, no travel, no hunting on your own for specialists. It's a fast, easy and convenient way to up the quality of your healthcare, and ultimately help give you peace of mind before making a critical medical decision.

Second Opinions, owned by USARAD Holdings Inc, a subsidiary of medical imaging company Nanox, was founded with the notion of using the internet to help increase the standard of care and provide virtual second opinions to people everywhere. Patients have the opportunity to connect with physicians from a wide variety of medical specialties, including radiology, neurology, oncology and cardiology. Multiple areas of surgery are also covered, such as orthopedic, vascular and bariatric.

"Healthcare today is more complicated than ever, and getting a second opinion can be crucial for patients facing an important medical decision," says Erez Meltzer, Nanox Chief Executive Officer. "Through Second Opinions, we have expanded on USARAD's extensive network of radiologists and offer patients access to top specialists across many areas of medicine. We want to give patients the information they need to make confident healthcare choices, with the convenience and speed of an online platform."

AI assists in diagnoses

Virtual second opinions were made possible by advances in technology. And now, as we're learning more about artificial intelligence, it's possible to harness this powerful tool to enhance the process of second opinions even more.

In June 2024, Nanox announced the integration of advanced AI to further enhance the Second Opinions offerings in radiology and imaging. Patients upload their chest and abdominal scans, which are evaluated by AI. Those evaluations are reviewed by real, human doctors, before delivering the diagnosis to patients, ensuring a balance of technological precision and human expertise.

It's all about early detection of chronic conditions on existing scans, often before symptoms appear. As the medical publication STAT recently noted, AI-based second opinion services can also improve clinical decision making by helping eliminate bias.

Creating more opportunity for a higher standard of care

Another positive aspect of online second opinions is the opportunity it brings to people in rural areas or other parts of the country where it's not easy or even possible to get a second opinion, Meltzer noted. In many rural locations, getting quality healthcare can mean a long car trip, staying overnight and other costly factors; oftentimes one hospital, with one team of specialists, serves entire communities. There simply isn't the option to find a second opinion locally. Second Opinions simplifies the process of accessing and obtaining a second opinion - anyone with an internet connection can request this service from home. And now AI can level up that care even more.

For more information about getting a second opinion, visit https://www.secondopinions.com/ and enter coupon code CSO10OFF at signup for a 10% discount.