Gain clarity and confidence with a second opinion
When you’ve been diagnosed with a serious, rare or chronic condition, you want to make the best health decisions. Feel more confident and gain clarity with an online second opinion from the medical experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. They can help you understand your diagnosis and recommend treatment options based on science.
An online second opinion is available any time after your initial diagnosis, whether that’s before, during or after treatment begins. The second opinion team at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center will partner with you, your loved ones, and your physician to review medical and imaging records, answer questions and prepare a written report to help you move forward with more confidence.
Request an online second opinion
Already have a request? Log in to access your existing request.
Should I get a second opinion from the Wexner Medical Center?
A second opinion is right any time you have questions about your diagnosis or planned treatment, so you can feel more confident about your health care choices. Getting an online second opinion may be the easiest, quickest way to get answers.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with a serious, rare or chronic disease or condition, a second opinion can be helpful if you:
- Want confirmation or more information about your diagnosis for greater peace of mind.
- Face major medical decisions and want reassurance.
- Are considering a new type of treatment, especially one that involves significant risk or serious side effects.
- Want to explore more treatment options, including clinical trials, advanced technology or new therapies that may be available only at an academic medical center like the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
- Have another chronic illness or condition that is getting worse or is not improving following this new diagnosis and treatment.
Important exceptions
For urgent issues or emergencies, call 911 or seek local medical care. The online second opinion service is only for requests that are not time sensitive, and it’s not an option for anyone currently hospitalized.
If you live outside the United States please explore our options for international remote consultations. Online second opinions are only available for patients who live in the United States.
Visit our online second opinion FAQs if you have questions about the process, costs, eligibility and more.
Which conditions are most often managed through the online second opinion process?
The Wexner Medical Center encourages second opinions for any serious, rare or chronic disease or condition. Our medical experts most frequently provide online second opinions for conditions related to:
- Organ transplantation
- Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology)
- Hematology (benign blood diseases)
- Military Medicine (common and serious medical injuries and mental health concerns for active-duty personnel and veterans)
Even if your diagnosis is not related to the medical specialties listed above, you can still submit a request for a second opinion. After we receive your request, we’ll contact you to discuss next steps.
If you have cancer, you can get a second opinion from experts at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Why choose Ohio State for your second opinion?
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is one of the most comprehensive health sciences campuses in the country, placing us at the forefront of medicine. Here, discoveries and innovations in our research laboratories translate to effective therapies — available to patients well before they reach other hospitals.
Among other rankings and awards, we’ve been nationally ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list for 32 consecutive years. These rankings are based on outcomes, structure, patient experience and expert opinion.
When you come to Ohio State for your online second opinion, your written report will be created based on years of experience and collaboration across medical specialties.
What to expect with an online second opinion
Getting an online second opinion from Ohio State is simple, confidential and secure. It does not obligate you to any continuing care at the Wexner Medical Center. Registering to ask for an online second opinion is free; you only pay if you decide to move forward. Below are the steps that happen during the online second opinion process:
Step 1: Register and create an account.
Step 2: A representative from Ohio State’s online second opinion team will contact you to discuss your request.
If you decide you want to move forward with an online second opinion:
- You’ll pay a total up-front fee of $800.
- A case coordinator will be assigned to help you through the entire second opinion process.
Step 3: Your medical records are collected. All you need to do is provide your case coordinator the information that’s needed to access your medical records. We’ll manage the collection of those records.
Step 4: Receive and review your online written report. About one week after we’ve received all required medical records, your written report will be sent to your online case folder. We’ll send you an email notification so you know it’s there, along with a link so you can see and download your report. Your physician will also receive a copy via email.
Written reports from your reviewing physician include:
- A detailed review of your diagnosis.
- Answers to any of the questions that you submitted with your original request.
- Recommended treatment options and next steps. This may include options such as clinical trials or advanced therapies that are only available at Ohio State or just a few health care centers nationwide.
Step 5: Consider your options and ask questions. You and/or your physician can contact your case coordinator any time within a week following the delivery of your written report. Use this time to discuss the recommendations, request new services or ask more questions.
Step 6: Make treatment choices. An online second opinion does not obligate you to transfer your care to Ohio State.
- Your physician will receive a copy of your online written report to help you continue care closer to home, if that’s your preference.
- If you choose to transfer your care to Ohio State, your written report will include steps for doing this.
- We’ll continue to communicate with your physician until you’re ready to transition back to their care.
Ready to get started?
Request an online second opinion
If you do not live in the United States, please explore options for international remote consultations.
Have questions?
Find more information by viewing our online second opinion FAQs.