ARROWHEAD NEUROSURGICAL MEDICAL GROUP, INC
SECOND OPINION PROGRAM
More often than not, patients see a specialist based on the recommendation of their primary care provider or based upon their insurance company's roster of approved providers. Many specialists subspecialize, meaning they focus on only a very few aspects of their practice field, or they focus their interests in one disease state, and have limited knowledge in other disease states, but still treat as many patients as possible. Often this can lead to unintentional bias, meaning a natural tendency to fit your unique problem into a set of pre-defined treatments based on that practitioners skill set, which may not necessarily be the best plan for you. Decades ago, when a doctor prescribed a treatment, one followed those orders no questions asked. Those days are long gone! Patients now have the autonomy to decide what treatments are best for them and to expect answers to questions of why one treatment is recommended over others. Many times patients and family are confused about treatment choices, or do not understand the nuances or processes that go in to making treatment decisions and need help deciphering the logic behind them. Many primary care doctors face the same difficulties when their patients come back from the specialist and they do not have the experience to counsel their patients on a proposed treatment. Out of this freedom and the natural caution it spawned, the mantra of "GET A SECOND OPINION!" was born. At ANMG, we whole heartedly agree with that concept, and to assist our community the SECOND OPINION PROGRAM has been created.
What is it?
This program allows the patient, family, or a primary provider to receive an impartial assessment, based on the records provided to ANMG, on a prescribed course of treatment for a neurosurgical problem, be it a surgical procedure or other form of treatment. But unlike going to one particular doctor for his or her "second opinion", our program offers the combined knowledge and experience of ALL of the ANMG physicians. In addition, should a difficult case represent need for very subspecialized review, we can utilize our network of relationships with some of the best academic neurosurgical minds across the globe to render their opinions and insights about a particularly challenging case, at no additional charge. A report regarding the case will be generated describing the opinion of the ANMG reviewers as well as alternative treatment options and answering of any questions, if applicable. This report is NOT a recommendation or prescription for treatment, but an opinion on treatment(s) based on current best medical evidence, standards of care, and professional experience. This program is NOT for medicolegal review of a case for potential, current, or future litigation. This program is also NOT for the purposes of establishing a disability or injury claim.
How does it work?
First, the patient or the patient's proxy must read, sign, date, and have witness sign, date the Terms And Agreement Form. If a referring doctor is requesting the second opinion, they must fill out, sign, and date the Referring Physician Form to be included with the Terms and Agreement Form completed by the patient. All documentation relevant to the case should be collected and then transmitted either via email, fax, or direct mail to our ANMG office in Moreno Valley, CA as well as send the one-time NON-REFUNDABLE FEE of $500 in the form of a cashier's check made out to Arrowhead Neurosurgical Medical Group, Inc. (see Terms and Agreement Form for details). Once all documentation has been received, one of our physician reviewers will review the information provided and deem it worthy for review. If it deemed unworthy for review, this will be transmitted back to the submitter with either a request for more information, or a reason for not continuing with the review, as well as a return of the FEE. If the case is accepted for review, then our reviewer will organize the case for a presentation to the entire ANMG physician staff, wherein the collective knowledge of the group will review the case, assign avenues of research to obtain appropriate outside opinions if needed, collect data on treatments, standards if care, outcomes, and latest scientific knowledge relevant to the case. The group will then meet again to discuss all the findings and come to a consensus as to ANMG's opinion regarding the case. This opinion will then be written into a detailed report with it's justifications and reasonings, in language that the average person can understand. This report will then be sent to the patient or their proxy to complete the process.
What can I expect in my report?
Every case will be different but one should expect a thorough description of the disease state and a discussion of the proposed treatment that prompted the second opinion. If alternative treatments are mentioned, then these will also be discussed as well as the logic in why they constitute viable treatment alternatives. Any questions submitted will attempted to be answered to the best of our ability. A straightforward case may generate a very brief report, whereas a complex case may generate a lengthy report. Regardless of report size, the opinions rendered represent a thoughtful and thorough examination of the case by the entire ANMG group.
How do I submit a case for review?
Any thoughtful second opinion requires as much relevant medical information as possible, so the most important first task is to collect all the available medical records regarding the case (see Terms and Agreements Form for details). The best format to send these documents are electronically, so having them made into computer files and then compressed into a zip folder is optimal. Alternatively, paper documents can be scanned and faxed, or copies direct mailed to us. Imaging on disks should be made into duplicates by the imaging center that provided them if possible. Any disks sent to us will be returned with the opinion report, but paper documents or computer files will not be returned so do not send originals! Keep the originals and send us copies, as we are not responsible for lost information.
For electronic documents, to prevent loss or confusion, please include the patient last name and year of birth in the names of all files and folders. For example, if a folder is named 'labs' for John Doe born May 5, 1967, then renaming the folder to "labs Doe 05051967" is suggested. All paper forms and disks must have the last name of the patient and date of birth written on every page to ensure proper filing.
Once the medical records have been collected, download and complete the Second Opinion Questionnaire Form, and download and Complete the Terms and Agreements, Consent Form (see FORMS below). Referring doctors should also complete and include the Referring Doctor Form (see FORMS below), as this will insure a copy of the final report will be sent to the referring doctor as well as the patient. Once these documents are completed, send, email, or fax all of the information to:
Email: secondopinionprogram@anmg-ca.com
Fax: (951) 486-6510
On fax cover sheet please include: c/o Second Opinion Program-Madeline Castorena
Direct mail:
ANMG Second Opinion Program
Department of Neurosurgery
26520 Cactus Ave, Suite A2006
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
c/o Madeline Castorena
For electronic documents, to prevent loss or confusion, please include the patient last name and year of birth in the names of all files and folders. For example, if a folder is named 'labs' for John Doe born May 5, 1967, then renaming the folder to "labs Doe 05051967" is suggested. All paper forms and disks must have the last name of the patient and date of birth written on every page to ensure proper filing.
Once the medical records have been collected, download and complete the Second Opinion Questionnaire Form, and download and Complete the Terms and Agreements, Consent Form (see FORMS below). Referring doctors should also complete and include the Referring Doctor Form (see FORMS below), as this will insure a copy of the final report will be sent to the referring doctor as well as the patient. Once these documents are completed, send, email, or fax all of the information to:
Email: secondopinionprogram@anmg-ca.com
Fax: (951) 486-6510
On fax cover sheet please include: c/o Second Opinion Program-Madeline Castorena
Direct mail:
ANMG Second Opinion Program
Department of Neurosurgery
26520 Cactus Ave, Suite A2006
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
c/o Madeline Castorena
Is their a fee for this service?
Yes. To assist in covering the cost of research collection, time, and staff utilization, a one time fee of $500 is required to obtain a second opinion report. This fee is due at the time of receipt of all documentation for the opinion. Once the case has been accepted for review the fee will be processed. If the case is not accepted for reviewed the fee will be returned. Once the case is accepted for review the fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. Acceptable form of payment is a cashier check made out to ARROWHEAD NEUROSURGICAL MEDICAL GROUP, INC. Please include the patient's last name and date of birth on the cashier check so as to credit to the appropriate case. Checks should be sent to the direct mail address above.
FORMS
These forms are downloadable, fillable PDF forms, or can be printed and filled out by hand.
| anmg_second_opinion_consent.pdf |
| anmg_md_referral_second_opinion_form.pdf |
| anmg_second-opinion-questionnaire.pdf |
Disclaimer
THE CONSULTS, INFORMATION, AND MATERIALS PROVIDED BY ANMG NEUROSURGERY SECOND OPINION PROGRAM ARE INTENDED SOLELY FOR INDIVIDUALS/PROVIDERS SEEKING GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND DIAGNOSES, AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR INDIVIDUALS OR PATIENTS SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE FOR TREATMENT, OR AS EVIDENCE OR OPINION IN RELATION TO ANY PRIOR, CURRENT, OR SUBSEQUENT LITIGATION AGAINST ANY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR INSTITUTION THAT HAVE PROVIDED THE INDIVIDUAL/PROVIDERS ANY CARE. THE REPORT PREPARED BY THE ANMG PHYSICIAN IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT BY YOUR TREATING PHYSICIAN. YOU SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PRIOR TO STARTING ANY NEW TREATMENT, SELECTING A METHOD OF TREATMENT, OR SEEKING ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION. THE ANMG NEUROSURGERY SECOND OPINION REPORT SHOULD NOT BE USED OR INTREPRETED AS A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT. YOU SHOULD NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING TREATMENT BASED ON THE REPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE NEUROSURGERY SECOND OPINION PROGRAM. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ANMG NEUROSURGERY SECOND OPINION PROGRAM DOES NOT CREATE A PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE ANMG OR ITS PHYSICIANS OR PROVIDER TO FOLLOW-UP OR CONTACT YOU.