Getting a Second Opinion

We encourage our patients who have concerns to ask for more information from us such as vetted web sites or other information.The vast majority of patients are very satisfied with our explanations and time spent to educate our patients. This web site has a great deal of information. When you’re facing a tough health care decision, you may have a hard time knowing what to do. Is surgery the answer? Is that expensive test the right choice? Is it best to get treatment, or watch and wait? Dr. Alleyne performs many second opinions locally for patients and is not opposed to his patients seeking second opinion. Fortunately Connecticut is served by a very talented group of well qualified orthopedic surgeons.

When Is A Second Opinion Helpful?

For everyday health care, you probably don’t need a second opinion. But a second opinion may be a good idea if:

You are deciding about a costly or risky test or treatment, like a surgery.
You are not clear about how well a test or treatment may work.
You need more information about your options.
You are unsure about a diagnosis.
You want to know more about how your postoperative treatment may affect your life or what different options there may be for postoperative care.

How Do You Get A Second Opinion?

Ask your doctor for the name of another expert, someone with whom he or she is not closely connected. Explain that this is how you like to make big medical decisions. Don’t worry about offending your doctor. Second opinions are often not necessary but not unexpected.

If you aren’t comfortable asking your doctor for a name, check with your insurance company, a local medical society, or the nearest hospital.

If you are deciding about a surgery or other special treatment, ask your primary care doctor (such as your internist or family doctor) for the name of a surgeon or specialist who doesn’t work with your current surgeon or specialist. Also think about getting an opinion from a health professional with a different background.

When getting a second opinion, follow these steps:

Ask your health insurance company if it covers a second opinion. For some surgeries, it’s required.
Schedule a visit with the second doctor. Give yourself enough time to arrange for your medical records to get there before your appointment.
Have your first-opinion records sent ahead to the second doctor.
Look at the list of forms below, and print the ones that fit your needs best. Use the forms to take notes and to help you remember what questions you want to ask.
Have the second doctor’s office send a report to your primary doctor, the one who manages all your care. This keeps all of your medical information in one place.

How do you use a second opinion?

When you have gathered the information you need, go over it with your primary care doctor or the specialist of your choice. Talk about how treatment choices might change your daily life, now and in the future. For testing choices, talk about how the results would be useful to you.

If your doctors agree, your decision should be clearer. But sometimes doctors disagree. Even when doctors follow the same guidelines, there may be more than one treatment choice. Two doctors may have good, yet different, opinions about how to treat you.

If the doctors don’t agree consider talking to your primary care physician to help with the decision.

Remember, the final choice is yours.

International Consults

Because of his volunteer work, family and work in various communities Dr.Alleyne has provided complex surgical care and consultation to athletes and visiting patients from around the world. The ease of travel to and from the airports in Connecticut, New York and Boston has enabled us to provide personalized, financially appropriate care for individuals injured abroad or seeking to receive their orthopaedic care in the United States. Our established relationships with surgeons and therapists around the world, familiarity with the logistics of international travel for orthopaedic care, and hospital/surgical center facilities empower us to provide optimal care of complex problems under unique circumstances

Should you wish to arrange a consultation, please contact our patient services coordinator at info@eosm.net , call 860 337 2010. We have access to Skype , Face Time and WhatsApp for consultation as well.

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